answer:1) Don’t worry that your previous work experience may not directly apply to the type of job you’re looking for. As you pointed out, years of unemployment looks a lot worse. Word your description of your duties to be as pertinent to the job you’re applying for as possible. For example I applied for a safety rep position once. I had 6 months working at UPS, totally unrelated. But I pointed out that I was partially responsible for ensuring following proper safety procedures, including work with hazardous materials (when in reality I was mostly just loading them into trucks and eyeballing to make sure they belonged). Even if you can’t make it sound like it applies in some way, the employer will like that you were able to hold down a job for 5 years (it would be different if it was like 4 months or one year). This is especially true of managerial or supervisory positions, as it shows you can be trusted with responsibility (even if the job is completely unrelated). 2) You should avoid telling your employer any “for sure” future plans like that. You can tell him you’re looking at getting into vet work or animal science, leave out the time line. You should portray that you are only interested in this position, and it is your primary goal. Nothing else matters to them. The exception to this is if the position you’re applying for is basically regarded as temporary anyways. If for example its a six month contract position, I wouldn’t be afraid to point out that in a year I’m looking at going to school in another state or applying for jobs in another field. Just be sure to point out that if you really enjoy the job you are more than open to staying in the field past that six months (even if you’re not interested).