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Comment by kowen | Hacker News Reader

The first thing that caught my attention was the bit about "U.S. born".

In the USA it is illegal to ask about country of origin (as well as age, gender, religious beliefs, marital status).

I've heard of hiring managers discarding CVs outright if they contain information that is illegal to ask about, though I have no idea what the practices at Google are.

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Hmmm, interesting point. I wonder if it really matters. I put that there only so they know I'm a U.S. citizen and hence have legal right to work there. Can you suggest a succinct alternative?

It's illegal to ask but it's not illegal for you to disclose that you are eligible to work so there's nothing wrong with keeping it.

It's legal to disclose one's religion, marital status, and sexual orientation on a resume as well, but I think it would scare a hiring manager off.

Saying you're eligible to work somewhere is different than disclosing your nationality. One is a material part of the hiring process; the other is something people discriminate on.

Stick to the things that actually affect job performance. It keeps the process fair for everyone.

U.S. Citizen

Can you suggest a succinct alternative?

"Authorized to work in the United States." Yes, I am a lawyer, and I used to practice immigration law.

Thanks -- I've updated it.

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