What should you do when your name changes on your resume? People change their names for various reasons, whether ordinary or unconventional. Whether you recently got married or divorced, or you have another reason for changing your name, you’ll want to inform potential employers that you have a work history under a different name so they can get a complete picture of your work history.
Should You Include Both Names on Your Resume?
Why not just put your new name on your resume and happily move on? Well, there are several reasons, the most important being that personal branding is important in this day and age, and even if you decide to amend your legal name, you want to keep track of your accomplishments.
Additionally, it’s important that your resume matches your work history so hiring managers and background checkers can easily trace you from point A to point B and know that you are indeed the person you claim to be.
So how should you record the name change on your resume? Here are some options that work for resumes, cover letters, and job applications, along with an example of a resume that includes both the current and previous names.
Options to Indicate Name Change on Resume
When your name changes, whether due to marriage, divorce, or another reason, there are several options for including the change on your resume.
You can list both names on your resume. You may put your previous name in parentheses or list both names, with your previous name in a smaller font:
Nancy (Smith) Simmons
First (Middle) Last
Or
Nancy Simmons
Formerly Nancy Smith
In the example below of a resume, the job seeker has placed their previous name in parentheses.
Example Resume Including Name Change
Below is an example resume that includes a name change. You can download a resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).
Download Word Template
Example Resume Including Name Change (Text Version)
Katherine (Smith) Applicant
123 Main Street
White Plains, NY 12345
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
Luxury Retail Sales Manager
Building premier luxury clothing stores through strong management
Respected sales manager with over 10 years of experience in managing staff, payroll, scheduling, generating sales reports, overseeing inventory, and maintaining customer book looking for a position at a leading luxury store.
Core Skills Include:
- Integrating new record functions
- Training and supervising sales teams
- Placing orders and restocking
- Designing luxury shop windows
- Marketing high-value items
- Handling weekly merchandise receipt
Professional Experience:
Panorama Luxury Goods, White Plains, NY
Assistant Manager (February 2018 – Present)
Managing payroll and scheduling, generating reports, handling inventory and email, maintaining customer book records, ordering for merchandise restocks, and managing product receipts.
Notable Achievements:
- Extensive work in visual standards and marketing high-value items.
- Designed over 25 boutique shop windows, contributing to a percentage increase in sales over two years.
Bloomingdale’s, White Plains, NY
Sales Associate (June 2012 – February 2018)
Setting up fashion shows and attending monthly clinics for incoming fashion lines.
Notable Achievements:
- Collaborated with tailors and seamstresses to arrange fittings and ensure customer satisfaction.
- Monitored and provided feedback on shopping appointments for new sales.
Education and Qualifications:
Rambo College, Arlington, VA
Bachelor’s in English (Major: Business; GPA 3.75; Honor Roll every semester), 2012
Certifications:
- Certified Sales Associate (CSA) • Member of the National Retail Sales Federation (NRSF)
Technology Skills:
- Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel • Proficient in cash register software, including Nextar
Notify the Employer
Don’t worry about the employer having difficulty verifying your references or work history due to name change disclosure. You can inform the potential employer that there are work records under the previous name.
Be
Ready to provide documentation proving your new name when you get a job. Employers need to verify your employment eligibility, and the employment documents you need to start a new job must match your name.
Be Consistent
Consistency is important when submitting any materials for a job application. It is not uncommon for married women to have several different names, depending on their status and circumstances. For example, assume a married writer has a pen name, a legal name, and a birth name.
Although she should be prepared to provide a list of all three variations to a potential employer to help verify her identity and background, her application materials should reflect one consistent name – to align with the one cohesive message she hopes to convey as part of her personal branding strategy.
The goal is to express yourself and your achievements in as few words as possible, without the hiring manager having to sift through the information.
Otherwise, you risk appearing as if you’ve changed your name to hide from creditors or the law, rather than from marriage, shedding an unpopular name, or even adopting a chosen name that seems more aligned with the person you feel you are.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-include-a-name-change-on-your-resume-2063301
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