Stop putting your notice period date in your resume headline

I saw 6 resumes this month from contractors and full timers who listed their end date up top, like 'Available Nov 15.' Every single hiring manager I work with in Phoenix reads that as a red flag, not a plus. It makes you look like you are counting down days, and a couple of them actually passed on candidates because they assumed the person would bail early for a better offer. The fix is simple: put availability in the cover letter or the first line of your email, not in the header of the resume itself. I swapped mine from an end date to just my current role and location, and I got twice the callbacks in 3 weeks. Has anyone else seen recruiters react weird to that detail, or is it just my corner of the market?

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1 Comment

jamie_white4h ago

Wait, people actually put their end date in the headline? I thought that was only a thing on like, LinkedIn for people who got laid off and wanted to look proactive. Seeing 'Available Nov 15' at the top of a resume just screams 'I'm already mentally out the door.' That's wild to me, because in my circles, that date basically invites recruiters to lowball you or assume you're desperate. Good on you for swapping it out, but I'm honestly shocked this is a common enough thing that you saw it six times in one month.