The modern workplace is placing an increasing emphasis on creating diverse and respectful environments, making discussions around identity and professional communication more prominent than ever. This shift has led to the practice of including personal pronouns on professional documents. Incorporating pronouns into a resume is a contemporary practice that signals an awareness of professional norms while also ensuring accuracy in addressing an applicant. This article provides practical guidance on the most appropriate locations and formatting techniques for adding pronouns to a resume, alongside a discussion of the strategic implications of this decision in the current job market.
Why Including Pronouns is a Growing Professional Trend
Providing personal pronouns on a resume is a proactive measure that fosters an inclusive environment before an interview even begins. It removes the need for a hiring manager or recruiter to make assumptions about an applicant’s gender identity based solely on their name. This clarity minimizes the potential for misgendering, which helps ensure a more comfortable and respectful hiring process for all parties involved.
The inclusion of pronouns also functions as a signal of alignment with modern workplace values concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). By voluntarily offering this information, applicants demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to respectful communication practices within a professional setting. This practice has become a subtle form of professional etiquette in many fields.
The Primary Locations for Pronouns on a Resume
Next to Your Name in the Contact Header
The most common and visible placement for personal pronouns is directly within the contact header, immediately adjacent to the applicant’s name. This placement is preferred because it ensures the information is seen instantly by anyone reviewing the document, preventing confusion or misidentification. Placing pronouns here makes them an integrated part of the applicant’s professional introduction, setting the tone for future interactions. A standard presentation involves listing the pronouns in parentheses, such as Alex Smith (she/her), or separated by a vertical bar, as in Jamie Lee | They/Them.
Incorporated into Your Contact Information
A secondary, less conspicuous option is to integrate the pronouns into the line of contact details, separate from the primary name listing. This location typically places the pronouns alongside the email address or phone number, keeping them within the general header section. This method maintains visibility while reducing the prominence compared to placing them directly next to the name. This placement is useful for applicants who prefer to group all identifying information in a single contact block, for example, Email: name@email.com | (he/him).
Near Your Professional Title (Less Common)
A third, less traditional method involves placing the pronouns within the professional summary or objective statement, often directly following the stated job title or desired role. This is rarely used on traditional, standard resumes but may be seen in creative or specialized online profiles. When used in a resume summary, it is incorporated as a parenthetical phrase at the end of the first sentence, such as, Highly motivated administrative assistant (she/her) seeking a challenging role…. This approach is less conventional and requires careful phrasing to ensure the sentence does not sound cluttered or unnatural.
Best Practices for Formatting and Presentation
When incorporating pronouns onto a resume, consistency and clarity of presentation are paramount. The most accepted format is to use a forward slash to separate the subjective and objective forms of the pronoun, such as they/them or he/him. Using a consistent style across all application materials, including the cover letter, email signature, and online profiles, reinforces the preference and avoids confusion.
The use of parentheses is a widely adopted stylistic choice that visually separates the pronouns from the name, for example, (she/her). Applicants should use the same standard font and size as the rest of the contact header to ensure readability and a clean aesthetic. Avoid using bolding, italics, or underlining solely on the pronouns, as this can draw undue attention. If an individual uses multiple sets of pronouns, all should be clearly listed, separated by a comma or another forward slash, such as she/they.
Strategic Considerations Before Including Pronouns
The decision to include personal pronouns on a resume requires a strategic assessment of the target industry and company culture. For roles in progressive fields, such as technology, media, and non-profit organizations, listing pronouns is often seen as a positive indicator of cultural alignment and mutual respect. In these environments, it helps filter for inclusive workplaces and prevents the use of incorrect language from the outset.
However, the practice can carry a risk of bias from employers in more traditional or conservative sectors, such as finance, manufacturing, or certain international markets. While discrimination based on gender identity is illegal, the possibility of an application being screened out based on personal details remains a consideration. Applicants should research the company’s public statements on diversity, review employee resource groups, and look for pronouns listed on the profiles of current employees to gauge cultural openness.
If a company’s culture is unclear or appears traditional, an applicant might choose to omit pronouns on the resume itself and instead include them in a less prominent location, such as the email signature or LinkedIn profile. This approach allows the applicant to retain personal privacy while still having the information available once the hiring process moves to the communication stage.