Job Hunting: Can't Remember Your Employment History?

With the advent of online job applications, job hunting is a lot easier than it used to be. You see an ad, send in a resume and wait to be contacted. However, there comes a point - most likely - when you will have to fill out the dreaded application.

Candidates hate this process because it means dredging up your entire employment history. And, for many, this can be a problem because, really, what do you do when you can't remember all of your employment history?

Following are some tips.

Disclaimer: I've been a recruiter since 1997 and owned an editorial staffing agency in New York City from 1996-2004. Hence, I have reviewed thousands of resumes.

3 Tips: What to Do When You Can't Remember All of Your Employment History

1. You don't have to remember: Most employers only expect you to go back 10-15 years. You don't have to ask if this is sufficient, just assume that it is so.

Unless you're applying for a position with a governmental agency that requires a total work history for example, this will be sufficient.

2. Relevant Employment History: Many work what I call "throwaway jobs" in between and/or in conjunction with, their "real jobs." What do I mean?

Say you were laid off from a job as a computer technician and it takes you six months to land another job in that profession. In the meantime, you work as a pizza delivery person.

As the pizza delivery job is outside of your main profession (your real job), you wouldn't list this job. Instead, you'd list only your Relevant Employment History. So, you wouldn't use a chronological resume. Your resume may look something like:

EXPERIENCE

ABC COMPANY, Long Beach, CA May 2003-January 2007
Computer Technician

XYZ COMPANY, San Francisco, CA January 2001-April 2003
Computer Technician

EFG COMPANY, San Francisco, CA July 1999-November 2002
Jr. Computer Technician

OTHER EXPERIENCE

JOE'S PIZZA, Long Beach, CA, February 2007-Present
Delivery Person

TZX COPY CENTER, Long Beach, CA, July 1997-June 1999
Customer Service Rep

In this manner, you cover ten years of employment, but arrange the info so that it is skills-based.