When it comes to composing a résumé, we expend a great deal of time and effort carefully wording and arranging our specific employment skills; possibly even more energy than we do on our actual job titles. While there is certainly no excuse for failing to adequately convey the details of your expertise, remember that your job titles are equally essential, and likewise, as noticeable as the aspects that follow.
First, job seekers must take into account that the job title assigned to them by their employer may not necessarily coincide with what should be listed on their résumé. However, this is not to be confused with changing the characteristics of the job itself, or what its title represents. The fact is that a company will often assign their own (sometimes “extravagant”) title to a specific role within the organization. Yet, this title may not always coincide with the industry standard. In an example provided by the Dice.com article, “Don’t Get Creative With Job Titles in Your Résumé”, it is suggested that if your last employer gave you an innovative-sounding role, such as “Data Janitor II”, for instance, you will want to list your job title as the more typical “Database Analyst” when drafting your résumé. The essence of the job is unchanged, but with a standard title, your résumé has a greater chance of ending up in the right hands. The goal is to assure that your résumé is viewed by as many eyes as possible, and listing your job titles according to the industry-standard is one way to achieve this.
The next question is whether or not to list your intended job title in the beginning of your résumé. Often, just below the contact information, applicants will include an objective line which often describes the exact job they are looking for. In some cases, a clear objective that directly indicates your goals can work to your advantage with hiring managers, but this is only if your proposed job title is an exact match for the open position. Given the wide range of intricate job titles that seem to fall under a surprisingly fewer number of actual roles available within a given industry, it may be a better idea to omit the objective line altogether, allowing prospective employers to skip right to your skill set and work history. Thus, hiring managers have the to opportunity to gain a more comprehensive perspective of your potential value to their organization, which could potentially lead to even more employment opportunities in the long run. However, if you wish to keep your résumé’s objective line, consider listing a description of the job you are seeking, rather than one specific title.
Another quandary job hunters sometimes encounter is how to list multiple job titles under the same company. Perhaps you were promoted once, or even several times, by the same employer and you’re unsure of how to clearly depict your shifting job titles. We suggest two basic options, depending on the layout of your résumé.
Résumés where work history is organized according to company name:
XYZ Company, Inc.
Executive Director (2014-2017)
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
Branch Manager (2007-2014)
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
Supervisor (2002-2007)
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
Résumés where work experience is organized according to job title:
Executive Director, XYZ Company, Inc. (2014-2017),
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
Branch Manager, XYZ Company, Inc. (2007-2014)
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
Supervisor, XYZ Company, Inc. (2002-2007)
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
- Responsibilities, tasks, accomplishments
When drafting your résumé, remember that the correct representation of your prior job titles will offer prospective employers an all-inclusive view of your work history, as well a promising perspective of your value as an employee. Therefore, carefully consider your goals according to the nature of your field, and choose your words wisely.
At SC&C we offer Career Analysis to help senior decision-makers from all walks of life identify strategies and tactics to increase their value-add employment potential.