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A short-term job can give you solid CV evidence and a useful referee—if you capture what you do while it is fresh and ask the right person before the role ends. Keep a brief record of your tasks, skills and results, then select the examples that fit the next job. Ask a supervisor or another person who directly observed your work whether they are willing to be contacted, and get permission before sharing their details.
Keep a record of your work as you go
After a shift, project or milestone, take a few minutes to note what you did. This makes it easier to write specific, accurate CV entries later and to remind a referee what you contributed.
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- Employer, job title and start and end dates.
- Main tasks and responsibilities, including who you supported or served.
- Skills you used, such as customer communication, organisation, teamwork or operating a particular system.
- Projects, positive feedback and outcomes you can describe truthfully.
- Numbers that are accurate and meaningful—for example, a genuine count or a measurable result you can substantiate.
CareerOneStop advises using specific details and linking duties to what changed or resulted; Careers New Zealand recommends recording what an achievement was and when and where it happened. Keep notes factual rather than trying to make routine work sound bigger than it was. Save work records or feedback only if workplace rules allow, and do not take customer information, confidential documents or sensitive employer data.
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A CV is not just a list of job titles. The UK National Careers Service describes it as “a summary of your skills, achievements and experience that you use to apply for jobs.” For each application, use the job requirements to decide which parts of your short-term role deserve space.
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Use a clear entry for the job
Include the employer, role title and dates, followed by a few concise bullets about relevant tasks or accomplishments. The National Careers Service recommends recording the employer, job title, dates and a short description of the work. Be clear if the position was temporary, seasonal or fixed-term; do not imply it was permanent.
Choose examples that match the next role
Instead of listing every routine duty, select a small number of examples that show skills the target employer needs. For a customer-facing role, that might be resolving queries or keeping service organised during busy periods. For an administrative role, it might be maintaining accurate records or coordinating a task with colleagues. Include an outcome only when you can explain and support it; do not invent figures or overstate your impact.
Include experience beyond paid jobs
A short employment history does not mean you have nothing to show. The National Careers Service suggests including placements, volunteering and paid work. If this is your first job, relevant projects, work experience, volunteering, education and interests can demonstrate skills too. Choose items that help show your fit for the role, rather than adding material simply to make the CV longer.
Ask for a referee before the job ends
Near the end of the assignment—or once you have built a good working relationship—thank a supervisor or team leader and ask directly whether they would be comfortable acting as a referee for future applications. Make it easy for them to decline. A short-term role does not guarantee that someone will agree, so ask early enough to make another plan if needed.
Prefer someone who directly observed your work and can speak accurately about the contribution relevant to the roles you want. Depending on the employer’s requirements and your experience, a former supervisor, work-experience supervisor, teacher, coach, mentor or volunteer supervisor may also be suitable. Follow any instructions about the type of referee the application requires.
Get permission and prepare your referee
The University of Victoria Career Services says, “Always ask your references’ permission to use their information.” Confirm that the person agrees before sharing their contact details, and check the preferred name, title and contact information they want you to use.
When you apply, tell the referee what kinds of roles you are pursuing and send your current CV or a short reminder of the work you did together. That context helps them connect what they observed to the opportunity. The University of Victoria recommends keeping references updated and giving them this information. Let them know when an employer may contact them, if you have that information.
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There is no single CV format for references that applies everywhere. Use the application instructions first, and consider local convention and privacy if the employer gives no format.
| Situation or guidance | What to do |
|---|---|
| Employer specifies how to provide references | Use the requested format, and share a person’s contact details only with their permission. |
| No format specified: UK National Careers Service guidance | It says you may write “references are available on request” and advises against putting another person’s contact details on the CV. |
| No format specified: University of Victoria guidance | Its guidance discusses listing references after asking permission to use their information. |
These are examples from UK and Canadian guidance, not universal rules. Keep referees’ details private until they are needed and you have their consent.
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