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HR Titles and Resume'
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HR Titles and Resume'
Discuss your job search, the interviewing process, creating the right resume, how the HR profession's changes require new job-search approaches and related topics.
I possess over 11 years HR experience and have spent the last 6 years overseeing the HR functions within two facilities. Internally I am considered a management member with all the "benefits" that com
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Forums » Topic Forums » HR Career Forum » HR Titles and Resume'
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 10/31/2006 2:59 AM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 10/31/2006 Last: 10/31/2006 |
I possess over 11 years HR experience and have spent the last 6 years overseeing the HR functions within two facilities. Internally I am considered a management member with all the "benefits" that come with such a position. Although my role is that of an HR Manager, my title is HR Generalist. I am finding that this title is hurting me in my pursuit of HR Mgr job opportunities. How can I represent myself as the manager I am, without blatantly falsifying my resume when it comes to position title? |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 10/31/2006 4:14 AM EDT
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Posts: 38
First: 9/29/2006 Last: 3/10/2008 |
Dear Russ
You may replace company-dictated job titles with ones that better reflect what you actually did and that may be better understood by your target market. You must be accurate in stating your job title, and sometimes that means not using the title your company gave you. Your title should truly reflect the job you heldone commonly understood outside your company. Susans job title was Marketing Representative, yet what she did was market analysis. Since she was applying for positions in market analysis, the title was holding her backand it was also misleading. Until she agreed to change her title and make it more honest, readers thought she was in sales. You are misleading the reader if you call yourself a Generalist when you are actually a Manager. Just be certain that your accomplishments support whatever title you use. In your case, Manager is accurate, so use it on your resume, which is essentially a marketing piece. On the application form, you can list your company-dictated job title. Heres the way you can position yourself in your summary (just under your name, address, phone and email): 6 years experience overseeing HR functions within two facilities. Then list bullets that support that statement. Good luck. -- Kate Wendleton President, The Five O'Clock Club www.fiveoclockclub.com |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 10/31/2006 7:49 AM EDT
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Posts: 8
First: 8/1/2006 Last: 3/6/2008 |
Hi RUSSKELLEY,
I would also explore upgrading your title at your current job without asking for more pay. If that does not work, it's perfectly alright to state on your resume that you had 'managerial responsibilties' and then continue to state what those responsiblities include. This allows potential employers to recognize that you are capable of or possess the necessary skills needed for a management level position. As a recruiter, I find this approach very effective. Good luck! |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 11/2/2006 3:12 AM EDT
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Posts: 147
First: 9/29/2006 Last: 2/11/2007 |
Kate wouldn't that be lieing?
I have held the top HR position a couple of times where the title was Director - yet all of my internal peers were VP's. If I represented myself as a VP, to as you put it, more accurately reflect what I did, I would be misrepresnting myself. How can you rationalize your advice? Thanks. |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 11/2/2006 8:54 AM EDT
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Posts: 38
First: 9/29/2006 Last: 3/10/2008 |
VP is a level -- an award -- not a descriptor. You should not write VP unless you are actually a VP. You should not say you are president even if you think you are actually running the company. The word "president" is a title. However, if you actually run the comapny, you may say that you "manage all areas of the company including, ..." You may write titles that are descriptive and more clearly show what you are doing. If you don't have the title of manager but your are actally managing, you may say that you are a manger -- even if you do not have that formal title. It's descriptive of what you are doing and is more accurate than many given titles. |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 11/2/2006 9:00 AM EDT
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Posts: 147
First: 9/29/2006 Last: 2/11/2007 |
I'm not trying to be argumentative I am trying to understand.
If I AM a VP it is a title just as if I am a Manager. To claim I am a VP of HR when my title is HR Director is decepive. Just as if my title were HR generalist and I changed it to HR manager as you suggested in your earlier response. I do not disagree that describing what we do; i.e. manage HR functions; as the senior HR executive, are quite appropriate. But to refer to ourselves as the HR Manager, when in fact we are not, is intentionally deceptive. Further, most HR leaders would disqualify a candidate for that deceptiveness. So perhaps I misunderstood your original intent but the way it is written is suggesting changing a job title to something it is not. |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 11/2/2006 9:18 AM EDT
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Posts: 3
First: 11/2/2006 Last: 12/5/2006 |
A work of caution about changing your job title on your resume...
When a background check is run and there is a mismatch between your stated job title on your resume and the title that your employer confirms in the background check, this will red flag you as a candidate. Typically this is handled in different ways by different employers. I have seen candidates "challenged" by the recruiter or hiring manager and I have seen candidates dropped from consideration. |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 11/2/2006 9:54 AM EDT
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Posts: 38
First: 9/29/2006 Last: 3/10/2008 |
The resume must be accurate and refelctive of the person's actual responsibilities. Do not inflate your job title and mislead people into thinking you were doing more than you were. Strive to be accurate in your description. On the job application, however, you must put the formal title that the company uses.
For example, on a resume a job hunter might write "Senior Programmer," which is accurate and descriptive of the person's responsibilities. But on the application, the job hunter should write, "Programmer A," the company's title for him. "Senior programmer" is actually more accurate for use outside of the company. Some company titles are overblown in the opposite direction, and would OVERSTATE a person's responsibilities. For example, if a lone sales rep is given the title of VP, Marketing, that title implies more than the person actually does. We suggest a more accurate title for the resume, such as Account Representative or Sales Representative. Accuracy and reasonableness are the key for the resume. On the application itself, the person may write VP, Marketing. |
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HR Titles and Resume'
posted at 11/2/2006 11:04 AM EDT
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Posts: 147
First: 9/29/2006 Last: 2/11/2007 |
Thank you for your clarification.
What you suggest is blatant dishonesty and my over 25 years of recruiting and HR experience would cause me to out right reject anyone who did what you suggest. I have no problem with accurately describing the duties but to re-title yourself simply because you think your duties are deserving of a title your employer hasn't established for your job is a lie. I cannot believe you would suggest that. |
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