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Let's say you are off to go fill out some job applications and whether you do this off line or on line, the job application forms are usually long and time consuming. How can you make it easier on yourself when filing these long forms out?

Let's say the job application wants you to list every single placement of employment that you ever had from now all the way back to when you graduated from high school. WELL, that's simple if you are in your 20's. In your 40's or later is a bit harder.

What do you do IF....

Some of the jobs are no longer even there, the businesses moved, you don't know where they went, you don't know what happened to them.

Some of the people that you worked for that you used to put on the job application form quit?

Someone on the list has passed away and since he was the owner and supervisor at the company and you for all these years had put him down as a business reference, now what do you put down?

What if the company sold then what do you put down?

What if you don't remember the dates - years - that you worked for the companies, as it's been 20 years or so?

So how does one handle this situation?

Katja144 · Expert Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 176 Career Advice: +2/-0

I'd be interested in knowing that too--I've had very few jobs (only at four different places) so I'm sure I'd be expected to put down all of them, but my first job was way back in high school/after freshman year of college at McDonald's, and none of the managers I worked for, or the employees I worked with, are still there, so who can give me a reference except to see what my file says? I've had urges to leave it off, but then I don't want them to find out and then say I lied about my past job experience or grill me for not putting it on.

Most job apps I've seen have space for three previous employers, but then they say to use a separate sheet of paper if needed, and I'm never sure if they really only want my three most recent employers, or if they want them all.

Richard · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject:

I would imagine that this affects almost every job seeker after a while. Everybody I ever worked for has either left, retired or died in the last 25 years and I'm only 44. The first company is no longer and the second bears no relation to the company I worked for for 10 years. Even the civil service division I worked for in my last office job no longer exists and nearly everyone was made redundant (I believe the Americans use the term "terminated" - how er...final!).

The only thing you can do is list the jobs. The HR department of the companies will have records of you if the companies still exist, if not then there is little you can do about it. It's not uncommon and hirers are used to it. You are at liberty to mention that a" company is no longer trading" in the relevant part of your résumé or cover letter. If your trusted referee is no longer around or worse still, deceased then again there is little you can do about it other than to try and arrange a personal referee from a professional friend or your doctor etc. These things happen and better you include everything you can without boring your reader than nothing at all.

KA · Expert Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 231 Career Advice: +2/-0

In general, you focus on the recent jobs you have held. For example, you might list:
8 key points for your last job,
6 key points for the job before it
.
.
1 key point for the job you had 15 years ago.

This would show you were constantly employed. Also, many suggest you don't list more than 10 to 15 years of experience, unless it is is relevant to the job you are applying to.

As for references, employers usually check your most recent employers.

C_Vaughan · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 2:49 am Post subject: Resume tips

For some people who are preparing their resume, this is something that can crop up and be a nuisance to handle. There are no specific rules - so you don't have to worry about breaking any.

If you keep your resume to one page or two at the most, you will have mostly recent information from which to work. Yes, people die, get new jobs or even get married and their name changes. You have no control over this, so you have to write the information as you know it.

Your references should not be listed on your resume, so that's not an issue. Nor, should your supervisor's name(s). Your list of references will always be current personal and professional contacts. Call them each time you look for a job (whether 6 months down the road or 6 years down the road) and ask if they can still be used as a reference. That eliminates any problems with the reference list.

Very few job applications require you to go back through and list every job you have had since you started working. Most only require the past 5-10 years. If the company wants more information, they usually perform a background check.

Businesses move and are sold all the time. Put down the information as it was when you worked there.

Keep track of all the jobs you have held, including names of supervisor(s), dates worked, addresses, phone numbers and job descriptions. Keep everything in a folder so that you can pull from it as needed. Also, keeping at least one copy of each of your resumes throughout your life helps with this, too.

Hope this helps.

~C. Vaughan

StefanJechel · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:24 am Post subject:

First of all you must realize that this affects everybody and not just you - every one of your competitors will face the same problem. SO don't worry too much.

For references what I use to do, and I do it on regular bases is to ask for write references any time I can. A document remains and can be copied/faxed way after the person forgot you, or even worse passed away.

Once again I don't think that you must really list all your jobs - only list the most important and the most recent, and eventually mention that there were a lot others in the mean time.

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