About The Authormatt Glodz
Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.
At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background – which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication – to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over eight years.
Personal Pronouns On Your Resume Or Linkedin Profile
You may have noticed pronouns being included on social media profiles, email signatures, and in the job search process in general. Including pronouns can prevent accidental misgendering, helping you avoid having to correct a hiring manager or recruiter using incorrect pronouns. It could also help you identify an inclusive workplace. There is no one blanket rule/policy that can apply to all, and your decision to include your pronouns is a very personal one.
There are a few ways that you can clarify your pronouns within a job application process. If you want to include on your resume, you can simply add your pronouns under your name in the header . Another perhaps less obvious way to include your pronouns is in your cover letter, beneath your signature at the bottom of the page. You can add your pronouns in parentheses next to your name, or you can add an additional line under your name/title. Sometimes, job applications will ask you to identify your salutation of Mr./Ms./Dr./other.
If you do want to include your pronouns on your career documents, there are a couple of ways to do so.
While there can be many benefits to including your pronouns, the unfortunate truth is that there is still hiring discrimination in some quarters, so delineating your pronouns on your documents is ultimately your choice. You may have other opportunities, during the interview or after hiring, to share your preferred pronouns.
Quantify As Much As Possible
Anyone can say that he or she excelled at his or her last job. So, you need to prove to the hiring manager that you truly did. Numbers, percentages, and supporting facts go a long way in showing that you have a track record of success. For example, rather than saying successfully hit sales quotas as a bullet point in your resume you should say successfully hit sales quotas 100% of the time and exceeded goals by 25% in the last 5 months. You can even do this if your position doesnt involve using numbers.
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Some Examples Of Gender Pronouns
Most people know that she/her and he/him refer to female and male, respectively, but there are some gender pronouns that those with other gender identities may prefer to use.
They/Them Pronouns
While you might have been taught in grammar lessons that they/them are plural nouns, they can also be used as singular, third-person gender pronounsmeaning they/them can refer to an individual. Usually, they/them is a preferred pronoun for a person who does not identify as a male or female. It would look something like this: Sam is a teacher. They are passionate about their job.
Ze/Hir Pronouns
Another pronoun option that some people use is ze/hir. As you can see, these do not refer to a specific gender, and can therefore be more inclusive. For example: Jesse is our new intern. Ze comes to us from City College. Let’s all welcome hir.
When To Use Both Past And Present Tense
Your resume is supposed to be a customized career marketing document that demonstrates you’re the best candidate for a specific position. You sell yourself to new companies by highlighting career accomplishments.
So, how do you handle talking about past and present items in the description of your current role if you shouldn’t mix past and present tense within the same section of your resume? Separate the bullet points under your current role into things you do everyday first and achievements last. Write daily responsibilities in present tense and your achievements in the past tense.This is what that would look like:
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Document, report, and present project milestones, performance KPIs and status updates in weekly executive meetings attended by as many as 12 board members.
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Implement and execute all standard operating procedures to ensure adherence to protocols, mitigate risk, and improve overall safety rating to 0 incidents per month.
NOTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
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Saved more than $300K by tracking spending, identifying waste, and authoring/implementing new project metrics that reduced spending.
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Nominated by leaders for the I’m-The-Greatest-Employee award, 2021.
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Should I Put Pronouns On My Resume
Pronouns including, they/them/theirs, he/him/him, andshe/her/hers, etc. are becoming more common to see in email signatures and Zoomboxes, but should you put them on your job search documents? There is not oneblanket rule/policy that can apply to all and your decision to include yourpronouns is a very personal one. There are a few ways that you can clarify your pronouns within a jobapplication process. If you want to include on your resume, you can simply addyour pronouns under your name in the header .Another perhaps less obvious way to include your pronouns is in your coverletter, beneath your signature at the bottom of the page. You can add your pronouns in parentheses next to your name, or you canadd an additional line under your name/title. Sometimes, job applications will ask you toidentify your salutation of Mr./Ms./Dr./other.
Including your pronouns can be a way of preventing accidentalmisgendering and it could perhaps even help you to find an inclusiveworkplace. Lauren Easterling, Directorof Trainee Services at the Indiana University School of Medicine, shared anarticle NavigatingGender Identity and Expression in which she writes:
While there can be many benefits toincluding your pronouns, the unfortunate truth is that there is still hiring discrimination,so delineating your pronouns on your documents is ultimately your choice.
