I would love some advice on this issue:

Anonymous

August 24,2023 at 2:33PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

I would love some advice on this issue:

My company has recently gone through a lot of personnel changes - mostly major layoffs in my department. I managed to dodge the layoffs, and I was offered a new position as a part of the restructuring. It came with a raise, which is great. Here's the problem though:

Per the duties and title (despite the raise), it definitely sounds (and feels) like a demotion from my current position. Now, I don't actually care about that as I am in the process of reskilling and looking for a new job (just completed an 8-month bootcamp and am waiting for news on possible apprenticeships, and I'm actively pursuing other opportunities as well).

The issue I'm concerned about is how I put this new position on my resume without it LOOKING like I got a demotion? I can't put that it accompanied a raise, can I? Should I not put it on my resume? Or should I try to make it sound like a promotion? (Not sure how I'll do that, but I can try, I guess?)

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

7 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

7 Comments

Join the conversation

AnonymousAugust 24,2023 at 4:42PM UTC
I would list a more descriptive title and increase the scope of your responsibilities
Barb HansenAugust 24,2023 at 6:36PM UTC
I feel you. On-paper-demotions that aren't really a demotion because the new role came with more responsibilities and a raise, but the job title looks like a downgrade are tough to see on our LinkedIn profiles and resumes.
I have had a few of those "downgrades" for multiple reasons:
-I needed a job so I took the job that was in front of me no matter what the job title (we should feel no shame in taking a job to pay our bills and support our families)
-I decided to take a job that was a paper-demotion b/c I wanted experience in a new industry (my career path is mine)
-corporate restructuring happens. (there is nothing we can do if a company restructures there job roles other than move on, which I did in one case)
I've quit a job when that company restructured it's job titles and I was going to be moved from a Sr. Manager to a Development Analyst position (no change in salary, it was just a job title change). No shade to Analysts, but in my case, my path to a promotion got pushed back 3 steps (I had to work to get a Sr. Analyst position, then a Manager position, then back to a Sr. Manager position) and I was set to be promoted to a Director role prior to the restructuring and I wasn't going to wait another 3 to 5 years to get back into position for the Director promotion opportunity.
If I was in your position, I would not change the job title on my resume (as the job role didn't change). I would add a bullet point on my resume to say something like "My role was relabeled as "insert job title" due to corporate restructuring but there was no change in my responsibilities"
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 25,2023 at 5:58AM UTC
Is there something obvious in the title that would make me think you got a demotion? I would not recommend you put that you received a raise on your resume.
What was your previous title and what's the new title?
AnonymousAugust 27,2023 at 5:21PM UTC
If the new title sounds like a promotion, spread the "duties" in the resume over to two positions with the lower skills at the previous title and the higher skills at the new title. (especially if the title is tagged with "senior, Lead, manager, or director, and the previous was not). If the title doesn't sound like a promotion (change from "customer service" to "client service," for example), then use the later title and overlap the dates, especially if the previous title no longer exists.
Sarah BordersAugust 28,2023 at 12:46PM UTC
Congrats on reskilling! Apart from setting you up for success, it can really reinvigorate your career and give you that fresh-out-of-school, “the world is my oyster” feeling. I love it!
Based on what you shared, you’re not long for this role, right? It’s a bit unconventional, but you *could* consolidate your experience at the company by having a heading for the company with the dates you’ve worked there, and then listing your roles in descending order of seniority rather than strict chronological order, and not showing dates worked in each role. Under the circumstances—your role changed due to restructuring from layoffs and not due to a performance issue—I think this is an acceptable approach, and once you get in an interview or even just a recruiting call, you can add a bit more detail to explain. Good luck to you!
Michele DarleyAugust 28,2023 at 1:18PM UTC
You can put whatever title you want on your resume. Instead of listing your duties, you'll list your accomplishments, so you can sell yourself on your abilities, rather on your title and duties.
AnonymousAugust 28,2023 at 5:38PM UTC
Leave it off your resume. Stay the course don't waiver from your plan and it sure sounds like you will be out of there before you need to really do all of this. When asked you can tell prospective employers that due to the company recently restructuring your duties have increased and so has your salary but your plan to leave was set in stone before the shift. Then move on.