Minimize Work History Gaps on Your Resume with Temporary Assignments
While you are looking for your ideal job, temporary work assignments in your industry/occupation can keep your employment history current. This is especially true if you have worked for a staffing company in the past.
Let’s say you are an administrative assistant and are looking for a long-term admin role at a firm, but there is a big gap in your work history. If you worked for a staffing agency (like NW Staffing Resources) in the past, consider taking on new temporary admin assignments while continuing your dream job search. In this scenario, you could structure your resume like this:
NW Staffing Resources, Portland, Oregon 4/2018 – 5/2019 | 5/2021 – Present
Job Title, Current Company/Client Name (5/2021 – Present)
Job duties
Accomplishments
Job Title, Former Company/Client Name (11/2018 – 5/2019)
Job duties
Accomplishments
Job Title, Former Company/Client Name (4/2018 – 10/2018)
Job duties
Accomplishments
In this example, even though there is still an employment gap, it is less noticeable and, more importantly, it shows that the staffing company wanted you to work for yet another client. It is a testament that the staffing company appreciates your work, work ethic and personality. Other companies can then extrapolate that you would probably be successful working for them too.
Even better, talk with your staffing recruiter about the possibility of returning to a company you have worked on assignments for in the past. If that works out, you could structure your resume like this:
Company/Client Name (via NW Staffing Resources), Portland, Oregon 4/2018 – 10/2018 | 5/2021 – Present
Job Title (5/2021 – Present)
Job duties
Accomplishments
Job Title (4/2018 – 10/2018)
Job duties
Accomplishments
OR, if the job you returned to was exactly the same, with regards to job duties:
Company/Client Name (via NW Staffing Resources), Portland, Oregon 4/2018 – 10/2018 | 5/2021 – Present
Job Title (5/2021 – Present and 4/2018 – 10/2018)
Job duties
Accomplishments
The more short jobs can be grouped together, under a common company or staffing company name, the more it appears that your work history is stable and that you will be a reliable new hire in your next opportunity. You might even find that your dream job starts as a temporary assignment!
Let our recruiters help you find an assignment that matches your needs – contact your local NWS branch today. We look forward to working with you!
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