3 key takeaways
- Including your pronouns on a resume is a personal choice, but one that can ensure hiring managers use your correct pronouns in your job search.
- While some companies may reject resumes if you include pronouns, this can be a good way to weed out companies with a less inclusive culture.
- You can easily add your pronouns next to your name or in your resume header with Teal’s AI Resume Builder.
A good resume is like a good first impression. You want your resume to accurately represent your experience, skills, and achievements. A resume gives hiring managers an idea of who you are—which may include adding your pronouns to your resume.
Choosing whether to include your pronouns on your resume is a personal decision. However, it’s one that may allow you to express your identity and ensure the company you work for has solid diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
This guide covers whether you might want to include pronouns on your resume (or not), and if you do, how to add them to your resume and LinkedIn.
Use Teal’s AI Resume Maker to properly format every detail.
Understanding pronouns and their importance in identity
Pronouns are words that stand in for nouns to refer to people or things; pronouns, specifically, are the words we use to refer to people in lieu of their name. For example, you may use the pronouns she, her, and hers. That means when people talk about you, they might say something like, “That new engineer is a writer. She’s always loved telling stories.”
Examples of pronouns include:
- He/him/his
- She/her/hers
- They/them/theirs
- Ze/Zir/Zirs
Some people may choose to use a mix of pronouns, like “she/they” or “they/he.” In this case, you may use multiple types of pronouns to refer to them. For example, if someone used she/they pronouns, you could say, “She’s such a great manager. Did you see how well they presented in the morning meeting?”
Pronouns are one way people express their identity, especially for people whose gender identity may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, nonbinary job seekers may use gender neutral pronouns like they/them/theirs.
While some people use their pronouns to affirm their gender identity, pronouns don’t always indicate someone’s gender. However, just because someone uses non-gender specific pronouns doesn’t mean they’re nonbinary. It’s important not to assume someone’s gender identity from their pronouns.
Everyone has the right to choose pronouns they identify with. Using someone’s correct pronouns is a form of respect and recognition, just like using someone’s preferred name and ensuring you spell it correctly.
In the workplace, if you see someone shares their preferred pronouns on a resume, in their email signature, their Slack status, their Zoom name, or anywhere else, be sure to use their correct pronouns.
Should you include pronouns on your resume?
Whether or not to include pronouns on your resume is an entirely personal decision. That being said, there are a few benefits—and drawbacks—of including them.
Reasons for including pronouns on a resume
Adding your pronouns on your resume might be beneficial for your sense of identity and understanding your future employer.
- Prevents misgendering: Adding your pronouns to your resume can (hopefully!) ensure that there’s no confusion or mistakes from hiring managers on what your pronouns are, ensuring you’re addressed correctly from the start of the hiring process. This helps prevent the use of wrong pronouns, which can lead to uncomfortable situations and the need for corrections.
- Promotes inclusivity: Using pronouns on your resume can promote tolerance and belonging of all identities. No matter your gender identity or pronouns, adding them to your resume can signal you support gender diversity and an inclusive workplace where everyone is respected.
- Demonstrates values & culture-fit: Adding personal pronouns on your resume can provide hiring managers insight into your values and alignment with the company culture.
- Weeds out non-inclusive companies: If hiring managers reject your resume because you’ve included pronouns, they’re likely working for a company you wouldn’t align with anyway!
Reasons against including pronouns on a resume
While there are so many positive, personal reasons to include pronouns on a resume, including personal pronouns on a resume could lead to potential bias during the hiring process. Whether the employer is conscious of it or not, there may be bias against resumes that include pronouns, especially for resumes of nonbinary people with gender neutral pronouns.
According to a study by business.com, hiring managers offered negative comments about pronouns on a resume 38 percent of the time. While this is a minority of respondents, it does still demonstrate a significant risk of discrimination for those who choose to include their pronouns.
Should I include pronouns on my resume?
Including your pronouns on your resume is a way to express your identity, share what pronouns you prefer, and align yourself with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Unfortunately, in some industries and at some companies, adding pronouns to your resume may be seen as unprofessional and can even lead to your resume being rejected.
However, you should never be discriminated against based on your gender identity—both ethically and legally. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act legally prohibits employers from discrimination based on your sex (including sexual orientation, pregnancy, and gender identity) at work, including when you apply for a job.
If a company chooses to pass on your resume because you’ve included pronouns, it’s probably not a company you’d want to work for anyway. The good news is you may have a case to take legal action.
How to put pronouns on a resume
You’ve decided you want to include pronouns on your resume—great! Here’s how to make a resume that includes pronouns, including what section they can go in and how to format them.
Where to put pronouns on a resume
The correct placement of pronouns on a resume is in your resume header, above your short professional bio or resume personal statement (if you have one). You can either include them right next to your name, or below your name next to your contact information.
In Teal’s Resume Builder, you can use header fields to easily and clearly add your pronouns to your resume.
