Should I Share My Sexual Orientation on My Resume or LinkedIn Profile?

Happy Pride Month! As we celebrate diversity and embrace the unique qualities that bring us together, if you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, you may be wondering: Should I share my sexual orientation on my resume or LinkedIn profile?

It’s a good question—and not just because it’s Pride Month. If you have overcome personal and professional hurdles to be comfortable with who you are, it’s no wonder you’re asking this question. Plus, since our work life is so much a part of us, we want to be sure we’re working for an organization that supports us, no matter how we identify.

But is your resume or LinkedIn profile the right place to share this information?

Personal Information Should Stay Personal

Outside of the US, it’s common to see photos, age, date of birth, marital status, political party, and even social security numbers on a resume. In the States, however, a resume has always been a professional marketing document that gives an overview of your experiences and how you can add value to an employer.

While LinkedIn is more social in nature than a resume, it’s still a professional profile, and you’re sharing your professional brand. Therefore, you want to avoid adding anything too personal.

If you’re considering sharing your sexual orientation on your resume or LinkedIn profile, ask yourself if you’d also feel comfortable sharing other personal information. You might feel okay with it, but you might not. And the real issue is that discrimination happens.

Beware of Discrimination

Whether it’s discrimination against your age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion, as much as we’d like to say (and believe) these things don’t happen in the work world, we know better. There are still some people who will be taken aback if they see your sexual orientation on your resume or LinkedIn profile. And those people are going to skip over you to the next person. It’s not fair; it’s not right; but it happens.

To be sure you’re getting fair consideration as a job seeker, think hard before you choose to share your sexual orientation on your resume or LinkedIn profile. If you really do want employers and recruiters to know, without blatantly telling them, try something a little more ambiguous.

Share Subtle Hints of Your Sexual Orientation on Your Resume or LinkedIn Profile

It’s important to work for a company where you feel that you belong. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, that no doubt means you want to feel seen and valued for your authentic self. We 100% support that!

That said, there are some ways you can share your sexual orientation on your resume or LinkedIn profile without being overt about it.

Add Personal Pronouns

While recruiters and employers aren’t looking for your personal pronouns on your resume, they don’t usually have a concern if you choose to include them. On LinkedIn and other social media platforms, you’re even encouraged to include your pronouns. Doing so lets employers know that, at the very least, you’re an ally and supporter of diversity and equal rights.

Include LGBTQIA+ Experience

Have you worked or volunteered at organizations that support diversity? That could have been the LGBTQIA+ student group in college, volunteering with GLAAD, or working with the Human Rights Campaign. All these organizations (and many more!) are clear about their mission, and your participation with them will let employers and recruiters know that inclusion is important to you.

You may have also created, supported, or been a member of a diversity group at a past employer. Feel free to include those on your resume or LinkedIn profile as well. While it’s not blatant that you are a member of the community, you probably wouldn’t be involved in such groups if you weren’t.

Note Attendance at LGBTQIA+ Training or Workshops

Another subtle way to share your sexual orientation on your resume or LinkedIn profile is to say that you have attended training, workshops, or conferences focused on the LGBTQIA+ community. This may include diversity and inclusion (D&I) training, but it could be more specific than that. Brown University has a list of queer conferences on their website, if you’re looking for a way to be active and incorporate this experience into your resume or LinkedIn profile.

Research Queer-friendly Companies

If you’re asking the question if you should include your sexual orientation on your resume or LinkedIn profile, it’s clearly important to you to work with a company that supports diversity. Why not consider doing some research on queer-friendly companies? Pride Month is an excellent time to do this since many companies even change their logos and post inclusive content on their social media platforms this month. At other times of the year, review potential employers’ websites and employees to see if they are sharing their stance on the issue of diversity and inclusion. No doubt, you’ll determine quickly where you’ll feel at home.

 

Keep Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile Current

Whether you choose to include your sexual orientation on your resume or LinkedIn profile or leave it off, you should always have up-to-date career-marketing documents. Resume and Career Services’ Career Advancement Program provides all the direction you need to ensure you’re following best practices. Plus, we’ll give you the tools to choose the right career path, rock your interview, and secure multiple job offers. And we and our sister company, Blue Signal, are 100% supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community. Bonus!

Learn more about the program here.