Applying for new job, haven't worked in 5+ years. What do I enter for employment history?

October 28, 2011 12:00 PM

I am applying for a driving job delivering auto parts. I used to drive in the marine corps when I was serving but got out in 2003. I have not worked much since then. I have been depressed and instead of working, I have relied on my mom for support. Should this anxiety be justified? I am also not good at keeping track of employment dates that the application is asking for.
posted by chrisdab to Work & Money (1 answer total)

Hey, don't worry about this too much. Plenty of people have health problems that keep them from working at various times in their lives. I wouldn't put anything about your health on the application itself; just put down your relevant experience in the service, and use years for the other stuff. One advantage you have is that a lot of employers get tax breaks or incentives for hiring veterans, like yourself.

If you get to the interview stage and they ask about the holes in your employment history, just say that you had some health issues to take care of, they're all fixed now, and you're excited to use all the valuable skills you learned in the Marine Corps in your new full-time job.

Good luck!
posted by Snarl Furillo at 12:18 PM on October 28, 2011 [3 favorites]