Thinking About Personal Pronouns On Your Resume And/or Linkedin Profile
You may have noticed pronouns being included on social media profiles, email signatures, and in the job search process in general. Including pronouns can prevent accidental misgendering, helping you avoid having to correct a hiring manager or recruiter using incorrect pronouns. It could also help you identify an inclusive workplace. There is no one blanket rule/policy that can apply to all, and your decision to include your pronouns is a very personal one.There are a few ways that you can clarify your pronouns within a job application process. If you want to include on your resume, you can simply add your pronouns under your name in the header . Another perhaps less obvious way to include your pronouns is in your cover letter, beneath your signature at the bottom of the page. You can add your pronouns in parentheses next to your name, or you can add an additional line under your name/title. Sometimes, job applications will ask you to identify your salutation of Mr./Ms./Dr./other.
If you do want to include your pronouns on your career documents, there are a couple of ways to do so.
While there can be many benefits to including your pronouns, the unfortunate truth is that there is still hiring discrimination in some quarters, so delineating your pronouns on your documents is ultimately your choice. You may have other opportunities, during the interview or after hiring, to share your preferred pronouns.
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Its An Essential Step Toward Inclusivity
It encourages essential step towards inclusivity whether you are cisgender, transgender or non-binary, putting your pronoun on professional materials such as resume is a far important step towards workplace inclusivity. According to Max Masure a co-founder of Argo Collective, an organization wired with the sole aim of helping workplaces build inclusive cultures said
Including pronouns in your professional materials is a great way to show someone you are an LGBTQ + ally.
Balancing the usage of pronouns is a sure and impactful way to show ones advocacy for LGBTQIA + individuals. However you identify, it helps more people than you think when you are proud of your pronouns as well as encouraging others out there too.
Itll Help You Find An Inclusive Workplace
In some situation, many will react against putting your pronouns on your resume believing it can lead to discrimination but little did they know that theres a great benefit such that it can help weed out non- inclusive workplaces for instance a company may find you totally qualified for the job being identified as a non-binary but refuse to invite you for an interview, you can tell from there that such a company may not make you feel comfortable working for them.
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Words And Phrases To Avoid On Your Resume
When you’re writing a resume, every word should be considered carefully, both those you include and the words you avoid. Since you’re working with a limited amount of space, you want to make sure you are highlighting what’s important and not adding words or phrases that are unnecessary, bland, overused, or convey a negative message.
Its : Do You Even Need A Personal Profile
As with everything in a CV, there are no right or wrong answers and every CV writer / recruiter will have their own opinion on what makes a good CV. In my experience, a personal profile is one of the most important aspects of your CV second only to the achievements within your employment. The majority of recruiters will expect one and find it strange to read a CV without a profile.
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Should Your Resume Be Written In 1st Or 3rd Person
Great question, James. Youre certainly not the first person to ask this.
Your resume should never be written in third person. Use first person, but leave out the pronoun I. For example, if youre an administrative assistant, instead of saying I coordinated travel for senior leadership, simply say Coordinated travel for senior leadership.
Organize your responsibilities in a bulleted list, using an action verb at the beginning of each bullet point. For example, rather than saying I ran reports, say Generated reports.
Below is an example of how to take a basic, generic bullet point and make it valuable by adding an action verb and number to quantify your responsibilities.
Example:
Generic Responsibility:Processed monthly payroll.
Next, take it a step further by quantifying your past responsibility.
Example:
Generic Responsibility:Processed monthly payroll.
Quantified Responsibility:Processed monthly payroll for 100 employees.
Then, add the system you used. A good formula to follow is: say what you did, the quantity by which you did it, and the system you used to do it.
Example:
Processed monthly payroll for 100 employees using QuickBooks.
Processed is the action verb, monthly payroll is what you did, 100 employeesquantifies your accomplishment, and QuickBooks is the system you used.
When writing your resume, be cognizant of your use of past or present tense. Use present tense to describe your current position and past tense for your previous positions.
Your Resume Should Not Use The Word I And Other Tricks Of The Trade
I often receive feedback from clients about the resumes I have prepared for them one of consistent comments I receive is about the word I. While resumes should not be written in third person , they should not use the word I either. Resumes are appropriately written in first person implied. This means that not only should you not use I, you should not use other personal pronouns such as me, my, we, our, etc., either.
I also received feedback about missing articleswords like a, an., the. These words are not missing they are intentionally left out! For easier reading and brevity , resumes are written in what is called telegraphic style. In essence these words are eliminated but the sentence is still understood.
