My previous employers no longer exist as they did when I worked for them. I don't remember exact dates. Help?

Question

I have over 5 years experience working in medical office's but they are from years ago. I've been to school more recently to update my knowledge. I've been filling out applications but do not remember exact dates that I've worked and wages and such. The previous employers are now retired or no longer working in the area they were before. I do not have addresses or phone numbers or supervisor info. What do I do? I'm still young enough to work for many more years.

Answer 1

Just be honest on your employment application.  Put the address of the office where it was located, but do not list the phone number and the reason why.

Employers understand that businesses open and close on a daily basis.  Nothing to worry about.

Answer 2

Like another reply said, you can just put the years and not months. This is also good if you have gaps in your employment. I've had a habit of taking on short-term (less than 3 years) employment, and have gaps of travelling in between jobs so that can look bad on a resume when you include months. So I just use years and it looks better.

If you don't remember your exact pay, make something up! Unless otherwise requested, don't include this info on your resume. I have never been asked what my previous pay has been - just what pay I'm hoping to get in the future. Nobody will check into what pay you've made before so if the job does require you to tell them this (which I sort-of doubt) just make something up.

As for not having specific references, I was in that situation before as well. I included one teacher reference and one volunteer reference. It's perfectly acceptable to do that. If they ask why you don't have a supervisor reference during the interview, just tell them exactly what you've told us! I did that and still got the job - it's totally normal for things like this to happen.

Answer 3

On applications you can just put the year not month or do your best to figure it out.   For ex you can put 2001-2003 or if you know you worked there at the time your 3rd neice was born and started after you moved to such and such you can probably narrow it down to w/in a month or 2 or at least w/in a season (spring for ex and put the best estimate you have of month if that is really needed.

Put the place down as it was when you were there.  It would be very helpfuil if you would the phone book or www.switchboard.com and find the address or phone for one or two retired practitioners you worked for write or ncall and ask if you may use them as references.  

Re: supervisor info when I owned and managed businesses I would have been very untrusting of someone who worked places any length of tme and could not remember the supervisor's name. You may not have current contact info but surely you have some idea what your boss' name was.   Since you do try the phone book and switchboard.com and see if you can find at least one or 2 of them to use as references or put in info place.   Of course this takes extra effort but it sets you apart from ppl who are just making stuiff up and strongly increases your chances of getting hired.   Even if you just remember a fiorst name it is better than nothing but I honestly can not imagine anyone working inn say a dr's office for ayr or so and not remembering the name of the dr and prolly that of front and back office managers.  

Social Security can help you find your employment records so you at peast have the place name and it's then current address correct.