Last updated: January 2nd, 2024
A couple of decades ago, employees frequently included their dates of birth on their Australian resumes. They usually grouped the information in the header, together with their name, address and phone number.
Fast forward to 2024, and employers are legally forbidden to request your date of birth during job search.
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3 Reasons To Omit Date Of Birth From Your Australian Resume.
Leaving your date of birth off your resume can increase your odds of getting a job.
Employers consciously and unconsciously discriminate against candidates, and by not including your DOB, you reduce the odds of this happening to you.
1. Avoid Age Discrimination.
Some employers might use your age to make generalised, incorrect assumptions about work style, performance and culture fit.
This type of discrimination is illegal in Australia, but it happens. By omitting this information, you give the employer a blank slate to work with.
Above: Australian anti-discrimination legislation seeks to protect job seekers from unfair hiring decisions.
2. Show Situational Awareness.
Since employers don’t expect you to display your age on today’s job applications, by omitting it, you demonstrate that you’re up-to-date with cultural expectations.
(Related: Should You Include Hobbies On Your Resume?)
3. Make Your Resume Look Good.
The top header is your resume’s most prized piece of real estate. It needs to make a great impression by looking clean, attractive and unintimidating.
Moreover, you are left with more room for other vital resume sections (e.g., profile and achievements).
Important!
A lot of resumes are either too long or too short. Do you know how long an Australian resume should be?
Which Personal Details Must You Include On Your Resume?
A well-written Australian resume must only contain your phone number and email address in its contact section, like this:
Expert Tip.
Optionally, include a shortened URL to your LinkedIn profile, as well as links to other relevant social media accounts.
7 Personal Details To Exclude From Your Resume.
Apart from your date of birth, you should follow a strict resume format that focuses on your main selling points and omits unnecessary fluff.
1. Marital Status.
You don’t need to tell a prospective employer whether you’re married, single or divorced. This information is irrelevant to your job application.
2. Number of Children.
Like your marital status, the number of children you have is irrelevant to your job application.
3. Religion.
In most cases, your religion is also irrelevant. Unless the potential employer legally requires you to have certain religious beliefs (e.g., a chaplaincy role), leave it off your resume.
4. Nationality.
Including your nationality might lead to unconscious discrimination. Dn’t mention it – unless you’re applying for an embassy role.
Expert Tip.
Be mindful that being an Australian citizen is a prerequisite for most full-time roles, both in the private and public sectors.
5. Political Leanings.
As with religion, your political beliefs are best kept to yourself. Only include this info if you’re applying for a role that requires certain political beliefs (e.g., a role with the Australian Labour Party).
6. Home Address.
Including your home address is unnecessary and can even be dangerous. If you’re worried about employers finding out where you live, leave this detail off your resume.
(Related: What You Need Include In Your Resume).
7. Photograph.
In some cases, Australian employers will request a photograph (particularly in customer-facing roles). If they do, follow their instructions. Otherwise, Australian resume conventions don’t require you to provide one.
How Can Older Workers Avoid Prejudice During Job Search?
While some studies scream that “ageism is rife in Australia”, I take them with a pinch of salt.
As always, nuance is key.
More robust surveys, like the AHRI Employing Older Workers Report 2021, provide granular insight the concerns that HR managers have around hiring older workers.
If you’re an older job seeker, don’t hide the elephant in the room.
Point to it. Address it.
Use the interview stage as an opportunity to alleviate the top three concerns that hiring managers are likely to have about your age. Highlight that:
- Your salary expectations are in line with market rates.
- You are adaptable enough to meet technological expectations.
- You are physically capable enough to do the job.
(Related: How Often Should You Update Your Resume?)
What If You Are Appling For Jobs Overseas?
If you’re applying for jobs outside Australia, keep in mind that age discrimination laws that prevent employers from requesting your date of birth are also in place in the USA and UK.
- You don’t need to include your date of birth on your resume in those countries, either.
- Don’t include irrelevant personal details, apart from your contact details and your name.
Remember – every word on your resume must serve the purpose of selling you to potential employers.
Best of luck in your job search, however old you are.
Irene
P.S. Do you have a personal story where you were discriminated against after providing your date of birth on your resume? Share it in the comments below, so that we can all learn from your experience.