Examples of how to include pronouns on a resume
In these pronouns on resume examples, each person has included their pronouns in their resume header, either next to their name or contact information. You should always include your pronouns upfront in this section.
Teal’s Design Mode feature can ensure you always place and format your pronouns on a resume correctly, easily, and clearly.
How to add pronouns on LinkedIn
Outside of your resume, you can also opt to add your pronouns to your LinkedIn profile. In 2021, LinkedIn released a pronoun feature that allows you to add your pronouns next to your name.
1. Navigate to your profile
First, navigate to your general profile page, where you can make edits to your profile. Select the pencil icon to start to make edits to your intro.
2. Choose your pronouns
Choose from LinkedIn’s options of pronouns, or write in your own custom pronouns.
3. Choose your pronoun visibility
You can choose to share your pronouns only with your LinkedIn connections (1st-degree only) or with all members signed into LinkedIn.
Regardless of which option you choose, members don’t have the ability to search for you based on your pronouns.
Your pronouns will now appear next to your name on your LinkedIn profile. Your pronouns will also appear on the general LinkedIn feed when you share a comment or post and in messages.
Using pronouns in the workplace
The use of pronouns in the workplace is not only a practical necessity to communicating with and about others, but can be a step toward a more tolerant, respectful, and welcoming work environment.
Additionally, the role of the hiring manager and human resources is crucial in addressing discrimination in the hiring process, as their perception can significantly influence the fairness of applicant evaluations, particularly concerning gender identity and the use of personal pronouns on resumes.
Why are pronouns important in the workplace?
Pronouns are important in the workplace to ensure respectful everyday communication that promotes a culture of belonging.
The impact of respecting pronouns on workplace culture is wide-reaching. When you normalize using pronouns in the workplace, you promote a culture where everyone is encouraged to be their authentic selves. Using a person’s correct pronouns in the workplace is a sign of respect.
Dos and don’ts for using pronouns in the workplace and hiring process
When using personal pronouns in the workplace, focus on creating an inclusive atmosphere, but don’t push anyone to share pronouns if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
- Don’t assume someone’s pronouns: “You want to avoid assuming people's pronouns,” says Dr. Kyle Elliot, tech career coach and job search expert. “While you may be correct most of the time, all it takes is one instance of misgendering in the workplace to negatively impact your colleague's sense of inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety.” Instead, check to see if they’ve shared their pronouns in their email signature, Slack, Zoom, or other workplace tools. If not, you can share your pronouns when speaking with them to encourage them to share their own.
- Do normalize sharing pronouns: If you’re comfortable sharing your personal pronouns, normalize sharing them in your everyday conversations and communications. “One of the greatest ways to use pronouns in the workplace is by example—influencing others by adding your pronouns to your email signatures or Slack profile,” says Vit Koval, global hiring and remote work advocate. "It normalizes the practice and really does help to create space that is open and inclusive for everyone.”
- Do use the pronouns people share with you: Once someone shares their pronouns with you, ensure you always use the correct ones when referring to them, both in-person and in online communication.
- Don’t force people to share their pronouns: While you want to normalize sharing pronouns, employers should never mandate that people share their pronouns. Mandating pronouns may force some employees to come out before they’re ready or willing to share their pronouns with their coworkers.
- Don’t dwell on mistakes: If you make a mistake and use the incorrect pronouns for someone, drawing too much attention to it can make both you and the other person feel worse. Quickly apologize, correct your mistake, and move on—and make sure you don’t make the same mistake again.
Putting pronouns on your resume is a personal decision
The choice to include personal pronouns on a resume is ultimately a personal decision, and there’s no right or wrong answer. If you do choose to disclose pronouns, it can ensure other people use your correct pronouns during your job search and interview process, promote inclusivity, and weed out companies that aren't inclusive.
Adding your pronouns to your resume is as easy as adding them to your header, either next to your name or contact information. You can use Teal’s AI Resume Builder to easily customize and add your pronouns to your resume in minutes. Sign up for Teal for free to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it appropriate to use gender-neutral language throughout your resume?
Using gender-neutral language throughout your resume is generally a good practice, as it helps maintain a professional tone and keeps the focus on your skills and qualifications. It can also prevent the company from potential biases during resume screening and hiring process.
Should you use personal pronouns in a resume objective?
You should avoid using first-person pronouns like “I” or “me” in a resume objective, but you can add your personal pronouns to your resume header to indicate what pronouns you use.
Should you mention your preferred pronouns in a job interview if they're not on your resume?
Sharing your preferred pronouns during a job interview is a personal choice that depends on your comfort level and the interview context. You can mention them if the interviewer shares theirs first, or naturally incorporate them into your introduction. While it can contribute to a more inclusive conversation, you're not obligated to disclose this information. If you do choose to share, keep it brief and professional, then refocus on your qualifications for the role. The most important thing is to do what feels right for you while maintaining the interview's primary focus on your suitability for the position.
