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Kenneth's Resume
Kenneth's fingers fly on the keyboard, and he has earned a reputation for top performance as a data entry clerk. He spent the last three years working in temp positions, and has gained valuable experience in diverse industries. Kenneth wrote to tell us that his resume received excellent exposure on Monster.com.
Kenneth's Story
Kenneth's friends have long been hinting that he should "get a real job." But the fact is that the temporary staffing industry is hot, and temp workers are realizing a myriad of benefits from this type of employment. Kenneth explains, "I enjoy meeting new people and accepting new challenges. In this line of work, data entry can get really boring, really fast. Temping lets me test the waters in different companies." And although Kenneth is in the clerical field, temping has become commonplace for professionals in a variety of fields at all levels (from entry-level through CEOs).
Kenneth wanted better opportunities with higher salary levels, so he set up a My Monster account and submitted his resume.
Resume Strategy
Many temporary workers face a quandary about how to present their experience. In many cases, the work experience consists of a number of short-term assignments. Listing these in chronological order will surely give the appearance of job-hopping.
Kenneth overcame this by creating one category for all of his temp work. He listed the name of the agency as his employer and provided highlights of his work experience. He used a bulleted list to describe interesting assignments. Kenneth explains, "I could have gone on and on about every job, but that would have been redundant. I kept to the main points and it worked quite nicely."
Kenneth's resume shows that not only does he offer excellent clerical skills but also participates as an integral member of the team. By mentioning that he was "offered full-time positions by several companies while temping," he drives home the fact that his work is highly valued. His inclusion of professional references from his temp agency and employers reinforces his credibility.
Kenneth immediately grabbed the attention of hiring managers by touting his typing speed in his resume's Title and developing a targeted Objective statement.
His "Skills" section includes buzzwords for his industry, and allows him to showcase his knowledge of computers, data entry skills and business know-how.
Results
Kenneth's phone started ringing almost immediately after posting his resume on Monster.com. He contributes his success to a "clear and concise" resume coupled with inclusion of related keywords. The time spent on his resume paid off. He tells us:
I signed on with a temp agency that offers me great benefits and also provides computer training. I'm actually making more now and working fewer hours. Thanks Monster!
His current assignment is a data entry position with a Fortune 500 company. Kenneth reports that he enjoys the work atmosphere and dedication to teamwork and feels that this opportunity might lead to a permanent position.
