Angle pointing down icon An icon shaped like an angle pointing down. As redundant as it may seem, you must fill out work history fields on a job application, even if that information is already on your resume. Shutterstock
- A big complaint when applying for a job is having to write down your work history even when your resume indicates it.
- As annoying as it may be, you should do this because of the way applicant tracking systems analyze information.
- If you skip these fields, you may be unwittingly ruling yourself out for the position.
It’s one of the most frustrating parts of the job application process: You’ve uploaded your resume, but now you’re asked to rehash all of your work experience on the application. What’s going on?
In June 2024 survey Of 2,000 U.S.-based professionals surveyed by FlexJobs and MyPerfectResume, 79% said their biggest pet peeve on a job application is having to re-enter their employment history after uploading a resume.
As tedious as it may be, there’s a good reason you should fill it out anyway. If you’ve ever left it blank or written “View Resume” in the hopes that a hiring manager would look at it, you might be hurting your chances of landing an interview.
The reason for this is mainly due to applicant tracking systems.
“When you upload your resume and it gets scanned, and then you have to re-enter some of the information, that allows the applicant tracking system to view that information correctly in terms of keyword scanning and experience that the position requires,” said Toni Frana, senior career expert at FlexJobs.
The particular format of resumes can also make it difficult for applicant tracking systems to “read” your information, so they may not get all of your employment history right when parsing it—having simple text fields where you can spell it out for them helps.
“There are many applicant tracking systems available, and each one is set up and used a little differently by employers,” he added. “Job seekers have likely seen this as they have applied to different companies and experienced different ATS systems and different analytics each time.”
Employers may also ask you to re-enter your employment history because job application portals often require candidates to sign to certify that the information they provided is accurate; employers typically do not receive the same certification that you are not lying on your resume.
And of course, there’s a much simpler reason to re-enter your work information, too.
“Some hiring managers find it off-putting when candidates write ‘see resume,’ as if they’re saying ‘your instructions don’t apply to me,'” said Alison Green, who runs the career advice website Ask a Manager. wrote on the subject last year.
Fortunately, completing these fields can be as simple as copying and pasting what’s already on your resume.
Green added in her post that in addition to having a main formatted version of your resume ready for applications, it’s helpful to also keep a simple text version to quickly transfer information.
“Make sure you have the same information in both places so that no matter what system employers are using or what they’re looking at, they can see the right information about your skills, experiences and accomplishments to know you’re the right candidate for the job,” Frana said.
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