Looking for work? Healthy? No dependents? A huge tip for you:

[dixiegrrrrl]

In Denninger's column today, on how to tweak your resume or application in light of the new health bill reality.

Very worth the read.
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"So here's the deal folks: While I can't ask you about your health status nor if you have dependents, nothing prohibits YOU from putting that information on your resume if it is to your advantage -
and it is, if you are in excellent health and have no dependents.
Will this matter?
In this economy you better believe it. This has been true forever, but it has become even more true with the passage of Obama's "Health Care" law.

So if you're unemployed and have these cost-impacting facts in your favor, make damn sure you list them.
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and why does he say that?

Here:

http://market-ticker.denninger.net/

[paulsby]

1. that's actually good advice

you can also list sports accomplishments, etc.

for example, if you list that you ran two marathons last year, that lets them know you take fitness seriously, and are likely a low risk for a cardiovascular event , hypertension, etc

[Not Me]

4. I actually did that

About 15 years ago, I had a job interview the day after running the NY City Marathon. I was walking a little labored, and brought up the fact that I ran the marathon yesterday. They guy who was interviewing me was a newbie runner and was so impressed that the whole conversation changed. I got an offer, but decided to decline for other reasons.

[pnwmom]

2. There was a time when standard resume boilerplate included the phrase

"excellent health." And, of course, employers felt free to ask about dependents. So we're heading back to the past. Great.

:sarcasm:

[Berry Cool]

6. It's sad but true.

I have also read advice books warning that if you do get called in for an interview, while it's illegal to explicitly ask you whether you have health problems or children, some employers will try to lure the information out of you by other means. For example, an interviewer may mention that it's her first day back in the office since knee surgery, in hopes that you will say something about having had similar surgery, or will make a small remark about a backache in hopes that you will volunteer some small talk about your own back issues if you have any. Others will mention having to leave at a certain time to pick up their kids, or even put pictures of kids that aren't theirs on their desks when you come in, in hopes you'll volunteer small talk about your own children. That way they don't have to ask illegal questions, but they've learned which interviewees have health issues and which have kids--and they can steer clear of them if they so choose.

[The Gunslinger]

3. Just another argument for single payer

Employer paid healthcare is a terrible idea. I'm soon health discrimination will be a big trend if it's not already.

[drm604]

5. If people start doing this then what happens to those who can't honestly list "excellent health"?

This is giving yourself an unfair advantage over those who aren't quite so healthy. It's undermining the whole point of employers not being allowed to ask about such things.

It's a very un-progressive practice.

[Xithras]

7. It's not that uncommon anyway.

While blatantly stating that you're in excellent health may be new, employers have long preferred interviewees who use keywords like "active" and "energetic", because they suggest health. I've used both of these keywords on my resume since writing my first one, at the suggestion of a resume consultant (the school brought him in to help us write our first resumes).

It should be pointed out that too much information about potentially risky hobbies can also be bad. People have been passed over for jobs before because they listed things like "rock climbing", "skydiving", or "bicycle racing" as hobbies or recreational activities. Sports like these have a higher risk of injury or death, and create a potential cost liability for the company.

Also, when I was unemployed last year, one of the placement agencies I was working with suggested that I strike out all mention of extracurricular activities entirely. I knew enough to not list the fact that I'm a BSA Climb-On Safely certified leader (I can teach scouts to rock climb) because of the rock climbing angle, but she pointed something else out. If my resume suggests that I'm frequently out of the area for ANY extracurricular activities, an employer may give me a pass. Employers prefer to hire people who will be available when needed, and don't want to deal with employees who may be hiking in the forest a hundred miles away when an emergency comes up.