[Sigia-l] Job/occupation categories

[Jackie Moyes]

Hiya,
 
I'm working with a client at the moment, developing application forms for financial products.
The main sticking point when testing these forms with users are the fields that ask them to select an appropriate occupation category.
There cannot be a single free text field because an automated credit check evaluates the person on their employment criteria, so they need to be identified within a pre-defined set of occupation types.
The company does have the flexibility to create any occupation categories they want as long as they can do back-end mapping to the financial system categories.  However the issues appear to be that if the categories are tool general then applicants feel they could fall in to several options.  If they are too specific then people cannot find an appropriate category.
Has anyone experience of developing occupation categories, or read any research on the topic? I'm assuming career sites must have debated this type of stuff for years.
The key driver is that it shouldn't be an onerous task, it's just one of many questions they will be asked.  Yet, they should feel comfortable that they have been able to give an accurate response, as it could effect an approval decision.
Thanks in advance!
Jackie 
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