When
to Include Personal Data
by
ResumeEdge.com
- The Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service
US resumes
do not include personal data such as date of birth, sex, religious
affiliation, race, or social security numbers. The only exception to
the last entry, social security numbers, would be when applying to the
federal government for a position. Then,
and only then, social security numbers should be listed on a resume.
However, the rules change when you are submitting
your resume to overseas employers.
Although each country has a different set of
requirements regarding which pieces of personal information they most want
to see, generally most will ask for the following:
-
Date of Birth
-
Place of Birth
-
Citizenship/Nationality
-
Sex
-
Race
-
Marital Status
Personal data such as hobbies or activities
Because the modern resume is a business and
marketing tool, it’s best to keep personal interests and hobbies for the
interview process as a way to “break the ice.”
This is especially true if your activities involve some perceived
risk or danger. A candidate
who is otherwise qualified for a management position might have his resume
passed over if he “runs the rapids” on the weekends or participates in
a parachuting club. Activities
with risk aren’t the only ones to caution against.
A candidate who collects rare coins -- an expensive hobby -- may
have her resume passed over by a hiring manager for a position that
involves controlling a company’s funds.
Remember,
hiring managers want to know what you can do for their company in terms of
boosting profits or reducing expenses.
What you do on your own time is best kept off a resume.
References
Unless,
and until, you are asked to interview for a position, references should
not be provided to a prospective employer.
