I am a believer that sometimes the name of the person at the top of the resume can lead to a poor hiring decision. One of the scenarios I like to mention is one where two applicants are applying for a job as with a construction company. If you saw the names on the resumes were Frank Smith and Joe Carpenter, wouldn’t most people automatically give John Carpenter the edge?
Similarly, underlying gender bias, racial bias and age bias can occur if certain names appear on a resume and people are basing their decisions based on where they perceive the person to be from, what their background is, etc.
If names are removed, all that remains is experience, education, and accomplishments.
Consider running your job search by having people remove their names from the resume. Find a way to contact these candidates back through an anonymous contact service similar to how Craigslist works, and you may end up making better hiring decision.
