Yes, resume discrimination is a real thing. In fact, job applicants who believe they were turned away from a job opportunity due to resume discrimination likely have a cause of action versus the potential employer.
It is the opinion of this law office that a number of job seekers have been the victim of discrimination for information they put on their resume or application. Yes, this is unfair and you have rights.
What is resume discrimination?
Imagine spending hours on a job application, resume, or cover letter. If you are looking for work, likely you know this process firsthand.
Next, imagine sending your career history to a potential employer and seeing your application ripped in half or worse – laughed at. Likely, you would not feel very good.
Resume discrimination occurs when a potential employer utilizes information from your resume to disqualify you from an opportunity.
What information cannot be used?
A current or potential employer cannot use your age, gender, origin, race, or any other attribute you cannot change, to your disadvantage.
Examples of resume discrimination
Examples of resume discrimination are simple to imagine. To get started, consider the following list of brief examples:
- Including your birth date on your application,
- The origin of your name,
- Assumptions based on your place of residence,
- Providing a 10-40 year work history,
- Associations with volunteer groups,
- Words embedded in your e-mail address, or
- Making reference to your family dynamics.
What can you do if you have been discriminated against?
If a person believes they were discriminated against for facts in their resume or job application, the person can file a formal complaint with the EEOC, Minnesota Department of Labor, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Saint Paul Department of Human Rights, Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, and any other applicable government agency.
Additionally, a person likely has recourse by way of a formal cause of action in Minnesota Court or Federal Court.
What information should you exclude from your resume?
You are going to find this shocking, but the job market is different today than it was 5 or even 15 years ago.
Generally, you cannot trust anybody with your personal information. As a minimum, consider excluding these items from your resume:
- Age
- Residence or home address
- Phone number. Consider using a free phone number like Google Voice so your area code or LAN line cannot be traced to an address or specific neighborhood
- E-mail address. Create a new e-mail address exclusive to your job search process.
- A list of dates associating you with a historical outline of your career
- Your last wage
This information is crazy
Absolutely this law office wants to believe implementing the above referenced strategies is a form of paranoia. Unfortunately, the facts and job search process in 2015 has proven resume discrimination is more prevalent now than ever before.
Therefore, if you believe you were turned away from a job due to resume discrimination, please contact this law office for help.
