Should YOU Use The Job Title In Your Resume?

Jimmy Sweeney, President of CareerJimmy

In a word, YES! Suppose an employer is in the market for a sales manager or a legal assistant or a registered nurse or a licensed carpenter. The most important words he or she will look for on a job seeker’s resume will be the job title.

So be sure to place the job title in the Summary Statement or Professional Profile of your resume in order to attract immediate attention.

Example: Experienced licensed carpenter eager to find employment with a residential homebuilder. Specialty skills include cabinetry, interior trim and moldings installation, and deck and porch building and repair.

By stating the job title immediately, you are emphasizing what the employer is looking for. Then in the body of the resume, repeat the title again when stating the skills you are practicing in your current or recent job and how they can transfer to the new position.

Example:

As a licensed carpenter, I achieved the following results at Acme Homebuilders, Inc. for the model homes:

• Built and installed kitchen cabinets
• Installed wood flooring at a reduced price for the builder because of connections with supplier
• Supervised the installation of back deck and front porch
• Installed crown molding and baseboards
• Did ‘finish work’ after model homes were completed

By repeating the job title a couple of times within the resume you are making sure that when an employer uses this keyword or phrase while browsing job boards on the Internet, your resume will come up.

It is also important to represent yourself honestly. Do not jeopardize your chance of being called for an interview by lying or exaggerating your professional standing. For example, if you are not certified or licensed or accredited in your industry, don’t imply that you are. If you don’t have a college degree, don’t say you do. However, don’t downgrade yourself either. State who you are and what you do best in the line of work you’re targeting.

The point is to give yourself every opportunity to be seen and ‘heard.’ In addition, using upper case letters, bolding or a separate line for the job title creates prominence and is more likely to draw the employer to that information. On the other hand, avoid overplaying your hand. If you are a salesperson, don’t inflate your role by saying you were a department supervisor.

Lying is the kiss of death for anyone seeking honest employment. You might even get away with it at first—but the test will come when a new boss asks specific questions or challenges your skills with an assignment that is beyond your scope of experience and ability.

Also avoid trying to spotlight yourself by choosing a fancy font or graphics or colored paper for your resume. Present yourself in a way that calls attention to your skills and experience and also your professionalism. It will pay off if you trust the process and focus on what matters, the job itself.

© Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,
Amazing Resume Creator

Jimmy Sweeney is president of CareerJimmy and originator of the brand new, “Amazing Resume Creator.” Jimmy is the author of “Tough Times Job Tips” and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.”

Watch Jimmy’s free, unusual resume video for job seekers. Discover the one little “Resume Twist” you can use immediately to stand out from the crowd and get hired fast.