Creating a resume for a staffing agency is a strategic process that requires more than just listing your work history. Staffing agencies work with a wide range of employers and industries, and your resume must be tailored to stand out in a competitive candidate pool. Whether you’re seeking temporary assignments, contract work, or a full-time position, crafting the right resume can increase your chances of getting placed quickly.
A staffing agency resume should highlight your versatility, emphasize relevant skills, and present your professional background in a clear, concise way that recruiters can scan quickly. Here’s how to build a resume that meets those expectations and improves your chances of success.
Understand the Role of a Staffing Agency
Before you begin crafting your resume, it’s important to understand how staffing agencies operate.
Staffing agencies act as intermediaries between job seekers and employers. They’re often hired to fill positions quickly, which means your resume must make a strong impression at a glance. Recruiters at staffing firms typically handle multiple job openings across various industries, so they look for resumes that:
- Clearly show qualifications and certifications
- Emphasize adaptability and soft skills
- Reflect job-readiness for multiple roles
- Use industry-specific terminology
The more you align your resume with the recruiter’s expectations, the more likely you are to get noticed.
Tailor Your Resume to the Type of Work You Want
Think carefully about the type of positions you’re targeting through the staffing agency. Your resume should reflect the role(s) you’re best suited for, rather than being overly broad.
Consider the following:
- Temporary roles: Emphasize flexibility, fast learning, and varied experience.
- Contract roles: Highlight technical skills, project accomplishments, and time-bound achievements.
- Temp-to-perm or direct hire: Show career stability, leadership potential, and long-term goals.
While a general resume might seem efficient, staffing recruiters prefer tailored documents that match a specific job type or industry. You can always maintain multiple versions of your resume for different job categories.
Use a Clear, Professional Resume Format
The format of your resume is crucial, especially for staffing agencies who may scan dozens of resumes a day.
Tips for formatting:
- Use standard sections: Contact Information, Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Certifications.
- Stick to reverse chronological order for work history.
- Avoid graphics or elaborate designs—they can confuse applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Use bullet points for responsibilities and achievements.
- Keep it to one or two pages, depending on your experience level.
Remember, recruiters often skim resumes in under a minute. A clean, organized format increases your chances of making the shortlist.
Write a Compelling Professional Summary
Instead of an outdated objective statement, include a summary at the top of your resume that gives a quick snapshot of your background and value.
A good professional summary should:
- Be 3–4 lines long
- Mention your job title, years of experience, and key skills
- Include an industry or functional focus
- Indicate your availability or interest in contract/temp roles
Example:
Results-driven administrative professional with over 6 years of experience supporting executive teams and managing office operations. Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, scheduling, and client communication. Seeking temporary or contract roles in fast-paced corporate environments.
This kind of summary immediately communicates to the staffing agency what you bring to the table.
Highlight Your Skills Strategically
Staffing agencies often search resumes for specific keywords that match job requirements. A well-organized skills section helps your resume rank better in searches and provides a snapshot of your qualifications.
Use two types of skills:
Hard skills (technical):
- Microsoft Excel
- Forklift operation
- QuickBooks
- JavaScript
- Data entry
Soft skills (interpersonal):
- Team collaboration
- Time management
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
Focus on skills relevant to the type of roles you’re targeting. List them in a bulleted format or table, ideally right below your summary.
Showcase Relevant Experience with Quantifiable Achievements
Your work history should demonstrate your ability to perform well in roles similar to what you’re seeking through the staffing agency. Don’t just list duties—show achievements.
Each entry should include:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates of employment
- A bulleted list of responsibilities and accomplishments
Better than this:
- Managed customer accounts
- Handled scheduling
Say this instead:
- Managed over 150 customer accounts, increasing retention by 20%
- Scheduled and coordinated 40+ client appointments per week using CRM software
This approach shows impact, not just participation.
Include Contract or Temp Assignments Properly
If you’ve done contract or temporary work before—especially through other staffing firms—include that experience in your resume. It shows that you’re familiar with how staffing placements work and have been trusted by other agencies.
