Many people look for jobs every day, and thousands if not millions of job applications are sent out every day around the world. In this modern age, where looking and applying for jobs is largely done online rather than door-to-door, online and written job applications are preferred by most hiring firms. One most common features of a job application form is the Name of Employer section. Let us know about ‘Name Of Employer Meaning’.
The Name of Employer means the details of your current and past employers and companies, firms, organisations and institutions where you have worked professionally, in the past. This includes but is not limited to volunteer work, internships, attachment during studies, freelance, self-employment, work from home, full-time work, part-time jobs, etc. The name of an employer means their details, i.e., the name of the company, and the role or position that you worked or worked in that company.
Brief description
There is always a distinct difference between an employer and an employee. Although this might vary according to the contract, the employer usually means a company that hires individuals to work for them under specified contracts and terms, while the employee means the individual working at the firm, the employer.
In the context of job applications, therefore, the Name of employer means the list of firms and companies, whether private or public, where you have worked before and currently if any. This may include all forms of employment such as contract, full-time, pensionable, permanent, internships, attachment, volunteer employment etc.
For example, if you are filling out a job application and are asked for the name of your employer, consider a scenario where you have worked for 1 company before, in addition to the company you are working at currently. For example, if you worked for Apple Inc from 2020 to 2021, and then moved to Google from 2021 to date, you are supposed to indicate on the job application form under the Name of Employer section that from 2020 to 2021, you worked at Apple Inc. As saying a data analyst, and then from 2021 to date at Google as say a Data Consultant.
In many instances, most job application forms under the Name of Employer section may also need the exact roles, duties and responsibilities that you had at each of your past employers.
It may even be wiser to list some of the achievements you made at each firm and in each role. Sometimes, you may have held a role and then got either a transfer or a promotion to a different role but still at the same employer. It is however encouraged that you list the names of your employer as clearly and as briefly as possible, as this section in most job applications is always limited. Furthermore, it is advisable you list only the employers starting from the earliest one to the most recent one, or your current employer. However, this may not be a deal breaker for most potential employers and hiring firms. The name of employer in the job application firm is usually in the work history section, which is used to gauge your skills and experience in the role and field you are applying for, thus the need to list the names of employers that are relevant to the position you are applying, but also as clearly as possible. However, it is important to note that listing ALL previous and current employers may increase your experience and therefore chances of being selected.
“Name Of Employer”, “Employer Name”, And “Employer”
These three can be used interchangeably and often mean the same thing on a job application form. However, there may be a slight difference depending on the context, and the particular job you are applying for. Also, it may depend on the nature of the job application form you are filling out. In any case, it is important to always use the right details to fill out these three sections in a job application form.
All these three, the Name of Employer, employer name and employer are all the same and are used in job application forms by hiring firms, but have the same meaning: the companies you have worked for before, and currently, if any, and the roles or positions you held at each company.
Some hiring firms use the Name of Employer on the job application forms they ask you to fill out when considering you for a job, while others use the employer’s name yet others use just the word employer. It’s all just relative. But caution must be made as to the particular context asked for.
In very few instances, however, when filling out a job application, in the “employer” section, they may be requiring you to write the name of your employer, i.e., the name of the individual in which instance may be taken to mean your boss, supervisor, team leader, or the owner or director or head of the company you worked or work for.
How To Fill the Name of Employer Section in A Job Application Form?
As pointed out earlier, the Name of employer section in a job application is very crucial as it will enable the entity that is asking you to fill the job application form to know which companies you have worked for before, in what roles and for how long. This helps them know if you are suitable for the job, they are considering you for and makes you an advantage over other job applicants in today’s competitive job market.
When filling out the Name of Employer section in a job application?
- Provide clear details on the specific company or companies or organization or individuals you have worked for before, and/ or are working for/with currently. Provide clear details of the name e.g., Apple Inc, your role e.g., data analyst, and years worked e.g., from February 2020 to July 2022.
- Indicate the duties and responsibilities you performed at each role and at each employer, the achievements you managed e.g., sales targets met. However, be brief and precise in this.
- In cases where you worked in a multi-disciplinary company a company with many departments, roles and branches even for the same location and office, etc., it is important to state a clear and precise employer with the correct departments. For example, you may be working for Alphabet Inc, but the company has divisions such as Google, YouTube etc. Also, like most car manufacturers. In a few cases, it may be prudent to indicate the region or country you worked. Eg Data Analyst at Google EMEA, i.e., east and middle eastern Africa.
- In a few instances, you may add the name of your supervisor or boss when required, usually with their email and phone contacts. However, this is mostly also required under the references section of the job application form, and may therefore not be required in the Name of Employer section of the job application and form.
