As the owner of a job board, I often work with recruiters who require applicants to fill in a field called “employer name.”
In my experience, recruiters expect you to fill in the ‘Employer name’ with the name of your previous (or current) company. It is recommended to mention your previous company instead of your boss’s name, as it could be deemed unprofessional.
Employers ask this question to learn more about your previous work experiences. In addition, knowing your employment history allows potential employers to identify if you came from a competitor and gauge your skillset.
Tip: Find Jobs on Salarship.
Examples of Answers to the “Employer Name” Section
Here are some common examples of answers:
- If you have worked for Apple Inc., you should not write the name of its CEO. Instead, only write Apple Inc. in the “employer name” section.
- Another example is if you were a former professor at Harvard and are currently applying for a similar position in another university, Harvard University should be written as your previous employer in the “employer name” section rather than the university president’s name.
If You Are Self-Employed: Write “Self-Employed” or the Company Name if It Is Registered
If you are self-employed, you may write want to write “self-employed.” However, you may need to specify the nature of your work as additional information on your working experience.
For instance, if your company is officially registered, write the official company name in this section. You can then either enter “founder,” “cofounder,” “owner,” or “CEO” as the role of the position.
If You Don’t Have Professional Experience, Write: “Not Applicable”
If you are still a student or lack professional experience, you can get away with a “not applicable” or “none.” You should not mention your university if you did not sign an employment contract with them.
Here’s Why Your Employment History Matters
Employment history is an important aspect of a job application as it gives potential employers insight into a candidate’s past work experience. Employers use this information to evaluate candidates’ qualifications and determine whether they are a good fit for the job.
By reviewing an applicant’s employment history, employers can see what roles the candidate has previously held, the length of time they worked in those roles, and the skills they gained.
The Bottom Line
Usually, “employer name” refers to your current company or organization’s name. Recruiters ask this question to learn more about your skillset and qualifications.