Here are some other common questions about resume writing style I hear:
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When Should I Use First
Resumes should never be written in the third person. The third-person style distances you from your experiences because it sounds like you are writing about another person.
Including first-person pronouns is not recommended, either. Employers value concise, results-oriented writing, so excluding the pronouns has emerged as a way to focus on actionthe verbrather than the subject, the pronoun. The result is a powerfully written document that highlights the actions youve previously taken that added value and delivered positive outcomes.
Read more: Why Action Verbs Are Important for Resumes
Resume Template Using Proper Tenses
Here is a template you can use for your job descriptions to help you write about your responsibilitiesâpast and presentâin the correct tense:
Professional History
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Trained a team of 10 brand ambassadors to educate and create meaningful relationships with customers
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Increased website traffic by 25% over 12 months
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Manage $100,000 monthly advertising budget for six separate websites between AdWords, Facebook and other platforms
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Prepare monthly reports for executives
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Review and analyze success of campaigns to optimize for better performance
Growth AgencyDigital Marketer, September 2015-October 2018
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Collaborated with a 10-person marketing team to design and implement marketing plans for our clients
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Advised clients on the best strategies to meet their clients at the lowest cost
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Ensured consistency in brand messaging and tone across all web platforms
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Negotiated with third-party vendors to achieve the best pricing on mar**keting materials
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Should You Include Gender Pronouns On Your Resume Linkedin Profile Experts Weigh In
DEAR READERS: Ive seen quite a few resumes and LinkedIn profiles lately that prominently list the persons gender pronoun. Is this something that is becoming a regular and generally accepted part of resume formatting? Or are there issues a job applicant should consider before adding that to their resume and profile?
This question generated a lot of different opinions from the universe of career search experts I reached out to!
A few of them offered an unequivocal dont do it and gave their reasons why.
My gut reaction when reading a gender pronoun LinkedIn Profile is to cringetheres nothing wrong with doing that, but it could eliminate you from positions before you even get a chance to apply, says Damian Birkel, the founder and executive director of Professionals In Transition Support Group Inc. Like religion, politics and other hot-button issues, a gender pronoun can create instant barrierssilent judgements are made, and, like it or not, a recruiter or employer may eliminate you without your knowledge because of gender pronouns. Right or wrong, you cant control their bias.
But several others had different, and more nuanced takes on the topic.
Kyle Elliott, the founder of CaffeinatedKyle.com and a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and the Gay Coaches Alliance, considers including your pronouns on a resume, LinkedIn and other career documents an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to inclusion.
Format In A Logical Structure
Even more important than naming the file in a logical manner is laying out your resume in a logical manner. How you lay it out really depends on where you are in your career path and what youre looking to do next. While chronological the default, its not always the best way to make your case. Muse writer Lily Zhang lays out the other options that might work better for you.
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Use Your Judgement When It Comes To Creativity
Some industries are more creative than others. If youre working in digital media or design or elementary school education, it might make sense for your resume to be creative and colored. If youre applying for a job in finance, operations, or most corporate jobs, you probably want to keep it black and white and structured. Be thoughtful when it comes to your creativity .
Action Pack Your Resume
Your resume is your first point of contact with a company. Don’t fill it with cliches and fluff. For better alternatives to these overused and irrelevant resume terms, take a look at our article on Action Words to Use in Resumes. And for more on what to include in your resume and cover letter read What You Need in an Interview-Winning Resume and Cover Letter.
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Reasons Not To Include Gender Pronouns On Your Resume
- It risks discrimination, subconscious or otherwise. While overt discrimination on the basis of gender identity is illegal, it can still happen, which may or may not be a risk youre willing to take.
- Youre not comfortable openly sharing your pronouns. Youre under no obligation to come out, especially at work.
- Youre still unsure, not ready to commit to specific pronouns, or your pronouns change regularly.
Ultimately, the choice of whether to list pronouns on your resume is a completely personal decision and is fine either way.
Check Both Male And Female Off On Your Job Application And Explain Later
While many people dont identify with neither male nor female, if youre someone who identifies with both male and female, you can choose both M and F if it feels fitting for you. A job application is not a legal document, and you can always explain to your prospective employer down the line if the application process progresses.
AnnaMarie Houlis is a multimedia journalist and an adventure aficionado with a keen cultural curiosity and an affinity for solo travel. She’s an editor by day and a travel blogger at HerReport.org by night.
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