Examples Of How to Fill the Name of Employer Section
As pointed out earlier, the Name of Employer is the name of the company, organization, institution, individual or entity, in whichever form, that you have worked for before or are still currently working for, either as an employee, consultant, volunteer, service provider, or in other forms of employment.
For example, if you worked for Apple Inc from 2020 to 2021, and then moved to Google from 2021 to date, you are supposed to indicate on the job application form under the Name of Employer section that from 2020 to 2021, you worked at Apple Inc. As saying a data analyst, and then from 2021 to date at Google as say a Data Consultant.
In this case, the Name of Employer is Apple Inc, with you being the employee working at Apple Inc as a Data Analyst. The second Name of Employer is Google from 2021 to date you the employee worked for the employer Google as a Data Consultant
There are several other sections of the Name of Employer that may be drawing from, separated from or related to other sections of the job application form. These include, as mentioned before, the references section, and the preferred salary range.
Name Of Employer Meaning for Previously Unemployed, Self-Employed and Freelance Job Applicants
As explained before, the name of an employer means the name of the company or companies you have worked previously for or are currently still working for. But that does not lock out other forms and modes of employment such as self-employment, previously unemployed individuals e.g., fresh graduates and freelance work.
- If you have ever only been self-employed and never had any other job with another company or organization which you would otherwise indicate under the Name of Employer section, you are required to write self-employed, owner, CEO, Founder etc. under the Name of Employer section of the job application form, then give the details of the self-employment, what you do, how long you have done it, etc.
Most employers will not negatively portray bias towards you for having only ever been self-employed, nor will it reduce your chances of landing the job. On the contrary, it even might increase your chances since it shows you are creative enough to start and be self-employed in your venture, an important trait most employers look for. It may you stand out in front of other applicants since you gain a lot of important work experience, skills and expertise working self-employed than you would even work for another company.
However, this entirely depends on the type of job you are applying for, the employer’s individual preferences and the nature of the job and application. Some jobs and job industries are rare if not impossible to be self-employed in, and being self-employed in such a job industry may not be preferred. It helps a lot if the self-employment venture you had was closely related to the job you are applying for, e.g., in the same job industry, skills and education set etc.
- Another variation of self-employment is working freelance. This means working for multiple roles and multiple projects, and companies at the same time and not being tied down to a single full-time or contract job at a time. In such a case the Name of Employer section in your job application, you need to indicate “freelancer”. You will then give the details of the freelance companies, individuals, projects etc. that you have worked on before, or are working on now. Again, it helps a lot if the freelance projects and ventures you worked on were closely related to the job you are applying for, e.g., in the same job industry, skills and education set etc.
- Thirdly, if you have no previous job or work experience, e.g., if you are a fresh graduate, you can indicate any relevant, even remotely, activity or skills you engaged in that may have equipped you with some skills and experience necessary for the job market,
Otherwise, if you never did anything, it may be honest to not lie on a job application but just indicate None or not available under the employer’s name. Note that employers do not entirely hire based on previous work experience. You may not have any work experience but have impressive skills, education qualifications, certifications, etc. that can make up and make your chances just as good as others with some work experience, if not more.
Again, it all depends on the employer and nature of the job you are applying for and the job requirements.
Importance of the Name of Employer
- It shows the level of experience hence your suitability for the job, increasing your chances of; landing the job in addition to your other details such as education, qualifications etc.
- It provides some background to your work history and the skills needed for the job.
- Makes you stand out among other job applicants, especially in the competitive job market.
- It may be a requirement for the human resource managers for the company you are applying for since they may need to contact the companies or individuals you have listed in the Name of Employer section, for job selection purposes, especially for high and competitive positions.
- If you do not have very impressive academic and educational qualifications, the Name of Employer section can be your strength. Since it shows you have experience for the job which may be a vital requirement than impressive academic qualification, if not more in some cases.
Conclusion
“The Name of Employer is a section in a job application and form where you are required to give details of your past and current work history, companies and individuals you have worked for, regardless of the mode of employment, years worked, specific roles and positions held, and the duties, responsibilities and achievements at your previous and current work history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: How can you Fill in the Name of Employer (previous employers) section of a job application form yet you are applying for the job now?
The Name of Employer details the name of your previous employers i.e., the companies you worked with in whatever capacity or manner, or are still working for now, before the organization for which you are filling out the job application form. For example, if you worked as a Marketing Intern at Deloitte from 2020 to 2021 and are filling the job now, the Name of Employer is Deloitte. Also, indicate years worked, position, duties and responsibilities unless indicated otherwise.
Question 2: How can you Fill the Name of Employer (previous employers) section of a job application form yet you are and have ever been only self-employed?
The Name of Employer section of the job application form requires one to detail the name and details of all previous and current employers. However, if self-employed, you can write self-employed, owner, CEO, Founder etc. under the Name of Employer section of the job application form, then give the details of the self-employment, nature of self-employment, etc.
