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A short-term job can give you concrete CV evidence and a potential referee, even if it is your first or only job. Keep brief notes on what you do and learn, turn the most relevant examples into truthful CV bullet points, and ask a supervisor for permission to act as a referee before the job ends. If your work history is short, include relevant projects, volunteering, education, work experience, or interests too.
What to record while you are working
Write a few notes after a shift, project, or meaningful task, while the details are fresh. A simple record helps you remember what you contributed when you update your CV or brief a referee later.
- Employer, job title, and start and end dates.
- Your main duties and responsibilities, including who you served or worked with.
- Skills you used or developed, such as communication, organization, customer service, or teamwork—only name skills you can support with examples.
- Projects, extra responsibilities, feedback, and outcomes.
Use numbers only when you can verify them and they clarify what you did. For example, a real count of orders handled may be useful for a relevant role; an unsupported estimate or a number with no context is not. CareerOneStop recommends specific descriptions that connect duties to results, while Careers New Zealand advises recording what an achievement was and when and where it happened (CareerOneStop; Careers New Zealand, updated 8 November 2021).
Keep your notes and any work records within workplace rules. Do not copy customer information, confidential material, or sensitive employer data for your CV. If you save feedback or examples, use only material you are allowed to keep and share.
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How to turn a short-term job into CV evidence
Start with the job title, employer, and dates, then select a few duties or accomplishments that demonstrate what the next role asks for. The UK National Careers Service recommends tailoring a CV to the vacancy and giving a short description of the work. Its definition is concise: “A CV is a summary of your skills, achievements and experience that you use to apply for jobs.” (National Careers Service)
Choose evidence for the role you want
Read the job advertisement and identify its relevant requirements. If the next job calls for teamwork, describe a specific task you completed with colleagues; if it calls for organization, use an accurate example of how you kept work on schedule or maintained records. Avoid listing every routine task when only a few examples show your fit.
Write clear, accurate bullet points
Use a direct verb, name the task or responsibility, and add a result or context where you can substantiate it. For example, “Prepared customer orders and coordinated with colleagues during busy periods” is stronger than “Helped out.” Add a measurable result only if it is accurate and meaningful. Describe the job as temporary or fixed-term if that context matters; do not imply it was permanent or overstate your impact.
Include experience beyond paid jobs
A short employment history does not mean you have no relevant experience. The National Careers Service recommends considering placements, volunteering, and paid jobs; for a first job, it also suggests projects, work experience, volunteering, and interests that demonstrate skills (National Careers Service). Choose examples that are relevant to the role rather than adding activities simply to fill space.
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Choose someone who directly observed your work or contribution and can speak accurately about it. For a short-term job, a supervisor or team leader is often the clearest choice. Depending on the role and the employer’s instructions, a work-experience supervisor, teacher, coach, mentor, or volunteer supervisor may also be appropriate (University of Victoria Career Services; Careers New Zealand).
A referee is not guaranteed just because you held a job. Ask whether the person is willing, and give them an easy way to say no. The University of Victoria Career Services says: “Always ask your references’ permission to use their information.” (University of Victoria Career Services)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to ask and prepare a referee
- Ask before you need the reference. Near the end of the job, thank the supervisor and ask whether they would be comfortable acting as a referee for future applications. You can say: “Thank you for supervising me. Would you be comfortable serving as a referee for roles I apply for? It’s completely fine if you’re unable to.”
- Confirm the details and permission. If they agree, check their preferred job title and contact details, and ask before sharing those details with an employer. Note how they know you and what work they saw.
- Give them useful context. When you apply, tell them what roles you are pursuing and send your current CV or a short reminder of the tasks and projects you worked on together. The University of Victoria recommends keeping references updated and providing this context (University of Victoria Career Services).
- Respect their answer and privacy. If they decline, thank them and consider another person who can speak directly about relevant experience. Do not share anyone’s contact details without consent.
How to provide references on an application
Follow the employer’s instructions first: application systems and local conventions differ. The cited UK National Careers Service guidance says applicants may write “references are available on request” and advises against putting another person’s contact details on the CV. The University of Victoria guidance describes listing references with permission. These are examples of regional practice, not a universal rule; protect the referee’s details and provide them in the format requested by the employer (National Careers Service; University of Victoria Career Services).
Quick Recap
A practical sequence before the job ends
- Keep brief notes on tasks, skills, projects, feedback, and verifiable outcomes.
- Review the next role’s requirements and select a few relevant examples for your CV.
- Ask an appropriate supervisor or team leader whether they are willing to be a referee.
- Confirm their preferred contact details and get permission before sharing them.
- Update your CV with the correct employer, job title, and dates; include other relevant experience if your paid work history is short.
- When applying, follow the employer’s reference format and give your referee the role details and current CV in advance.
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