Agent 00517

January 2, 2009 1:04 PM

What is the standard for listing a place of employment that went out of business on a résumé?

I've been out of the employment market for a while because I was going to school. In that time the employers for my two best jobs have gone under and no longer exist. Also in that time I'm pretty sure that the guy I apprenticed under for another job has died and his business is gone too. How do I list these things without have a resume that looks made up?

posted by 517 to Work & Money (7 answers total)

Best answer: You just list them. This isn't that uncommon. Even if an employer is still in business, there's no telling whether or not the people you worked with are still there, and a lot of people lose track of their previous employers and employees. I don't have contact information for most of my employers from before about 2004. Just put down the information you've got. Ideally, your time in school will be of more interest than what you did before.
posted by valkyryn at 1:13 PM on January 2, 2009

Best answer: It's fairly common these days. I used to put [defunct] or [company no longer in business] since I survived the Silicon Valley startup glory days, but i took it off because it just started to look stupid.

You worked there. If they care that much about your past then they're going to run a background report. Most people won't. I have two companies that no longer exist on my resume. That doesn't devalue or negate the work that I did when I was there. If someone asks, I tell them what I know. If someone pushes the point, I know they're just looking for something to ding me on so I don't stress it.

What you do want to make sure you have are three good references, however. Don't put those on the resume, and please for the love of all that is good and holy don't say "references available upon request" (that's like saying "sky is blue").
posted by micawber at 1:21 PM on January 2, 2009

Best answer: I wouldn't bother labeling them at all, and recommend just listing them as any other place of employment. It's not your job to keep up on businesses that close down after you leave, right? You probably don't even check for that. Your resume is about you.

Also, you probably don't put "(company still in business)" or "(company in business since 1965)" next to anything.

So just list them normally.
posted by rokusan at 3:05 PM on January 2, 2009

Add them as normal parts of your resume, as [employer, dates employed, main duties] and don't think twice about it. If you want those people to act as referees, however, add them in a separate 'Referees' section at the bottom of your resume with their updated contact details, otherwise don't worry - you shouldn't be including contact info for people who haven't agreed to act as referees anyhow!
posted by goo at 3:14 PM on January 2, 2009

Best answer: I have three previous employers on my resume that are no longer in business. I do not mention that they are no longer around, nor have I seen this on any resume I have ever reviewed.

I just finished interviewing and went through a very thorough background check for my latest job offer and this was not a problem. When the company doing the background check could not reach my previously employer they contacted me to get the info. I was able to provide numbers and/or email for most previous managers and showed a W-2 for one employer. Again, this background check was far more thorough than any other job I have had.

I would suggest that you simply keep some type of documentation that you actually worked for your prior employers that should be all you need.

Also, don't put your references on your resume. Any employer will ask for them when the time is right. The only thing you will accomplish by listing your references is that you will cause your references to get unwanted phone calls from recruiters.
posted by sirhensley at 4:09 PM on January 2, 2009

In case any of them got acquired - check this thread.
posted by xiaolongbao at 9:45 PM on January 2, 2009

Best answer: N'thing "just list them". If a prospective employer is curious, they'll ask. At least a third of the companies on my resume aren't around any more (or aren't around under the same name). It's never been an issue.
posted by dws at 11:03 PM on January 2, 2009