Job Application Help

[starrypawz]

So, I'm applying for a job and I've hit something that's always a bit sticky for me.
'Employment History'
Because well... I don't have one.
I've been a student from 2008 to quite recently and I didn't work whilst I was at college as I didn't 'need' to at the time.  It's different on a paper job application as I can easily just write in 'full time student from here to here' on the sheet but with online apps they want a lot of nitty gritty details that I can't fill in. Like 'reason for leaving' on this current app it has a drop down list rather than a reason box and I honestly have no idea what would fit in this case. :/
The only other thing I have that's close to employment is the work placement I did once in school and once in college at a cattery but I'm not sure if that counts as it was only for two weeks each time I did it.
What do I do? I've been told not to leave it blank as that apparently looks bad but then at the same time I can't really fill it in. It's driving me nuts.

[Eviecorn]

Hmmm... I have no earthly idea.  Possibly fill in that you were a full-time student during this time and explain in further detail that you didn't work during that time in order to focus on your studies and take them seriously.

[Echo_Shell]

Similar problems here since my employment history basically consists of a 3 year assistantship at the university archives.  I really hate those electronic applications....

[starrypawz]

Similar problems here since my employment history basically consists of a 3 year assistantship at the university archives.  I really hate those electronic applications....

I'm with you there, they really make applying for jobs more complicated than they need to be. X.x They asked me to upload my CV then it turns out they've extrapolated various bits of 'data' from it onto the form and so I think I took my college stuff to be a 'real' job.

[kaoskat]

Yeah these online applications are just......ineffective really.

[RAMChYLD]

The only other thing I have that's close to employment is the work placement I did once in school and once in college at a cattery but I'm not sure if that counts as it was only for two weeks each time I did it.

Well, just list down all the part time jobs you've taken in the past, even those little "unofficial" services like helping out at a relative or friends' business. Those still counts as a job.

[starrypawz]

The only other thing I have that's close to employment is the work placement I did once in school and once in college at a cattery but I'm not sure if that counts as it was only for two weeks each time I did it.

Well, just list down all the part time jobs you've taken in the past, even those little "unofficial" services like helping out at a relative or friends' business. Those still counts as a job.

Thanks for the tip.
I just got rid of the autocomplete record it had placed in and found there is in fact an option for 'no work history to add'... but I have a bad feeling if I click that it might make me look bad. Agh D:

[mercynova]

On those applications I always find it's best to.... bend the truth a little

Your goal is to get to a real life human being who you can impress in an interview, so if you've only had work experience in cattery or whatever.... well then put that as your previous employment. As for the reason why you left... something like 'returning to education'... that's not exactly a lie.

Good luck job hunting

[melodys_angel]

List down any volunteer work you have instead.  Hun, they value this just as much--if not even more--then your past work history because it shows what kind of person you can be.

The others are right though, anything unofficuial like helping out with a family or friends buisness counts, too   Goodluck^^

[starrypawz]

List down any volunteer work you have instead.  Hun, they value this just as much--if not even more--then your past work history because it shows what kind of person you can be.

The others are right though, anything unofficuial like helping out with a family or friends buisness counts, too   Goodluck^^

I would but I honestly have none to add. :/ I'm in the process of sorting some out though so that means I need to go back and edit the job application to change my hours of availablity D:

It's just so fustrating, it's simple enough in the sense of 'I've been studying for the past four years and haven't been employed in this time' but the way the job applications are set up don't seem to allow for that.