Application Sections - Employment History

The final part of the application usually contains questions related to your employment history.  Companies need to know where you have worked and / or volunteered in the past in order to determine how much experience you have.  This information will help them determine whether you are qualified for the job and how much you should be paid for the job. 

If you have never held a paid job before, you can record any volunteer work in this section.  When asked how much you were paid for the job, just indicate "volunteer." 

Get organized!

	Employment History Worksheet
	Employment History Worksheet.doc

You need to get organized before you complete the Employment History section of the application.  This means you need to have the following information about each job (paid or volunteer) you have held in the past:

1. Company name
2. Company telephone number
3. Company address
4. Supervisor’s name
5. Supervisor’s title (i.e. Sales Manager; Head Librarian)
6. Dates worked (month/ year to month/year)
7. Pay rate or salary
8. Job duties / responsibilities

Use the Employment History Worksheet to get organized! 

You should also have your resume with you when you complete this section because the resume contains information about your past work and volunteer experience.

How to complete the section:

Your job history should be listed with your current or most recent position first. Then work backward in time and list each one in reverse chronological order. There are three important questions you may be asked and you need to know how to answer them:

1. On the application, some companies ask if they can contact your current employer.  You may respond "yes" or "no" to this question.  It is ok to say "no," particularly if your current employer does not know that you are looking for another job. 
   
   
2. On some applications, there might be a question asking why you left (or are leaving) your most recent job.  The question might look something like this:  "Reason for leaving current place of employment:" When giving reasons why you left a job, you should stay positive and professional. 

	Use these positive, professional reasons:		Instead of these negative, unprofessional reasons:
I wanted different leadership.		My boss was a jerk.
I wanted to explore new opportunities.		I hated my job.
I wanted to use more of my strengths.		My job was too hard for me.
I wanted to learn new things.		I got tired of doing the same thing every day.
I wanted to work in a more positive environment.		I did not get along with my co-workers.

3. Most applications ask you about your duties and responsibilities at your previous jobs.
   
   
   
   It is important to be honest when you describe your previous duties and responsibilities.  You should try to highlight the most important parts of your job.  Highlight the duties that were most valuable to the company you were working for. 
   You should also describe your previous duties and responsibilities in a clear and specific manner.  Companies need to know exactly what you did at your previous jobs.  If you provide unclear, vague descriptions, companies will be less likely to consider you for employment. 
   
   Check out this chart to see good and poor examples of job descriptions:

Clear and specific descriptions:	Unclear, vague descriptions:
Greeted customers and directed them to store areas as needed.	Greeted people.
Installed, maintained, and repaired hardware and software; designed internal computer networks.	Fixed Computers.
Cleared dishes, sanitized areas, washed dishes, and assisted servers as needed.	Cleaned restaurant.
Selected and ordered books, audiovisual materials, computer equipment, and other materials; maintained hardcopy and electronic collections.	Obtained and organized library materials.
Pruned, watered, and fertilized plants; sprayed plants with pesticides; built and organized boxes for plant storage and transport.	Took care of plants.
Input and manipulated computer data; edited information in database for accuracy.	Input data into computer system.
Operated machines; inspected and packed the final product; transported product to shipping boxes.	Made and packed factory product.
Load canned goods in storage bins, distributed items to consumers in outreach center.	Helped with food donations.

Read the Employment History Worksheet to practice writing down your previous job duties and responsibilities.