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And on your next resume, your job title could be the make-it-or-break-it factor that gets you an interview.
Navigating job titles can provide clarity, help your resume be easily found within Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and underscore your professional growth.
That’s why, by the end of this post, you’ll understand how to choose and use job titles for resume, the significance of professional titles versus job titles, and much more.
Job titles are a quick way of describing your role within a company. They immediately let hiring managers know about your position, the nature of your work, and, often, your level of seniority.
Job titles can range from generic descriptors like "Marketing Manager" or "Software Engineer" to more specific, industry-dependent ones such as "SEO Specialist" or "Data Scientist."
Job titles carry significant importance both in your resume and your job search for a number of reasons:
Using job titles effectively in a resume is a skill that can really help your job search. Here are some tips:
Ensure that your job titles accurately reflect your role and responsibilities. Remember, this isn't your desired job title. It's the exact job title (or in your work history, the multiple job titles) you've held. Misleading job titles can create confusion and may harm your credibility. Do NOT get tempted to inflate your job title to impress hiring managers.
Remember, a background check can easily reveal the truth, and dishonesty can cost you the job.
Stick to the official job title you were given. If it doesn’t fully represent what you did, you can clarify your responsibilities and showcase their impact in the "Work Experience" section.
Be consistent in how you list job titles. Whether you decide to place them before or after the company name, make sure to do the same throughout your resume. Generic titles like "Manager" or "Professional" can leave hiring managers guessing about your actual responsibilities.
Review your roles, responsibilities, and achievements, then choose a title that accurately represents what you did. For instance, instead of “Manager,” use “Customer Relations Manager.”
Avoid internal jargon or overly creative titles that might not be recognized outside your company. If your official job title doesn't accurately represent your role, consider adding a universally understood title in parentheses.
For example, imagine your last company was laid back, and your sales role title was: "Revenue Rainmaker."
While "Revenue Rainmaker" may be a fun, creative title within a company that signifies a role focused on driving sales and increasing revenue, it's not a commonly used or universally recognized title. It can confuse recruiters or hiring managers who are not familiar with your company's internal jargon.
Instead, consider using a universally understood title in parentheses: "Revenue Rainmaker (Sales Manager)."
This makes your role immediately clear to anyone reading your resume, regardless of their familiarity with your company's specific terminology. You can also add more clarity when describing your accomplishments in your “Work Experience” section.
Ok, but what types of titles would be best, and when should they be modified?
This is where Teal's AI Resume Builder steps in to level up your game.
As you develop your application, Teal matches it with the designated job posting, extracting important keywords, including both hard and soft skills needed. This ensures that your resume is loaded with all the right terms and phrases:
The benefit? A significantly enhanced resume that portrays your role in a compelling light, one that resonates with your unique career narrative and the targeted job role.
Ready to turn your job application into a compelling career story? Give the AI Resume Builder a shot and experience the Teal difference.
Every industry has a unique set of job titles, often including a combination of common titles and industry-specific ones. Here are some common job titles and job title examples for seven different industries, categorized by level of experience:
Pro tip: Take a look at Teal's comprehensive selection of resume examples across a variety of jobs by seniority level, industry, specialty, and more to see how job titles look on a resume.
Choosing the right job title for your resume is more than just jotting down what your business card says. To ensure it accurately represents your role and grabs the attention of the hiring manager, consider these factors:
Again, the biggest mistake you could make is lying about your employment history or inflating your previous job titles. Instead, remain honest and use your work experience when writing effective job descriptions that share your tangible accomplishments.
While a job title should be the name of the last position (or previous positions) you held during your tenure at a company, aligning a target title with the job description for the role you're you're applying to can improve your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers and recruiters. (It also helps your resume be found within Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) if someone on the hiring team searches for a particular keyword.)
Think of your target title as almost a resume title. And rather than adjusting your job title, adjust the target title on your resume to something that aligns closely with the job ad, if it accurately represents your role and responsibilities. (Remember, misrepresentation can lead to potential credibility issues later in the hiring process.)
You can build out an exhaustive list of job titles are target titles in Teal's AI Resume Builder. This allows you to easily check the box for the title on your resume that most closely aligns with the job description.
While both professional titles and job titles play a significant role in your career narrative, they serve different functions and are used in different contexts.
A job title refers to the specific role you hold or held within a company. It typically appears on your business card and is used within the organization to denote your responsibilities and level of seniority.
Job titles can be specific to a role (like 'Senior Data Analyst' or 'Head of Marketing') and often change as you transition between jobs or receive promotions.
On the other hand, a professional title is a broader label that describes your line of work, regardless of your current job or employer. It captures your professional identity and expertise in the field.
For instance, you might be a 'Marketing Professional' or 'Data Science Expert.' A professional title often remains the same throughout different roles or jobs as long as they fall within the same field of work.
In short, while a job title is more about your specific role and duties within a company, a professional title is about your career identity and overall expertise in your professional domain.
Both play crucial roles in your resume and LinkedIn profile and should be carefully chosen to represent your relevant experience, and skills accurately.
Past job titles should be used in the "Work History" section of your resume to list your previous roles. You can also include one in your resume summary. This provides recruiters with a clear understanding of your past positions and the associated responsibilities you held within those roles. For instance:
If you prefer the less common method of not using a target title on your resume, you could instead include a resume header or resume headline. A suitable place for this is just below your contact information. It serves as a brief highlight of who you are as a professional, which might be broader than any specific job title you've held.
For example, if you've had several roles in digital marketing—like SEO specialist, content strategist, and social media manager—you might add a professional title on your resume like "Digital Marketing Professional."
When crafting an effective crafting an effective resume headline, be sure to try Teal’s generative AI to help you beat the blank page and write more compelling headers!
Suppose your previous job title is unique to your organization and not widely recognized or understood in your industry. In that case, you might use a more standard professional title that better conveys your role and responsibilities to potential employers.
If you work in various roles or for multiple clients simultaneously, a professional title can better capture the breadth of your work. For example, if you're a freelance graphic designer, website developer, and content creator, a professional title like "Digital Creative Professional" could be more appropriate.
The objective of a resume is to present your skills, experience, and qualifications in the most relevant and digestible way for the hiring manager or recruiter.
So whether you use a job title or professional title, the key is to ensure it aligns with the roles you're applying for and provides a clear snapshot of your professional persona.
Job titles matter more than you might think, especially in today’s competitive market. They aren't just labels; they can be powerful tools to distinguish your professional journey, showcasing the unique skills, knowledge, and experience you bring to the table.
If you're looking to level up your job-search game and enhance your resume, Teal has got you covered. By pulling out the right keywords, Teal transforms your resume into a recruiter magnet, ensuring your skills and experiences get the recognition they deserve.
And you don’t need to worry about the cumbersome formatting issues of Google docs, because Teal has designed a seamless, user-friendly interface to streamline your resume creation process.
In other words, crafting a standout resume has never been easier.
With Teal, you're not just selecting a job title; you're choosing a clear path to your dream job. If you're ready to embrace your potential and redefine your professional narrative, then it's time to take the next step with Teal.
After all, the right job title can open doors—but the right platform can help you stride through them with confidence.
