Should You Put Your Vaccination Status on Your Resume?

Does being fully vaccinated improve your chances on the job market right now? In many cases, the answer is yes.

One woman in Texas told us she went back to school for her online MBA during the pandemic after taking several years off to raise kids. For weeks, she struggled to get traction on the job market. In a moment of inspiration, she added “fully vaccinated” to the top of her resume.

She had an offer three weeks later.

It may be a job-seeker’s market, but landing the perfect job can still be a major challenge.

The competition for high-paying, flexible positions with good benefits is so fierce: each corporate job offer receives an average of 250 applications; only 4-6 of those people get an interview, and of course, only one person gets the job.

So, every little bit helps. Including your COVID-19 vaccination status may prevent your resume from being eliminated in the first round. According to a survey of 1,250 hiring managers:

Though the Supreme Court ruled against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers in January, many employers are choosing to enforce their own vaccine and testing requirements.

Google was the first big tech company to institute a vaccine mandate back in the summer of 2021. Dozens of major companies followed suit, including Facebook, Uber, Twitter, Netflix, Red Ventures, and Microsoft. In January, Apple went so far as to mandate booster shots for corporate and store employees.

According to one statement by the White House, vaccination requirements are becoming standard across all sectors and have broad public support. The majority of Americans support employer vaccine mandates.

Vaccine requirements are just good business sense, notes an article published by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health: “Fewer employees out sick or dealing with lasting complications means a more productive workforce.”

Even so, twenty states either prohibit or ban proof-of-vaccination requirements.

Several employers and hiring managers told us they are more likely to favor candidates who they know are vaccinated.

“Mentioning that you’ve been vaccinated on your resume is indeed a smart move,” said Anjela Mangrum, president of Mangrum Career Solutions. “As a recruiter, knowing you’re vaccinated checks an essential point on my list, allowing me to focus on your qualifications, work history, and accomplishments.

“Not knowing a candidate’s vaccine status leaves a nagging doubt, given how high a priority vaccination has become for most employers,” said Mangrum.

“I wouldn’t automatically eliminate a resume that doesn’t mention vaccine status, but I certainly give leverage to candidates who I know are vaccinated. It’s a helpful move for us recruiters and hiring managers.”

Michael Knight, co-founder of Incorporation Insight, agrees. “Being upfront about your vaccination status eliminates any of the worries about the legality of asking applicants about their vaccination status. It also accelerates the hiring process as managers can efficiently categorize candidates that fit the organization’s culture and work requirements,” he said.

“Not to mention, a vaccinated hire is one less person the company has to test for COVID-19 every week. That’s a major plus.”

Feature Image: mixetto / E+ / Getty Images