How to list:
Example:
Administrative Assistant (Contract) – ABC Staffing Agency
Assigned to XYZ Corporation, March 2023 – July 2023
- Provided support to HR department during peak hiring season
- Handled 80+ incoming calls per day and managed internal communications
Group multiple short assignments under a single staffing agency when appropriate. This prevents your resume from looking choppy and shows consistency.
Include Certifications and Licenses
Many staffing agencies recruit for specialized roles that require certain certifications. Highlight these in a dedicated section near the bottom of your resume.
Examples of certifications to include:
- OSHA Safety Certification
- ServSafe Food Handler
- Microsoft Office Specialist
- Forklift Certification
- CPA, CNA, CDL licenses
If you’re in the process of obtaining a certification, you can list it as “In Progress” with an expected completion date.
Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Most staffing agencies use ATS software to manage candidate applications. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords or formatting, it may be filtered out before a human ever sees it.
To make your resume ATS-friendly:
- Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- Avoid headers/footers for critical content
- Include exact phrases from job postings
- Use consistent formatting for job dates and locations
- Avoid images, charts, or tables with embedded text
Reviewing a job posting and mirroring its terminology in your resume can help your document pass ATS screening.
Don’t Forget Contact Information and Availability
Your contact information should always be easy to find at the top of your resume. Include:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Email address
- LinkedIn profile (optional but recommended)
- City and state (street address is optional)
If you’re available immediately or open to relocation, note that in your summary or in a small “Availability” section at the end.
Example:
Available for immediate start. Open to short-term, contract, or permanent roles.
Sample Resume
Jane Doe
City, State · (555) 123-4567 · janedoe@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janedoe
Professional Summary
Organized and adaptable administrative professional with 6+ years of experience in office support roles, including contract and temporary assignments through staffing agencies. Skilled in scheduling, data entry, customer service, and using Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Available for immediate start; open to contract, temp-to-hire, or direct hire positions.
Core Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Google Workspace
- Data Entry & Records Management
- Multi-line Phone Systems
- Time Management
- Customer Service & Communication
- Calendar & Travel Scheduling
- QuickBooks (basic proficiency)
Professional Experience
Administrative Assistant (Contract)
ABC Staffing Agency — Assigned to Johnson Manufacturing
March 2023 – July 2023
- Supported HR department with onboarding paperwork for 50+ new hires
- Answered high-volume calls and routed inquiries to appropriate departments
- Managed Outlook calendars and scheduled internal meetings
- Maintained employee records and confidential files
Receptionist / Office Clerk (Temporary)
XYZ Staffing Group — Various Clients
August 2022 – February 2023
- Greeted clients and visitors in legal and medical offices
- Entered client data with 99% accuracy into CRM systems
- Processed incoming and outgoing mail and deliveries
- Assisted teams with light accounting tasks and filing
Office Assistant
Anderson & Lee LLP — Dallas, TX
June 2020 – June 2022
- Provided administrative support to a team of 8 attorneys
- Prepared client intake forms, letters, and legal filing documents
- Managed conference room bookings and supplies inventory
- Trained two junior assistants on office software and procedures
Education
Associate Degree in Business Administration
Dallas Community College — Dallas, TX
Graduated: 2020
Certifications
- Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel
- Notary Public, State of Texas
- CPR/First Aid Certified (current)
Availability
Available immediately for contract, temporary, or full-time roles. Open to remote and on-
Keep Your Resume Updated
Many staffing agencies keep resumes on file and reach out when a suitable position opens. Keeping your resume current ensures you’re always in consideration.
- Review your resume quarterly
- Add new skills or assignments promptly
- Update your availability regularly
If you’re working through a staffing agency and gain experience during an assignment, be proactive about updating your resume with that experience once the project ends.
Whether you’re applying for temporary roles or long-term placements, knowing how to create a resume for a staffing agency gives you a strong edge. By tailoring your resume to highlight flexibility, relevant skills, and clear accomplishments, you’ll present yourself as a ready-to-work candidate that staffing firms can confidently place with their clients. Keep it clear, concise, and focused—and you’ll position yourself for more interviews and faster placement.