Boost Your Brand, Lose The Ego
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We have all experienced this...you are at a networking event or social gathering and there is that one person who is doing everything to get attention.

Now, when it happens to me, I naturally get curious. I want to know the person’s story, check out his/her career background, review the professional resume and learn the real deal.

Well, just last week, I decided to do a Google search on a new contact and well...there was a great disparity between his real and perceived job titles.

Let’s be honest for a moment, which of these job titles sound more impressive on a resume and grab your attention right away?

Chief, Recruitment Services vs HR Training Manager

Senior Sales Representative vs Regional Sales Director

Project Manager vs Marketing Associate


In most cases, a more “impressive” job title on a resume usually means you have high-level responsibilities and leadership contributions – nothing wrong with that, right?

The issue I am addressing today is using exaggerated, misleading job titles on your resume when conducting an executive job search.

If you are calling yourself a Director or Senior Manager on your resume, but you really have line or lower-level responsibilities, sooner or later your deception gets exposed – and the result is long-term damage to your professional brand.

Now, I recognize that there are times when your job title on your resume does not accurately reflect your tasks.

For example, your job title is Business Development Coordinator, but you actually oversee a team of employees and have managerial responsibilities.

However, the best approach for communicating your role without inflating your job title on your resume is as follows:

Business Development Coordinator (equivalent to Regional Manager)

OR

Business Development Coordinator, American Tech Systems

– Hold managerial-level responsibilities with complete oversight and supervision of 10 sales representatives in the Southwest Florida region.


Either way, you get your message across without creating a puffed up job title or making yourself look like a fraud.