What Is An Employment History Report?

When you apply for a job, unemployment benefits, or certain licenses, you will often need to submit a detailed employment history report.

This report can be time-consuming to compile, especially if you have had a long career or held multiple positions.

Even if you have highlighted your work experience on your resume, recalling the specifics of every job—including wages and supervisor contact information—can be challenging.

The good news is that you can effectively piece together your complete work history.

Key Takeaways:

• An employment history report is a detailed list of all the jobs you have held throughout your career.

• Include your job title, company name and location, and the dates of employment in your employment history report.

• To reconstruct your employment history, refer to your past tax records, contact the Social Security Administration, and reach out to previous employers.

What Is An Employment History Report?

An employment history report, also referred to as a work history report, details all the jobs you have held in your career. This report includes relevant information about your previous positions and is commonly used by candidates during job applications and by individuals applying for unemployment benefits.

This information helps employers gauge your experience level and skill set. While some companies may only require your recent employment history, others might ask for a more comprehensive overview that includes all past jobs.

Why Do You Need to Provide Your Employment History?

Companies and government organizations often request your employment history to conduct a background check. Having an accurate report aids in this process.

Since they can verify the details you provide, it is crucial that your information is correct. Any discrepancies between your report and official records may raise red flags regarding your hireability.

Moreover, this report provides employers with a comprehensive understanding of your qualifications. They recognize that your resume may not capture every aspect of your work history; thus, having a detailed account helps them fill in the gaps.

What You Need to Include in Your Employment History Report

Organizations requesting your work history may provide a form with specific fields for you to fill out. However, you may also need to create your own report.

When compiling your report, ensure you include standard information for each job, starting with your current position.

1. Your job title. When documenting your job title, include your department if it isn’t clear from the title alone. For instance, if you served as an administrative assistant in a financial office, specify it as “Administrative Assistant, Finance Department” or “Administrative Assistant, Finance.”

   Unless you were the administrative assistant for the entire company, omitting the department may lead to confusion due to the prevalence of this title across various roles.

   If you held multiple positions within the same company, refer to this article for guidance on how to present that information.

2. Company name and location. Include the full name of the company, along with the branch name if applicable, and the location. You don’t need to provide the complete address; the city and state or country are typically sufficient.

3. Dates you worked in the position. This detail is vital for your employment history report, as it can easily be verified through a phone call. Incorrect dates can raise concerns that may jeopardize your chances of getting hired.

   You don’t need specific days; just include the month and year for both the start and end dates. If you’re uncertain, take the time to verify this information before submitting your report.

4. Supervisor’s name and contact information. This information may not always be required, so use your judgment. Include it only if you are confident that your supervisor still works at the company and would be willing to provide a recommendation.

   Ensure consistency by including this information for every position or none at all, as omitting it for just one or two roles can appear suspicious.

5. Position responsibilities. This section should resemble your resume, listing your primary responsibilities. Focus on describing your duties rather than emphasizing accomplishments, which are more suited for a resume.

As you create your work history report, check how far back you need to go. Some organizations may only require information from the last ten years, while others may need more extensive history.

Employment History Report Example

How to Find the Rest of Your Employment History

If you discover that you’re missing details about your employment history while compiling your report, don’t worry. You can find this information.

While many services will assist you for a fee, there are also ways to gather this information independently at little or no cost.

1. Look at your tax records. If you have copies of your past tax returns or W-2 forms, you can extract much of the information you need about your previous jobs from these documents. If you don’t possess them, you can request copies from the IRS at no cost.

   These records can be particularly useful if you need to provide any salary information for your report.

2. Contact your state’s unemployment agency or tax department. If you worked for companies based in your state, you can likely obtain a copy of your work history through your state unemployment agency or tax department.

   The specifics of what you’ll receive and how far back it goes may vary by state, but most offer this service in some capacity.

3. Reach out to the Social Security Administration. This option incurs a fee, but it provides the most comprehensive report you can obtain. The SSA can supply you with your work history report, which includes employment dates, employer names and addresses, and even your salary information.

   The SSA maintains this information because employers must link your records to your social security number when hiring you to confirm your legal eligibility to work.

   Be aware that obtaining these reports may take several months, so plan accordingly if you choose this route.

4. Call your past employers. This method is effective for gathering information, particularly regarding dates and job titles. The human resources department will maintain records, so simply ask them to look it up for you.

5. Conduct a Google search. It may take some investigative effort, but searching your name could yield more useful information than you anticipate.

   From professional profiles with employment dates to publications that may trigger your memory about a specific position, a quick search could provide the details you need to complete your work history.

Keeping Track of Your Employment History for the Future

To avoid this task in the future, or if you’ve just started your career and wish to stay organized, begin documenting your employment history as you progress.

Create a master resume where you can consistently add new positions. Regularly update it with start and end dates, major responsibilities, achievements, and supervisors’ names and contact information.

This master resume will be too lengthy for job applications, but it provides the necessary details to extract relevant information for your actual job applications.

Putting Your Employment History on Your Resume

While an employment history report should be thorough, your resume does not need to feature every job you’ve held.

Instead, focus on positions pertinent to the job you are applying for—whether they are within the same industry or simply demonstrate transferable skills for the new role.

When applying for a job, tailor these sections of your resume to include the most relevant information. Always be truthful and avoid exaggeration, but ensure you optimize your limited space effectively.

Creating a master resume allows you to do this; it serves as a comprehensive record from which you can extract information for your application. After all, having too much information to choose from is far better than having too little.

Author

Abby McCain

Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.