When applying for jobs, it’s important to outline your availability to employers. You can include information about your availability on your resume. By doing this, you can make sure that you receive offers from employers who understand and accept your availability. In this article, we define what availability means on a resume, when to include your availability on a resume, how to discuss availability in a resume format and additional tips to help you figure out the best way to present your availability.
What is Availability on a Resume?
Availability on a resume refers to the dates and times you can work. It can also refer to a start date where employers can expect you to start working for them. Including your availability on your resume is important because it ensures that you give your current employer proper notice, and it also helps prospective employers understand when you could start.
When to Discuss Availability on Your Resume
There are a few situations where it’s important that you discuss your availability on your resume. Here are some examples to help enhance your understanding:
1. If You’re Currently Employed
If you currently have a job and are in the process of looking for a new opportunity, it’s important that you provide availability on your resume. This is because it ensures you give your current employer proper notice, and it also helps prospective employers understand when you could start.
2. If There Are Days or Times When You Absolutely Can’t Work
It’s important to include your availability on your resume when you have another part-time job or personal commitments that you know can’t change. This helps you save time and ensure you only pursue opportunities that work well with your commitments.
3. If There Are Specific Days or Times You Prefer to Work
When applying for jobs, it’s important that you outline your needs to ensure you obtain positive work experiences. Therefore, include your availability on your resume to convey to employers the types of schedules and work shifts you enjoy. For example, you prefer working Mondays through Thursdays or prefer working morning shifts.
How to Discuss Availability in a Resume Format
When discussing availability in a resume format, you can include it in your contact information or resume summary. Here are a few examples of how you can present your availability:
1. Include Your Availability as the Last Line of Your Contact Information
You can include your availability as the last line of your contact information. For example, “Available for full-time work with a flexible schedule.”
2. Discuss Your Availability in Your Resume Introduction, in Either the First or Last Sentence
You can also discuss your availability in your resume introduction, in either the first or last sentence. For example, “A machine learning engineer with 2+ years of work experience in artificial intelligence, available to work Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.”
Additional Tips to Help You Figure Out the Best Way to Present Your Availability
Here are a few tips for including availability dates on your resume:
1. Keep It Short If You Choose to Write a Statement
By keeping your availability statement short, you ensure that employers understand your availability without focusing on it more than your professional experiences and skills.
2. Use Clear, Specific, and Unambiguous Language
Use clear, specific, and unambiguous language when discussing your availability. This helps employers understand your availability and ensures that you don’t miss out on any opportunities.
3. Tailor Your Availability to Each Job Application
Tailor your availability to each job application. This helps you ensure that you only apply for jobs that work well with your schedule and commitments.
FAQ
Q: How do I write my availability on a resume?
A: You can mention your availability in a few lines within the “Summary” section of your resume. Here are a few examples of how you can present your availability: “Available for full-time work with a flexible schedule,” “Available to work Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm,” “Available to work evenings and weekends.”
Q: What does availability mean on a resume?
A: Availability on a resume refers to the dates and times
