Will writing #Vaccinated on your resume get you that job?

In a recent article in MarketWatch, one job hunter told a reporter, “It’s better to be overqualified and state all the qualifications you have.” Noting that you are fully vaccinated – by writing it on your resume and even on your LinkedIn profile is beginning to be a thing. With so many employers – especially those with 100+ employees that are now mandated to have their employees vaccinated or require continual testing, letting people know right up front and visible that this will not be an issue with them – is becoming more popular – and just may set job hunters apart in a competitive market.

Some have opted to write “vaccinated” at the top of their resume – right after name, address, phone number and email address. While not intended to be a political statement, it is a way to signal to potential employers that you are comfortable with in-person office work.

“If it comes down to me and another person with the same qualifications and the same interview, what I wanted to do is have that extra qualification of being fully vaccinated,” a 44-year-old Chicagoan said, as his approximate four-month-old search continues for a senior role in the recruiting industry.

It’s also a way to let potential employers know that because vaccination is not an issue for you, other requirements such as wearing masks and social distancing will also likely not be an issue for you on the job.

There are cautions, too. Weighing the competitive edge that noting one’s vaccination status may give, against the possibility that that dream job application may be going to someone who is not a proponent of vaccines, is a consideration. In such polarizing times, vaccinations can be as iffy to discuss as politics – except vaccinations are more and more mandated, and discussing politics is a usual no-no at the workplace anyway.

Generally speaking, resumes, job profiles, LinkedIn accounts and social media accounts should steer clear of controversies when looking for a job. Recruiters WILL look at your profiles, and WILL make a snap judgement about just who they think you are, and how suitable you are to work at their location/company. It’s probably a safe thing to do for companies with over 100 employees, but feeling out the corporate environment for other employers is a reasonable approach.

#Vaccinated