Resume title

[sharaik]

Hello,
Can we/ Should we change the title of our post? For instance, if we worked for a particular position but to make it sound better and more relevant can we change our title position? For instance from Selection Board member to Recruitment officer? Key responsibilities are the same but recruitment officer sounds better!!

Another thing if we do change it, and the employer cross checks with the previous employer and finds out that the title has been changed will it leave a negative impact on him? Could he think that i have faked or lied about stuff in my resume?

[azn_dan]

i think selection board member sounds more professional then recruitment officer, personally.

Changing the title may or may not have an adverse affect, really depends if they check up on your references.

Personally i would leave the title as it stands.

[skewed]

You answered your own question.

It WOULD look horrible on your part if they cross-checked and found out you changed the title. Your chances of landing the job would probably evaporate.

Stick to the official job title noted on your original offer letter (unless it changed).

[brucemeng]

You answered your own question.

It WOULD look horrible on your part if they cross-checked and found out you changed the title. Your chances of landing the job would probably evaporate.

Stick to the official job title noted on your original offer letter (unless it changed).

a title change to something similar won't look horrible at all. do it if you think it'll help.

just don't lie on your duties/accomplishments for the job.

[sillysimms]

Working in HR, I can tell you that one of the things that verified during a reference check are job titles. When a candidate has changed their job title on their resume, this does look very bad and at our company would result in the individual not being hired.

At our company, we have guidelines that must be met. When conducting reference checks, certain things are being verified. Job titles, dates of employment, etc. It is expected that what is on the resume is accurate and true.

Yes, some people do embellish on their resume for exactly the reason that you state - they feel one title sounds better than another. However, most major companies would consider that a misrepresentation and would very likely result in disqualification.

I have checked references at times when individuals have listed companies on their resumes that they did not work at in addition to degrees they do not have or did not complete. Some people change their job titles but that will lead to problems with reference checks at most organizations.

[bleeet]

You answered your own question.

It WOULD look horrible on your part if they cross-checked and found out you changed the title. Your chances of landing the job would probably evaporate.

Stick to the official job title noted on your original offer letter (unless it changed).lol it would look bad if you call youself a manager or director or something but not really if you just make a small minor change in title.....heck tell little white lies about their ob title ...just don't lie about your job duties/accomplishments

[nalababe]

titles have expectations. People reading and hiring day after day will not be impressed with changing of words.

....do not make yourself more important sounding than you are...especially, when following up with key responsibilities.

[sillysimms]

lol it would look bad if you call youself a manager or director or something but not really if you just make a small minor change in title.....heck tell little white lies about their ob title ...just don't lie about your job duties/accomplishments

Well at our company, if a reference check was done and the job title was changed, minor or not, it would mean disqualification for employment. Further, it would lead the company, hiring manager and HR to believe that if the applicant lied about one thing, to make the job title "sound better" there are likely other inaccurate or embellished items on the resume and they would no longer be considered for employment. Our company is not the only one with this policy and this is one of the most common lies on resumes that are checked for during reference and background checks - for exactly this reason, because it is becoming more common and some think that a "minor" change doesn't matter when it matters very much to an employer who doesn't know an applicant well. It forms a major part of the employer's impression and they would have major concerns about hiring an employee who started off with an "untruth", however minor the applicant may feel it is.

[bleeet]

Well at our company, if a reference check was done and the job title was changed, minor or not, it would mean disqualification for employment. Further, it would lead the company, hiring manager and HR to believe that if the applicant lied about one thing, to make the job title "sound better" there are likely other inaccurate or embellished items on the resume and they would no longer be considered for employment. Our company is not the only one with this policy and this is one of the most common lies on resumes that are checked for during reference and background checks - for exactly this reason, because it is becoming more common and some think that a "minor" change doesn't matter when it matters very much to an employer who doesn't know an applicant well. It forms a major part of the employer's impression and they would have major concerns about hiring an employee who started off with an "untruth", however minor the applicant may feel it is.there was a huge thread about this in the past..if you want you could search for it and read it it is pretty interesting

a few people even in there even said they had some HR people from companies came to their school and it was OK to stretch the truth a little but as we can see the idea of this is subjective

[ullyeus]

there was a huge thread about this in the past..if you want you could search for it and read it it is pretty interesting

a few people even in there even said they had some HR people from companies came to their school and it was OK to stretch the truth a little but as we can see the idea of this is subjective

There is little benefit to it, and a large negative potential.

Leave it as is.

[fly]

I would leave it to your official title. The most generic title I held was Senior IT Specialist, even though I was more of a Project Coordinator / Consultant. Hence, I usually add a 1 sentence overview of what I do before the point form R&Rs.. eg:

(Company Name), (Date being) - (Date end)
Senior IT Specialist
Project Leader & High Availability Specialist at XXX's (Company Name) Strategic Outsourcing Business Unit providing technical assessment of projects and assigning resources based on project requirements

Developed product documentation including Use-Case Models, Software Requirement Specifications, Statement of Work, and Acceptance Test Plans
Liaised with Clients’ Project Managers, Technical Managers, and IT Architects to develop project plans and deployment strategies
Developed business processes and procedures for production support
...etc...

[sillysimms]

there was a huge thread about this in the past..if you want you could search for it and read it it is pretty interesting

a few people even in there even said they had some HR people from companies came to their school and it was OK to stretch the truth a little but as we can see the idea of this is subjective

I will search for it and read out of interest. I'm sure each company has its own policy, but at ours, it would disqualify someone for employment.

What I can recommend - if you're offered a job and don't like the title, try to negotiate that when you are given a written offer. I have had people request a different job title when they received their written offer of employment and sometimes it is approved if it is still is an accurate job title. That way you'd never have to be concerned about "changing" the title on your resume.

[sharaik]

Yeah even i think it could might end up going against you. I think your duties signifies more than your job title! People do certain tasks which are transferrable but their title doesnt say much about it.

[sleepyguy]

Definately more true in the US I find. Heck I'm reporting to the VP of Technology Shared Services... lol. Really he's just Tech Sr. Manager in NYC :)

Funny I have two titles. One everyone in Canada refers me to, Network Administrator... and the US equivalent... Technology Engineer... LOL! Engineer!?! I guess whatever floats their boat ;) -sg

Yeah even i think it could might end up going against you. I think your duties signifies more than your job title! People do certain tasks which are transferrable but their title doesnt say much about it.