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People actually put religious information on their resumes ???? Business and religion should be kept separate. It is like when I see someone's business card and they have one of those little "fish" on it, I am always skeptical of them............are they trying to tell me that because they are a Christian I should automatically assume they are honest ???
What doesn't belong on a resume: religion, hobbies, marital status, family information, hobbies and interests, membership in organizations that have nothing to do with the position, any other personal information or characteristics that have nothing to do with performing the job. You've got maybe 30 seconds max to make a good impression with your resume, make them count. And be aware that spelling and grammar errors are a resume killer. If you have problems with the language, pay someone to edit your resume and cover letter.
What doesn't belong on a resume: religion, hobbies, marital status, family information, hobbies and interests, membership in organizations that have nothing to do with the position, any other personal information or characteristics that have nothing to do with performing the job. You've got maybe 30 seconds max to make a good impression with your resume, make them count. And be aware that spelling and grammar errors are a resume killer. If you have problems with the language, pay someone to edit your resume and cover letter.
I used to put hobbies but frankly the space is best used for other things.
Why anyone would put religion on is beyond me. I've personally seen applications that if you are part of any group that is religious, political etc to NOT put it on.
Your resume is a snapshot of your qualifications for the job. Unless the job is at a religious institution, your faith isn't one of the qualifying (or disqualifying) criteria.
Your coworkers will be able to tell if you're letting your light shine or hiding it under a bushel.
I could see something like a Mormon mission or church related work/education for almost any religion being on a resume if it is related to the job applied for or if it accounts for a lengthy period that would otherwise be accounted for as unemployment. I would expect to see it in education or work experience though, and the religion as something I would infer from the activity listed, not a stand alone statement.
I think it would be pretty weird to just randomly list your religion on a resume, and as a hiring manager, I think I would pass if I had other qualified applicants.
Agreed. My aunt's religion was pretty apparent from her resume--she was a former nun who taught in Catholic schools way back in the late 1950s to early 1970s, and she left the religious life but continued teaching at a secular level. But when your resume says that you were in the Order of the Sisters of Such-and-Such and taught at St. Something-or-other-school, it's probably screamingly obvious that you either were or still are Catholic (she remained Catholic, she just realized being a nun was not for her.) But given that this had been her 'career' until she entered the secular world, it only made sense that she would have it on her resume.
So aside from the religion having been part of your work (going on a mission, having left a religious order and entering the secular workforce), I can't see where you'd advertise it on a resume.
In general, I suggest that candidates leave out religious entries, with these exceptions:
- They are LDS (in good standing) and applying to an LDS company
- They are applying for a church position (especially if they are a member) -- for example, many Lutheran pre-schools only want to hire Lutherans. They may not say that, but that's how it works.
- They are applying to a Christian company in general: (Lobby Hobby, certain home nursing organizations, Christian book store)
Basically, I (or I have them) do a little research on the company but there are some where being of a certain faith will open doors.
The other instance is when their religion is so much a part of them that working in too "worldly" of an environment will cause them great distress, and I always advise them that if they truly need income they will need to not put that on their resume and make some adjustments, although I try to find them positions that won't compromise their beliefs, and that was a lot easier when I lived a little closer to Bluffton, OH, a Mennonite community. There are more small Amish and Mennonite businesses that will hire each other's teenagers.
And before you shake your head, consider that young Mennonite women in need of a job have somewhat limited options because of their strong beliefs. Some Amish women aren't allowed to work for anyone, except other Amish relatives.
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