Application forms: 'FULL employment history' - what do you write?

[BuntyFlint]

I'm filling in (another) application form (for a museum job). The questions 'employment history' especially when it's followed by 'time unaccounted for' which suggests they really want to know EVERYTHING always has me stumped. Do they really want to know the exact dates of every single short term contract I had between 1995-2000? Or is it enough to write "various short term contracts" or "various short term contracts, exact dates can be supplied" (and hope they don't ask as I don't have them).

What do you peeps out there do?

Any response before midnight tonight would be marvellous, but I'm interested anyway....

[Wax]

The simplest thing is to list who you have worked for and what you have done rather than all the different contracts. I tend to list the organisations I have worked for and the types of projects I keep it very simple and make it clear that several organisations have constantly reemployed me on a wide variety of tasks. I am fairly selective with this but always say that a more detailed break down of work history is available on request. Any unemployment gaps are filled with voluntary work and training schemes. Volunteering is important as it shows initiative.

I do have a current list of all my different contracts but so far no one has asked for it and I usually at least get to interview stage

The trick is to put your self in the place of the person going through the application forms

Best of luck with your application

[BuntyFlint]

Hello
Excellent advice, thanks : )
That's a really good idea - to stress re-employment by the same company, as shows consistency, reliability etc. In the end I said 'dates can be supplied', but 'detailed breakdown' would have sounded better - next time! Hoping there isn't a next time as I'll get this job of course.....

[the invisible man]

This is often a security-based question, if you see what I mean, rather than an employment-type question, so dates are key. However, for stuff something like 15 or more years ago I usually round it all off to the nearest month eg July 1978 - September 1979, to the best of my memory. Unless it's for MI6 they probably won't really check, but you should stick to the spririt of the thing. Five years worth of very short contracts is a problem though! I agree that the combination of yours and Wax's methods is best, it shows that you can account for your time and have not been away at a terrorist training camp or in prison or something.

[GPStone]

You haven't been away at a terrorist training camp, have you?!? :0

[BuntyFlint]

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you!
No...mostly I was alternating digging with making big fancy celebration cakes which paid nearly twice as much but was half as interesting. It kept the coffers topped up but was, in retrospect, probably quite a bad 'career move'...

[GPStone]

Make a proposal to the IfA that all senior staff at RAOs should be required to take cakes when visiting sites, then combine your two talents and top up the coffers some more!:p

[BuntyFlint]

Now that is a fine fine plan!

Ooh, perhaps all archaeology/museum employers could be convinced to state it as an essential requirement on the person specification for advertised posts - "proven ability to make big fancy cakes suitable for feeding up to 140 people" - now that would help with my job seeking help immensely

[Dinosaur]

Now that is a fine fine plan!

Ooh, perhaps all archaeology/museum employers could be convinced to state it as an essential requirement on the person specification for advertised posts - "proven ability to make big fancy cakes suitable for feeding up to 140 people" - now that would help with my job seeking help immensely

By all accounts that cake wouldn't make it out of 'Jack's' portacabin....}