With very few exceptions, which will be listed later, you should avoid mentioning religion on your resume.
Why You Would Not Include Religion in Your Resume
- Hiring managers and recruiters do not want to know your religion. Employers, per the law, are not allowed to discriminate based on religion and do not want to be forced into a position where religion is even a remotely possible part of their decision to reject or accept your resume.
- Your religious views and affiliations are usually not integral to your employment. Resumes have limited space; if religion is not relevant to your job performance, mentioning it is a waste of that space.
- A 2014 study by the University of Connecticut found that people who mentioned religion on their resumes were 26% less likely to be contacted by potential employers. Why reduce your odds by that much?
Why You Might Want to Include Religion on Your Resume
- You are applying for a position with a house of worship or religious organization.
- You honed your education and skills at a religious college, religious nonprofit, or similar organization and want to mention that experience on your resume. In this case, the emphasis should be on education and skills, not on religion.
- You have researched companies with the express purpose of finding out whether they support your religious beliefs and want to indicate that you are in sympathy with their values.
Accommodating Your Religious Obligations at Work
If you belong to a religious group that has dress, prayer, Sabbath, or other practices that might require accommodations, your employer is required to provide those accommodations as long as they do not cause undue hardship or raise safety concerns. There is no law regulating the timing of your request, but you should strive to be as open-minded, consistent, and sincere as possible so that you and your employee can work together toward a reasonable solution.
Robin’s Resumes® can help you navigate any questions that arise regarding the mention of religion on your resume. Please contact us today.