Citizenship in resume

In this article, we’ll help you understand the nuances of including your citizenship in resumes you submit and make an informed decision about when and how to address this issue on your job application in a way that’s professional and legal. 

In the end, you’ll know how to navigate equal employment laws that prohibit discrimination based on national origin to ensure that your rights are respected, even as you contemplate how much of your personal details to share with employers.

Should you include citizenship on your resume?

Your resume includes so many personal details about you. Even resume and cover letter templates encourage you to share your name, address, phone number, and email address with prospective employers. After having provided so much information, you may wonder whether you need to include additional information, such as your citizenship status.

In the United States, the general consensus is that you should not include information about citizenship, meaning in resumes it is not necessary. It isn’t customary to do so because of anti-discrimination laws that govern most private sector companies. Still, it’s essential to recognize that some jobs may require you to disclose your citizenship in resumes. 

These are primarily federal government roles and those requiring security clearance, as some of these can only be issued to U.S. citizens or nationals. Letting employers know up front that you have the necessary status to work in these roles can make you a more competitive candidate.

Whether you are required to disclose your citizenship status on your resume or not, it’s important to ensure you focus more on your qualifications than your personal details. Ultimately, employers want to know that you have the experience and expertise to get the job done, and your personal and professional qualifications are what highlight this.

Legal frameworks provide an overview of considerations

Many U.S. labor laws seek to protect job seekers and employees from harm. Some of the most significant laws have been drafted and governed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This federal agency oversees anti-discrimination policies in the workplace.

EEOC laws make it illegal for employers to discriminate against candidates and employees based on a number of protected characteristics, one of which includes your national origin. (1) These laws are the reason why many people in the U.S. do not include citizenship status on their resumes when it is not required.

It is also important to note that employers cannot ask candidates directly about their citizenship status. However, they can ask if you are legally authorized to work in the U.S., and they will be required to verify your work eligibility via Form I-9 once a job offer is accepted. (2)

Alternative ways to address work authorization 

If you wish to avoid outright disclosing your citizenship status, you can instead focus on your work authorizations. After all, what is citizenship in resumes if not a way to show that you are eligible to work within the country?

To showcase your authorization, you can tweak your resume and cover letter examples to include phrases like “Authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.” If you’re looking for other ways to show citizenship in resume, examples include:

When it comes to where to put citizenship on resumes, you may choose to place these phrases at the beginning of your resume under your other personal details. If your resume template includes some personal details at the end, you may save them for that section as well.

Another option is to include work authorization information in your cover letter. One excellent place to put this information is at the end of the first paragraph, where you can also mention how excited you are for the opportunity to apply for this position. Another option is to include this information at the end.

"Whether you are required to disclose your citizenship status on your resume or not, it’s important to ensure you focus more on your qualifications than your personal details."

Tailoring for international candidates

International candidates who are searching for a job in the United States should be prepared to disclose information about their eligibility to work in the U.S., as employers are allowed to ask candidates about it. 

If you don’t have the authorization to work in the U.S. without a visa, you are not required to disclose this information up front. However, it is important to be honest if the application requests this information. 

It is possible for a company to sponsor you for a temporary work visa if the role meets certain requirements. Often, these are roles requiring highly specialized knowledge that can be difficult to find in U.S. candidates. (3) 

However, be aware that employers are not required to sponsor you. If an employer chooses not to do so, there are some visas available that do not require a job offer, including:

You can address these sponsorship requirements in the same way you would your work authorization or citizenship status. Feel free to reach out to hiring managers directly if clarification is needed, as they will be able to advise you on both the laws and their preferences.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may have an additional question. Should you put “willing to relocate” on a resume? This is not necessary to do, as many employers will assume you desire to relocate based on the fact that you are applying for a role in another country.

If you are a U.S. citizen seeking a role in another country, it’s important to follow the laws and customs of that nation. For example, if a country requires you to disclose your nationality before applying for a job, make sure you include this information in an appropriate section of your resume. Failing to do so can jeopardize your candidacy.

Whether you create applications from scratch or use a sample, citizenship in resumes should never be your focus. Instead, ensure your skills and qualifications are front and center. Remember that employers are ultimately searching for candidates who are the best fit for the job. It’s always a good idea to ensure your resume reflects that.

Mistakes to avoid

When disclosing your citizenship on your resume, you’ll want to avoid the following common mistakes:

• Including irrelevant or unnecessary personal details like marital status or nationality
• Including misleading or downright false claims about your authorization to work in any country
• Skipping application questions related to your sponsorship or work visa status
• Confusing hiring managers with unclear phrasing about your citizenship status or work authorization

Avoiding these pitfalls can help protect you in the job search process while ensuring that you maintain honesty and professionalism in your application materials.

Showcase your best qualifications to land the role you truly want

When it comes to disclosing your citizenship status on your resume, it’s important to follow and remain aware of the laws of the land. However, it’s also essential not to make your status the main focus of your application. Instead, use resume samples and templates that highlight your qualifications and help you focus on why you’re the best fit for the job.

If you do need to discuss citizenship information, do so in a way that indicates your work authorization status. Use professional phrasing when including this information, as this maintains clarity and ensures adherence to EEOC laws and regulations.

Regardless of your citizenship status, make sure that you know your rights and have confidence in the skills you have built. This will help you tremendously as you seek to navigate this sensitive topic while building a strong resume that gets results in your job search.

Sources:

(1) U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices

(2) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification

(3) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: H1-B Cap Season