Why Do the Small Details of My Old Jobs Matter So Much?

It might feel strange to be asked detailed questions about a job you had years ago, especially one you can no longer do. But these details matter more than you'd expect, because they help determine whether any job in the whole economy still fits what your body and mind can currently handle.

When describing past work, try to include:

• How much you typically lifted or carried, and how often.
• Whether you were mostly standing, sitting, or moving around.
• Whether you supervised others or worked mostly on your own.
• How much focus, memory, or fast decision-making the job required.

Saying simply “I was a cashier” or “I worked in a warehouse” leaves out the exact information that matters most. Two people with the same job title can have very different day-to-day demands.

A skilled attorney knows how to draw out these details during intake and present them in a way that accurately reflects how demanding your past work really was, which strengthens the argument that returning to it simply isn't realistic.