Turn short-term jobs into long-term success
- col-dan-shortridge
- March 29, 2023
- 591
It’s Reader Question Time!
Q. I’ve had a lot of contract, freelance, or temporary jobs on my resume. Some have been part-time, and none have lasted more than a year just due to the nature of the work and the contracts. All are in my field of work. How do I show a solid career progression and demonstrate my value to employers?
A. We should clear this up from the start: There’s nothing wrong with temping, short-term contract roles, freelance work, or part-time jobs.
Workers can prefer them because they offer flexibility and may be hiring faster than other options. Temp jobs through staffing agencies can also be a great option for people returning to the workforce after an absence for child-raising or caregiving.
Employers often prefer these types of work arrangements over hiring full-time workers for financial or capacity reasons, or to cover another employee on leave. Also, they can often end a contract or temp relationship faster than laying off a full-time worker.
The problem comes when employers then turn around and reject candidates with that type of background for full-time opportunities. That’s just ridiculous. Resumes with multiple short-term roles don’t identify a job-hopper; they identify someone who’s chosen a particular type of work situation, no more, no less. But some hiring managers still see the world through that lens, and will view those applicants negatively.
Your solution is simple: Don’t think of every role as a new job, and certainly don’t list them like that on your resume. Rather, think of yourself as a freelancer or specialist who solves problems for your clients – their primary problem being needing someone with your skills for a short-term project. Your job title should reflect that, and your jobs can be listed underneath as projects with associated accomplishments.
For example, a receptionist or office administrator who’s done several temp roles could describe themselves like so:
Office Administrator, Freelance/Contract, 2016 – Present
Provides fill-in office administration and receptionist services to more than 20 clients as needed. Oversees front desk operations, supply management and inventory, and switchboard for small businesses, colleges, and nonprofit agencies with immediate staffing needs.
Reduced office supply costs for local school district by 23% with improved inventory and ordering process.
Managed switchboard for 150-person nonprofit during busy service season.
Revamped filing system for regional financial services business to improve record retrieval efficiency.
If you have regular contract opportunities, you may want to consider forming a sole proprietorship business structure with a generic name and contracting with the employers under that name. Call yourself Director or Manager on your resume.
Someone who’s built a successful freelance business and kept themselves afloat deserves kudos and applause. Good luck with your job search.
Career Stories columnist Dan Shortridge is a nationally certified resume writer, marketing consultant, and author. Contact him and submit questions for future columns at resultsresumes.org.