Do Seasonal Jobs Have a Place on a Resume?

Whether you are lifeguarding for the summer or picking up extra hours in retail during the holiday rush, seasonal jobs are a great source of income, especially if you need something temporary. However, many professionals may not find that working for three months or less is worth putting on a resume; some may even fear that it may suggest that an individual cannot keep a job.

As always, we advocate putting all recent (in the past five to 10 years) jobs on a resume. For individuals who are just starting out their career or jumping back into the job market, seasonal jobs can be a great asset to include on a resume to land something more permanent.

What Can a Seasonal Job Show to Employers?

While a seasonal job may seem like work that may not be relevant to your career goals, there are a lot of skills these positions can imply. You should put seasonal job experience on your resume, because this experience shows that you:

• Are Able to Adapt Quickly

Getting a seasonal position with any company often means having to jump into a role with little or no training. If hired for a temporary position, a company already is showing trust in your ability to adapt quickly and perform necessary duties with minimal supervision. For future employers, this experience may help demonstrate your ability to learn new programs quickly or even fulfill a cross-functional role.

• Have a Flexible Schedule

While it may not seem like a perk at the time of employment, seasonal positions often require employees to work odd hours. On one day a seasonal employee may open a store and then close it the next day. Others may have to work overtime, weekends and holidays. Even if you are applying for a 40-hour per week full-time position, this previous experience helps show employers that you are a team player and will work within the needs of a company as a dedicated professional.

• Made the Best of Unemployment

For many job seekers, resume gaps are one of the greatest fears when applying to open positions. Resume gaps can happen to anyone for many different reasons, whether one is taking time off to raise a child or experienced a layoff. Seasonal jobs can be a great way for professionals to stay in the job market and avoid having extensive resume gaps. Putting a seasonal position on your resume may not only help relieve inquiries about previous unemployment, but also demonstrate your resilience as a professional.

How to Put Seasonal Positions on a Resume

Typically, seasonal jobs can be included on a resume under work experience like any other position. However, these details can become hard to organize if a professional holds the same temporary position from season to season or takes it on as secondary employment.

If you are having trouble placing your seasonal work on your resume and explaining it to fully benefit your job search, Chic Resumes can help. Our professional resume writers are familiar with many different types of career paths and work histories—we can expertly format your resume in a clean fashion to include all your work experience, including temporary positions.

Do Seasonal Jobs Have a Place on a Resume?