Listing your jobs correctly on your resume is a must. In this guide, you will learn how to appropriately list your job title and catch the eye of the recruiter.
Your job titles on your resume are important. They help relay to employers your roles and responsibilities. Listing your job titles can also help to show professional progression!
We will cover how to properly list your job titles on a resume and the importance of doing so.
When it comes to job titles on a resume, there are two main areas of your resume to place title in:
Understanding how these two types of sections differ is key.
In this section, we will break down the differences to help you gain a better understanding of what “job titles” can mean and where to put them.
A job title section on a resume is a short section used to identify the specific role you are currently seeking.
This is a key element to add to a resume, especially if you face high competition for the role.
For example, let’s say you are a culinary professional looking for a head chef position at a high-end restaurant. Your job title section may look something like this:
John Doe
Head Chef with over 10 years experience in fine dining.
In this example, the applicant lists the role they wish to maintain.
They also provide a very brief statement describing their experience level.
Typically, you will find this section listed directly below the name or contact information of the applicant.
This should be a concise statement that conveys who you are and the position you seek.
It is important to note that this section is not the same as a professional objective or summary statement.
Professional objectives are often a bit longer and more in-depth, while a job title section should be as succinct as possible.
The second type of job title that you can incorporate into a resume is the job title of a previous position.
Generally, these job titles will be in the work experience section.
There are some key elements to keep in mind when listing your previous job titles on a resume:
The key to listing your job titles is to always be honest.
Job titles within a work experience section are one of the first things an employer will see, so using the correct titles is crucial.
Need more help writing your work experience section? Check out our guide on How to Describe Work Experience on a Resume!
There are several different ways to list job titles on a resume.
Despite this, there are a few key factors that separate correct job titles from incorrect ones.
Here are a few examples to help you determine the “right” way to list your job titles on a resume:
Incorrect:
John Doe
Seeking a job in management, communications, or marketing.
Why It’s Wrong: In this example, there are several issues. The applicant lists fields they would like to work in, rather than giving themselves an exact job title they are seeking. Additionally, listing multiple types of jobs will hinder your job title from being as relevant as possible to the job you are applying to.
Correct:
John Doe
Marketing Manager with 7+ years experience in the financial industry
Incorrect:
Office Assistant, Black and Decker
June 2019 – June 2020
Description
Office Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority
July 2020 – Present
Description
Why It’s Wrong: You always want to put your highest positions first. By listing your more prominent job title lower in your work experience section, you risk the hiring manager missing it entirely.
Correct:
Office Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority
July 2020 – Present
Description
Office Assistant, Black and Decker
June 2019 – June 2020
Description
For this example, imagine you are a restaurant worker with some management responsibilities.
Your title given by your boss may be “shift lead” or “keyholder.”
Incorrect:
General Manager, Mellow Mushroom
August 2019 – June 2020
Description
Why It’s Wrong: While you may have management responsibilities, the title “General Manager” implies you are a salaried, full-time manager. If this is not the case, using General Manager as your job title is both dishonest and misleading.
Correct:
Shift Lead, Mellow Mushroom
August 2019 – June 2020
Description
Sometimes, a job applicant may feel like a previous job title does not accurately describe their role or responsibilities.
This may compel them to want to change the title to better explain their experience and qualifications.
However, as we have covered, changing a job title too much can make it dishonest or misleading.
Plus, a hiring manager may contact your previous employer and find out you changed your title.
This can result in hiring managers throwing your application entirely!
In some cases, the company you work for may assign you a job title that is unique to the company.
For example, a restaurant may call its shift leaders “community leaders.”
While this may work within the company itself, it may not translate well on a resume.
If this is a situation you are dealing with, the best course of action would be to discuss with your previous employer beforehand if possible.
This way, if the hiring manager contacts your previous employer they will know why you are being referred to with a different title.
The key to getting around vague job titles is to be concise and specific in your job descriptions.
This is where you can showcase your responsibilities and provide more accurate information.
Are you struggling to find compelling ways to describe your work experience? Take a look at our list of 350+ Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Effective!
Generally speaking, you should avoid changing your job titles.
This will help you to keep consistency between your resume and LinkedIn profile, and with your references.
The biggest reason to consider changing your job title is if you believe it will be a hindrance for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
ATS software looks for specific keywords, such as “manager” or “assistant.”
If the job title contains words such as “lead,” “head,” or other vague terms, this could be problematic.
The key to changing your job title is to use replacement words that are synonymous with the original terms.
You never want to use a job title that portrays you as higher up than you actually are.
Your job titles have a major role to play in your resume.
They not only convey your work experience, but they also help to give you an edge on the competition if listed properly.
Of course, there are better job titles than others in the eyes of hiring managers.
The key is to relay how your job titles make you the most qualified candidate for the job.
Let’s cover the 3 key factors keep in mind when listing jobs titles on a resume:
Aside from prioritizing your best job titles, there are a few key elements of your job title and work experience sections to consider.
These include:
There are many different elements of your resume to consider when trying to get noticed by employers. Read our guide on How to Write the Perfect Resume for more tips!
If you have worked at a company for several years, chances are you have had a promotion or two.
This means that you will have multiple job titles coming from the same business!
When listing multiple jobs at the same company on a resume, there are two main formatting options:
Here is an example of a well-formatted stacked entry:
KPMG
Senior Consultant, January 2020 – Present
Junior Consultant, December 2018 – December 2020
Description
This example lists the company first with the stacked job titles beneath.
The most recent and highest-level job title is directly below the company name.
When using a stacked entry, be sure to be consistent in how you format your other entries.
If you start one entry with the company name, aim to start all the entries similarly.
Here is an example of when to use separate entries.
In this example, imagine the candidate is applying for a role as a Lead Marketer:
Marketing Manager, The Coca-Cola Company
February 2019 – Present
Description
Communications Coordinator, The Coca Cola Company
October 2018 – January 2019
Description
While these titles may share some similarities, they ultimately have different responsibilities.
However, both roles fall within the same general industry, making them both relevant to the job application.
This makes it useful to include both as separate entries!
Yes! You should always consider adding a dedicated job title section that lists the job title you are seeking.
This is especially true if the job title relays a specialization, such as a DevOps Engineer.
Additionally, if you are adding a general resume to a LinkedIn profile, having a job title section helps potential employers find you!
Omitting a job title section may be preferable for jobs that are lower- or entry-level.
Whether or not to list all of your job titles depends on both the relevance and available space on your resume.
Listing too many job titles can result in a cramped visual appearance, making your resume harder to read.
This is not ideal, as hiring managers will typically want to be able to skim through the resume quickly for the most important details.
When choosing job titles to include, ask yourself:
The job titles you include on your resume can have a major impact on a hiring manager’s impression of you.
Here are 5 key takeaways to remember about job titles:
At Easy Resume, we strive to help you create the resume that will land you your dream job.
Don’t forget to check out our extensive collection of free resume examples and guides while you’re here!
Ed is a co-founder of Easy Resume. His background in scaling teams at tech startups over the last decade has given him extensive experience and knowledge around how to hire top talent and build successful teams. He enjoys mentoring, coaching, and helping others reach their career goals. When he's not writing about career-related advice, he's playing with his dog, Lilo, or going on long hikes in upstate New York.
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