Almost every employer will make a statement in writing that they are equal opportunity employers or that salary is commensurate with experience. While this may be true in theory, most human beings have a tendency to create mental pictures or even judgments about a particular potential employee.

For example, take someone walking into a law firm wearing ripped jeans and sneakers with holes. No matter what the person’s resume states or how much experience there is behind the wardrobe, chances are that the potential employer will make up his or her mind from the outset.

Therefore, while it is important to be honest with your future employer, there are also things about your personal life that have nothing to do with your professional and business life.

Single Parent

You may have the urge to put down that you have been a single mom of three for the last few years and, therefore, are qualified above and beyond anyone else to take that administrative job in the daycare. This may seem reasonably appealing to you for experience purposes; however, to a potential employer it may mean lost hours and an incomplete work scope due to absenteeism. A single parent (to a possible potential employer) may have more issues being reliable due to childcare insufficiencies than one from a two-parent household.

Caregiver

The same scenario would apply for someone who has been a family caregiver for many years and is still providing that service to an elder family member. While it may help you to attain a position in an elder care law firm, it may also knock you out of the running. Possibly, a potential employer may envisage you being unavailable due to the time constraints and unexpected issues that they are all too familiar with that caregiver role.

Unemployed

It is best not to use the term “unemployed” as it may have the connotation of being lazy or difficult to employ. It is best to list your experience for what it is and how you intend to go forward in the future, rather than to mention the fact that you are currently unemployed. If you are asked if you are unemployed, you can always answer that yes, you are currently seeking employment in the hope of building a long-lasting career as a dedicated marketing manager or whatever it is that you are seeking.

Again, while it is important to be honest with your potential employer, it might not be a good idea to put forth too much information all at the beginning. Wait until asked and then offer smart answers.