Is not disclosing a title change on a resume really a lie?

33 Comments

1. Barb HansenDecember 7,2021 at 5:16PM UTC

   On your resume, I would list that position as "Director" and in the details under that position, I would add a line that "during a company-wide restructure position was re-labeled as Manager but your responsibilities did not change."

2. AnonymousDecember 8,2021 at 3:36PM UTC

   Thank you so much for your advice!

3. KathrynDecember 9,2021 at 1:15PM UTC

   I am an HR manager and it would not make any difference to me you were hired as a director and even if the title changed you are still a director. IT is not lying and it is not deciet your were a director run with it

4. Maggie StoneDecember 9,2021 at 2:09PM UTC

   Kathryn makes a good point here. I don’t see any deliberate attempt to deceive. You didn’t lie about your skills, education, experience, or qualifications. My guess is that even if someone finds out, it will be seen as irrelevant.

5. Kari Leigh ShattuckDecember 9,2021 at 1:31PM UTC

   What if you put Director/Manager as your job title? Not sure that's the right solution, but it's a thought. It's kind of ambiguous, and people might not think anything about it and just skip over it. I guess they might ask you to clarify in an interview, but maybe not.

6. Christy K. HanthornDecember 9,2021 at 1:46PM UTC

   ? ? ?

7. Michelle HoffmanDecember 9,2021 at 1:32PM UTC

   Just remember your resume is basically a book review on yourself and is different than your job application. The application is where it will need to be factual otherwise the fine print states you can be let go for false information on your application. To be very honest, most places and HR Departments do not really look at the info on the application during the hiring process. They key in on a few things - Have you been convicted of a crime, and those questions around that. Having said that - a company I worked for did go back and perform an audit of applications. Several people got caught up in the lies and lost their jobs.

8. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 4:13PM UTC

   Eeew, that's scary, thanks for the insight.

9. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 1:51PM UTC

   You could consider framing the title through a leadership lens (eg. Product Leadership), and then breaking out the roles more discretely underneath it.

   That, with a light factual reference to why (it's enough to say something like "company reorganization, 2021) should be enough. Good luck!

10. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 2:00PM UTC

    So, I had a job change when we reorganized due to COVID, and this is how I handled it.

    Relevant Job Title Total Dates of Employment

    Current Job Title

    Company

    • summary of relevant job functions as they apply to what I am applying for.

    I did not call out the reorganization like others are suggesting. Your resume is your praise sheet, and I would never call out a title demotion like that. Calling it out the way I did above leaves it open to asking in the interview, where you can better explain the situation. Or, they may assume you got a promotion at some point from Manager to Director and never ask. Either way, I would not waste the valuable real estate of your resume trying to explain a reorg

11. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 2:02PM UTC

    It messed up my formatting when I posted. It should be: Line 1: Relevant Job Title and Total Dates of Employment. Line 2: Indent, Current Job Title. Line 3: Company Name. Line 4: Bullet points summarizing the relevant job functions for the position you are applying for.

12. Brenda CrawshawDecember 9,2021 at 2:14PM UTC

    Unless your actual responsibilities changed, I wouldn't even mention it! If you are still doing the same work you were doing when you were hired as the Director, then technically you ARE still the Director. The only reason I would even mention it is if your WORK actually changed.

13. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 2:17PM UTC

    I work in HR and at least in my experience, it wouldn’t matter. They probably wouldn’t even ask, but if they do, then explain.

    At my last job, we had a merge and they changed my title. The responsibilities were the same, but my old title sounded better. I just put that on my own resume, and don’t even include the other title. I’ve never been asked. They’re really just looking to see that you can do the job you’re applying for, and not nitpicking over the title.

14. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 3:06PM UTC

    While HR cannot disclose much during checks they are asked and will disclose your title, start date, end date and salary. That said if you are still there then no they won't call your current employer

15. MrsDiane TorresDecember 9,2021 at 5:35PM UTC

    It depends on the company whether or not they will call. I would include the new title. When something is not updated on a resume and you submit an outdated one, that leads me to question what else are they not telling me. It always comes out during an interview or employment verification

16. Karen Morris RushDecember 9,2021 at 3:19PM UTC

    I just did this and what I did was lost all the different titles I have held at the company

17. Debbie VerebDecember 9,2021 at 3:36PM UTC

    Personally I would not change the title to manager. If you are seeking employment while you are still working they won't call your current employer. Even if you are not in that situation, if I were interviewing someone, it would not matter to me.

18. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 4:09PM UTC

    Thank you for this specific answer. I wondered if a potential employer would call my current company to verify employment. That would make for a very awkward situation.

19. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 3:49PM UTC

    That may be true (though I've never had that happen), but god knows you don't want to work for a company that contacts your current employer.

20. GirlBossanova934974December 9,2021 at 4:06PM UTC

    Here's the ultimate question. If you were a Manager at XYZ company vs. a Director at XYZ company, what does that really mean? Director sounds a bit more impressive. But the main question is what were your responsibilities and how many people reported to you? If I am a Manager at company XYZ and10 people re[port to me vs. a Director at company XYZ where 15 people report to me, what is the big difference?

21. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 4:14PM UTC

    Thanks everyone. I am feeling much better now.

22. Margo JohnsonDecember 9,2021 at 4:42PM UTC

    You could include both titles but give your period of employment with the company as one unit, not implying the dates you held each title.

23. AnonymousDecember 10,2021 at 2:48PM UTC

    I like this idea! I have the same issue, but my duties were reduced in one instance and expanded in another. I'm applying for positions in the same field, so I kind of assume that organization also retitles positions occasionally, but it makes me nervous to be either too detailed & apologetic or on the flipside appear deceptive.

24. NikkiDecember 9,2021 at 4:50PM UTC

    It is always easier to be honest, as being deceptive takes a lot of energy and worry. How you frame the move in your resume, just as you described here in your post might be the best solution. What do you think?

25. Sue Gordon- retired Career CoachDecember 9,2021 at 5:35PM UTC

    I've got to say that one organization's manager is another's director. This isn't a legal term and usually a background check will confirm dates of employment and eligibility for rehire.

26. Tabbi KinionDecember 9,2021 at 6:04PM UTC

    You might consider listing the job as Manager/Director of XXX.

27. Carissa GordonDecember 9,2021 at 8:38PM UTC

    I agree with this approach as it doesn't indicate which preceeded the other but is still accurate.

28. LISA MCCARTNEYDecember 9,2021 at 7:05PM UTC

    I would change my title but mention the reorganization either in the cover letter (but that brings up different questions) or in the interview so they know you can handle the work of Director of __________.

29. AnonymousDecember 9,2021 at 11:20PM UTC

    Unless you are in an area that titles are hard and fast, they are like honorary degrees in many careers. There are a ton of individual contributor VP of Sales that have zero P&L responsibility, management or oversight on pipeline. They have the title to get their foot in the door.

    Some companies are very flat and a Manager would equal a Sr. director or higher because of scope. In manufacturing, Plant Manager is like an SVP.

    Make sure your bullets support the position you are applying for and don’t worry about it. Men certainly don’t.

30. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterDecember 10,2021 at 3:36PM UTC

    I'm a recruiter and I tend to take titles with a grain of salt. Small companies who are trying to sound big tend to give out "inflated" titles to make people feel good about leaving bigger companies and large companies often give people unassuming titles like Project Manager III so that we don't automatically take a second look at their Director level candidate.

    That's the background -

    Now - instead of worrying about the title, spend time focusing on the RESULTS you've achieved in your role and highlight that on your resume and your LinkedIn profile.

    "Reduced waste by 42% (~$150K) YOY by identifying a more comprehensive process for purchasing across departments."

    is much more useful for me to see your actual value to a company than,

    "responsible for purchasing across 5 departments"

    Go through your resume and profile NOW and ask yourself

    "does this show how I add money or save money for my company?"

    Think about forward momentum - what do you want to be responsible and judged for in your next role?

    How do you want to feel while you're in that new role?

    How much responsibility (and for what) do you want to carry?

    And change your resume for each specific role you're applying for. .. Better yet, network your way to your next opportunity and get "insider" perspectives on what will make your resume stand out!

    To answer the specific question --

    If I'm asked to review and confirm someone's employment background I'm going to ask, "Suzy lists Director of XYZ as her most recent title with your company, is that accurate?"

    If they say "no" it doesn't look like you were forthcoming.

    If you're resume says manager - no biggie.

    Just tell us in the cover letter about the reorg and rifs and how they adjusted your title.

31. AnonymousDecember 10,2021 at 7:15PM UTC

    Seriously, How many Vice Presidents can a bank have? I try to tell people titles are just that a title - it is not a measure of what you do/did in that role.

32. Peg BittnerDecember 10,2021 at 5:36PM UTC

    I sincerely believe that it is never a lie. Titles are just that, titles. They do not identify you, your names does. When you leave a company the title stays but the person with name goes. You are judge by who you are not what you are. I do not respect people based on a title but on who the person is . So titles on your resume to me is not lying.

33. surfnwriteDecember 11,2021 at 4:18AM UTC

    Oh for F's sake. Why would you need to disclose that?