There are many reasons to take a part-time job. Perhaps you want to explore a particular field. Maybe you need a temporary stream of income till you lock in a full-time role.
Whatever your reasons may be, you can acquire a myriad of skills from your part-time job.
Suppose you were a delivery rider or a social distancing ambassador. These roles require you to be at the frontlines, attending to people on the ground.
For instance, a rider can learn more about end customers and take the knowledge further into the transportation and logistics field. The ambassador can sharpen customer service skills necessary in almost every industry in Singapore today.
Should I include part-time jobs on my resume?
Any part-time job you take in Singapore or elsewhere offers valuable job experience. Even a side hustle you worked on while fully employed counts if relevant.
As long as they align with your career goals, you should include your part-time jobs on your resume.
How do you put part-time experience on a resume?
1. Focus on your core skills
If you only have part-time job experiences, one of the ways to make them noteworthy is to emphasise the skills earned and honed. This way, you shift the focus away from the duration of your job by shining light on your capabilities as a whole. You may then list the roles in the following section.
Using a combination resume as a template, here’s an example:
Amy Lim
Hp: 9123 456
Email: amylim@email.com
[add in an online portfolio if applicable]
Professional Summary:
[summarise your skillsets and industry experience]
A customer service professional with over a year of experience in the healthcare industry. Able to communicate effectively with people of all age groups, manage large crowds and work multiple shifts.
Relevant skills:
[list specific skills and add examples]
Customer service (1.5 years)
- Managed hospital reception through helpdesk phone and counter
- Guided visitors through procedures and processes, directing them to appropriate departments for follow-ups
- Resolved issues proactively without the need to escalate to management
Team coordination (1.5 years)
- Managed daily operations based on shift requirements
- Assisted manager in reviewing weekly roster allocation
- Organised manpower on the go when understaffed
IT Literacy
Efficient in SAP, Zendesk, Microsoft Office Solutions
Work history:
[list the part-time jobs in chronological order]
2. Highlight notable projects you were involved in
Alongside skills, the projects you worked on during your part-time jobs can also be proof of your capabilities.
If you’re in the media field, identifying the different individual assignments you have completed is one good start. Of course, highlight those that deserve mention!
For those in the IT sector, you may have worked as a team on different projects across a variety of industries. Showing your involvement will give hiring managers an idea of your level of exposure in the sector.
You can employ a similar format as the above for this — simply list the best projects and explain your role.
Seeking employment help? Make an appointment to see a career coach to help with your job search.
3. Consolidate in a chronological list
If you have ample part-time job experience, you can also list them in chronological order as you usually would for your full-time roles. This method is more beneficial if you think those roles will complement your full-time ones.
Do indicate which jobs are part-time so that the hiring manager understands the extent of your responsibilities better. It is also good to note whether the roles were contract-based, especially if the duration is short. Indicating them as such lets hirers understand your reasons for leaving.
Quick tips on making the best of your part-time job experience
There are plenty of opportunities to learn in any job you take on. Here are some ways to optimise your time in your part-time job so you have some worthy experiences to drop into your resume:
- Take initiative by suggesting better ways to improve processes or work execution
- Indicating on your resume that you introduced a new approach on the job proves your willingness to bring positive change as a team player
- Assist other teams after fulfilling your duties to expand your skills/knowledge
- An additional level of experience beyond your scope of duties lets hirers know you’re open to and are good at taking on new responsibilities on the job
- Attend cross-department training
- Adding to your list of skillsets on your resume shows a good breadth of knowledge
- Invest in online learning and apply knowledge on the job
- Listing your certifications on your resume is also a good way to prove your skill
Start sharpening that resume today!
