Should I include seasonal help on a resume?

Question

I have had three jobs in an office environment. I went to a business college for medical office training. After I quit my last job, I was able to get on at a clothing store for seasonal help. I got a lot of hours during Christmas time, but now that the holidays are over, I'm limited on hours. In fact, I was only scheduled to work one day this week.

I was trying to update my resume since I need to find something with set hours. I don't know how to incorporate this into my resume, or if I need to at all. My boyfriend reminded me that I got a promotion during that time. I got promoted to customer service. I also got into a club for getting so many credit card openings for the company. I'm applying for office positions and this seems very different than the previous positions.

How would you go about doing this?

Answer 1

Always include all of your employment experience on a resume. You never know what quality or job skill will land you your next job. I even included babysitting on my resumes. It might not sound like much of a job, but it shows that you are at least responsible, and trustworthy. I mean, how many people are going to leave you alone with their child if they don't trust you to take good care of them? Also, if you are applying for an office position, be sure to list all the business classes that you took in school; and any office equipment/software programs that you know. The point of a resume is to sell you, so make the presentation the best that you can.

It sounds like you really excelled at your retail job. Instead of looking for another office job; have you considered looking for a job similar to the one you worked during Christmas? A job with incentives and bonuses are great, and if you got a promotion for a seasonal job; sounds like you might have found your niche.

Remember to list any and everything that you've ever done (job wise) and any skills that you have. Also, list references that can give your potential employer a well-rounded view of who you are as an employee, and a person.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

Hi, Yes you should add any work you have done. It will definitely add a lot of waitage to your profile. Nothing can teach what experience can and that waht the emloyers too are looking for.
Try to link evry experince you have to the position you have applied for. Like you have mentioned that you helped your copmany get credit card openings, this can be put across as good PR and selling skills which the need of the hpur in any organisation.

Here are a few tips to make a nice CV: ( I know its a little irrelevant, but thought it might help you :) )

1) Set aside enough time to prepare and revise your CV – it cannot be done in just one evening.
2) A positive attitude about your self is your greatest asset.
3) Identify your long-term career objectives, and decide on your immediate aim.
4) Be honest when analyzing your skills.
5) Review and revise your objectives.
6) Avoid using too many specialist terms in your CV.
7) Make sure that you appear flexible to a potential employer.
8) Be clear about your strengths so that you are able to communicate them.
9) Ensure that your abilities are not obscured by too much detail.
10) Ensure that you reveal only positive information about your self in your CV.
11) List your academic achievements and career history to date in reverse chronological order.
12) Use numerals – they are quicker and easier to read.
13) Avoid using colored type – it does not photocopy, scan or e-mail well.
14) Include references only if specifically asked to do so.
15) Ensure your CV is as relevant as possible.
16) Put the date at the bottom of all the CVs you send out.
17) Always type letters unless you are specifically asked to write them by hand.
18) Use spell – checker to detect spelling mistakes when e-mailing applications.
19) Read your CV well before attending an interview.
20) Try not to take the rejections you receive personally.
21)Remember, employers look for enthusiasm and motivation.
22)Celebrate every time your CV earns you an interview.

Your CV is a ‘brochure ‘, not an autobiography. Its purpose is to help you in the process of finding a new job by selleing you skills and experience to the right person. The principal role of your CV is to highlight your value to a potential employer.
All the best!

Answer 3

Do not put this on your resume. Even though you were promoted, it was a customer service enviroment. A customer service supervisor is not the same as an office supervisor. Trust me, I know.
Your resume should only be for skills that are relevant to your job search. They don't want to know every summer or seasonal job you took on the side.
If an employer is interviewing you, and the subject comes up, then you can do a little bragging. That could help to sell you in the interview. But a first impression is everything, and if they wade through two pages of unrelated details, they won't call you in the first place.
My husband liked to use the "upsell" strategy with this. He let his basic resume speak for itself. Then, during an interview, he brought up interesting stories of odd jobs he took and what he learned from them. That way, the employer was always learning something new.
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Answer 4

I am a college instructor and I see many resume's. Yes certainly include any experience especially where you earned raises and promotions. Lack of hrs. is a good reason to seek other employment. There are always seasonal jobs that help us grow. It also helps fill in gaps of time, although most employers won't count 2 or 3 weeks. Good luck

Answer 5

Include it. Any work experience that you have, you should include. It may be very different from what you applying for, but it shows that you have versatility and I am sure that you learned some important skills in dealing with people on a customer service level. It just shows that you are well-rounded. We like to see that. We also like to see that people are not just sitting back taking breaks, although perfectly understandable while in school or having children. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

Yes, add it in. It shows you kept busy. the credit card thing may be helpful if the office position you're going for may eventually lead to sales type positions, or supervision of people that does sales. the promotion will look good, showing you hauled a$$ and the initiative to do good.

Answer 7

You can have a subset of info under your employment experience related to office work, "other employment experience".