Is putting Freemason on you resume akin to Advertizing?

If I recall, A&M was placed where it was at via the handiwork of Harvey Mitchell, a member of the Brazos Union lodge in Bryan.

I believe Masons were involved in the founding of all the major universities in Texas. I beliebe Baylor was not only founded by a Mason, R.E. Baylor, but also had a 150 year tradition of University Presidents up until 1995.

This is a tough one. As Dave said, not putting it under Activities or Memberships is not providing complete and accurate information. On the other hand, you do run the risk of being immediately tossed if the prospective employer happens to be someone who doesn't like Masons for any given reason. I don't think it's advertising or proselytizing at all because that's not the intent of including the information. It provides the perfect "rock and hard place" scenario: include it and run the risk of immediately losing consideration, don't include it and you've not provided accurate and complete information as well as perhaps the possibility that the employer is also a Mason who would immediately be able to connect with you and move you to the top for consideration. Do not mistake that as, "Hey, if he's a Mason, maybe he'll just give you the job based on that." That would be absolutely unethical. However, it does at least give him the knowledge that he's speaking to a Brother who will be truthful in stating experience and qualifications.

I would include it. If an employer won't consider me because I'm a Mason, then I don't want to work for that company anyway. I may not get the job, but I could walk away with the knowledge I that provided complete and accurate information and with my head held high that I am not ashamed of nor will I hide my identity as a Mason simply to appease those who would hold it against me.

If you don't include it out of fear of getting tossed out of the application pool, if the employer is not a Mason but if knowledge of Freemasonry, would he view that as ashamed or fearful for your involvement? Then take that as not comfortable telling the truth? I think there are several variables involved here instead of not putting it on there in fear of not getting hired because of anti-masonry. I honestly haven't ran in to many anti-Masons personally, can't think of one really.

I am employed, and I have my resume floating around right now. I read in the WSJ earlier this year that companies were "ghosting" positions to see if they could find prospective employees for a lower amount -- driving down employment costs. So, what the heck, I "ghosted" my resume too in response.

In drafting my resume I wondered if I should put something about my lodge affiliation. Afterall, I work in the Industrial Construction sector in the refinery area of Southeast Texas and apparently quite a few in this industry are in the Craft. I see S&C stickers quite often in my commute up and down Hwy 146.

Like Br. mch4790, it felt unseemly to me to be so blatant as Freemasonry is a personal spiritual journey. However, I also see the need for Masons to help each other in business as our mutual financial enrichment helps us help the Craft in its charitable works.

So, rather than listing it so blatantly as an "Interest" or "Activity" what if we: 1) discretely incorporate "signs and tokens" into our resumes that would otherwise go unnoticed to the "profane", and 2) post our resumes, open positions or knowledge of open positions on Masonic boards?

The craft seems to be getting smaller every year, and our lodges requiring more from us proportionally for upkeep and charitable work. It seems at some point we are going to have to band together more tightly and support each other more fervently.

Just a thought.

Now those are some cool ideas. Encode the resume....I'm thinking Ben Franklin, Dogood letters, National Treasure codes.

Every third letter of every third word on every third line has an M, or spells AFAM or MM or something.

The following is more what I had in mind as exemplified in this opening paragraph of my resume (I haven't tried this yet, I just used this paragraph to flesh out the idea and submit for the brothers' review).

"Senior contracts professional with a strong background in successful cradle-to-grave contracts management, problem-solving, risk analysis and advanced planning. Full cradle-to-grave contracts management means being a pivotal member of the project manager’s team ensuring all contract-related documentation is squared away. Excels at balancing risk v. reward, identifying and leveling vulnerabilities and managing project responsiveness to contractual obligations up to Final Acceptance and demobilization. Plays an integral role within the company providing advisory interpretations, and troweling esprite de corps by collaboration, motivation and direction across groups in diverse and decisive environments.
Experience spans industrial construction (refinery/chemical), oil and gas, agency/partnership, government/administrative and civil litigation. "

I don't want to be too oblique.

Oops, I spelled "esprit" wrong.

In my opinion, hiding masonic related words in a resume like that may throw up red flags. Some of the words we use in our work can be mistaken for something they simply are not to someone who has no knowledge of our Craft. It would be wise, I believe, if you are going to put it on the application, to simply put Freemason, as the bare minimum instead of sneaking in words here and there. Being a Freemason may have you taken off the list of applicants, however words that may an HR rep go "hmmm..." will likely end all possibilities right then and there. Especially when the application goes through numerous people, such as law enforcement or larger corporations, chances are someone is not a mason, and will find your wording odd. It's best to use professional, flowing grammar on an application, and just leave the interests and involvements to their respective places. Meet the boss before applying, do some research, it shouldn't be an issue, either you feel comfortable enough to put it on there, or you don't.

I have something different for the sake of conversation: How about this?

When I went through an pre-employment evaluation from a previous employer by 56 individuals and groups with sit down face to face questions ranging from my experience, technical issues and even receiving a hostile interrogation (which was staged, I found out later) and then being graded, brought into my new bosses office to receive the news that I was hired only to see a Masonic carpet hanging on the wall, I asked are you a traveling man? To which he answered; I knew there was something different about you!

As opposed to my new employer whom stated after seeing a square & compass on an applicants car; “there is no way I would hire one of those”!

I dont hide mine, in fact most rings wont cover my S&C. A few months ago my manager was leaving the company. At his going away party I went to shake hands and did in my normal fashion. As I was about to drop the handshake and leave, he gripped tighter and looked at my hand and asked "What is this? Has it a name?" worked for him for a year and never knew.

Wingnut said:

I dont hide mine, in fact most rings wont cover my S&C. A few months ago my manager was leaving the company. At his going away party I went to shake hands and did in my normal fashion. As I was about to drop the handshake and leave, he gripped tighter and looked at my hand and asked "What is this? Has it a name?" worked for him for a year and never knew.

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There are so many men out there that just aren't active in Lodges anymore, or perhaps stick with their Mother lodge as to where it's further away from our Lodge that we just don't pass each other. It's always a lot of fun to meet other Masons, especially those whom you never knew where Masons. I wear my Ring to work at times, and have been stopped numerous times in the hallway about it.