diff --git a/backend/graphql/types/userType.ts b/backend/graphql/types/userType.ts
index b15eee0..12512af 100644
--- a/backend/graphql/types/userType.ts
+++ b/backend/graphql/types/userType.ts
@@ -21,22 +21,22 @@ const userType = gql`
     firstName: String!
     lastName: String!
     email: String!
-    startDate: Date!
+    startDate: Date
     birthday: Date
     role: Role!
     locationType: LocationType
-    headshot: String!
+    headshot: String
   }
 
   input CreateUserDTO {
     firstName: String!
     lastName: String!
     email: String!
-    startDate: Date!
+    startDate: Date
     birthday: Date
     role: Role!
     locationType: LocationType
-    headshot: String!
+    headshot: String
     password: String!
   }
 
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ const userType = gql`
     firstName: String!
     lastName: String!
     email: String!
-    startDate: Date!
+    startDate: Date
     birthday: Date
     role: Role!
     locationType: LocationType
-    headshot: String!
+    headshot: String
   }
 
   extend type Query {
diff --git a/backend/models/user.model.ts b/backend/models/user.model.ts
index 616fdd3..d0269a7 100644
--- a/backend/models/user.model.ts
+++ b/backend/models/user.model.ts
@@ -34,20 +34,16 @@ const UserSchema: Schema = new Schema({
   },
   startDate: {
     type: Date,
-    required: true,
   },
   birthday: {
     type: Date,
-    required: true,
   },
   locationType: {
     type: String,
-    required: true,
     enum: ["Remote", "Hybrid", "InPerson"],
   },
   headshot: {
     type: String,
-    required: true,
   },
 });