Using functional job title instead of actual job title

Question

Hello everyone,

My company (Fortune 500, US based) uses generic job titles that will most likely not give the Adcom any sense of my actual responsibilities. For instance, my current title is " senior staff developer analyst ". I've gotten this title after 3 promotions and its equivalent to a Manager title internally and my next promotion will be to the Senior Manager title. I've had people reporting to me as well. Now my problem is many people who are purely technical and don't have any leadership responsibilities also have this title, plus the title won't be impressive or come across for someone in a pure technical role. I instead want to use the title 'Manager' in my resume and applications. I know that Re Vera and other services does a background check. Will this be an issue if I am able to provide an explanation for the title change?

Please advise!
Thanks!

ARLeeConsulting · Answer

Hi  sdlife ,

this is actually a common situation. In many companies, title and position (or role) are two different things.

Title  is typically something internal and tells your seniority within the organization. Common titles are Analyst, Assistant Manager, Manager, Senior Manager, Director and so on. But they could also be indicators such as E1, E2, E3, E4, etc... These are called "bands" in HR jargon.

Position  (or role) is more an indication of what you do in the company. For example, Head of Retail Marketing, or in your case, Senior Staff Developer Analyst (although it's not really that self-explanatory).

A promotion is a change of title (or band), but not necessarily a change in role. So you could be Head of Retail Marketing at Manager level, and be promoted to Senior Manager while keeping your Head of Retail Marketing role.

In order to play it safe, you could put in your resume something like " Senior Staff Developer Analyst - Manager Level ". Or simply come up with a more descriptive position of what you actually do and that sounds less techy (let's say Head of X), and put something like " Head of X - Manager Level ".

If you opt for the latter, make sure your recommenders (for example, if your current direct supervisor is one of them) back you up in their recommendation letters, i.e. they talk about you in terms of Head of X. Also, talk to your HR Team and make sure that you do show up in the HR system as Manager Level.

I hope this helps.

Thank you very much.

Warm regards
Alex

sdlife · Answer

Hi Alex /  ARLeeConsulting ,

Thank you very much for taking the time to provide your inputs. I greatly appreciate it.

So I did a little bit of a research since posting this - my company handle verification through a third party company, i.e., HRs don't get involved. So, I believe Re Vera would get my current title in their verification. HR teams don't get involved unless its absolutely necessary. I also spoke to one of my recommenders (previous supervisor for 6 years) and he agreed that the title doesn't make sense and suggested to use 'Manager, Data Analytics' or 'Manager, Analytics'. In the recommendations, both my recommenders are using 'manager' or 'head of XX' multiple times.

As a next step, I can try to contact HR team which could take some time, but I know they won't change anything in the system. Its a really big company and these things can't happen for one employee. I can try to get their approval to make sure they can verify if Re Vera contacts them, but they may or may not be okay with it.

Now, when Re Vera runs into these kind of issues (title mismatch), do you know if they try to go the recommenders or prefer speaking to the HR?

How do you feel about just going with the title - 'Manager, Analytics' ?

Thank you again! Much appreciate the help.

Regards,
SD

ARLeeConsulting · Answer

Hi  sdlife ,

thank you for providing further detail.

I wasn't suggesting to ask your HR Team to change anything in their system. As you mentioned, these things don't happen at the employee's request. What I meant is to make sure that at least you do show up as Manager in the HR internal system.

I was the Head of HR of Samsung Electronics Mexico for several years, so I'll speak from my experience. Sometimes, direct supervisors changed their employees' positions (for example, from sales associate to product management associate), without notifying HR of the change. So our HR system, most of the time, didn't have the most up to date positions for all employees. But we did keep titles (or bands, as explained in my previous post) up to date, since titles were completely owned by HR (i.e. no one could be promoted without the approval of HR). This could be also the case in your company.

So, my point is that, regardless of your "Senior Staff Developer Analyst" position, as long as you show up in the HR system as Manager (title), in case of background check, your title (i.e. Manager) will be backed up by the HR system, and your position (Head of X) will be backed up by your supervisors in their recommendation letters.

So, you could go with 'Manager, Data Analytics' or 'Manager, Analytics', or any position that makes sense to you and your recommenders.

I hope this helps.

Thank you very much.

Warm regards
Alex

sdlife · Answer

Hello Alex /  ARLeeConsulting ,

Thank you so much. Per your recommendation, I did speak with the HR team and my recommenders. My recommenders agreed to use the Manager, XX title and are willing to verify. However, the issue is that I spoke with the HR team and they said that they can only provide my current title to anyone verifying my employment. They are not allowed to divulge functional titles information nor do they have any external/functional titles in the system. Its a big US fortune 100 company and they don't do verification directly. All the verification is handled through third party companies, which when 'Re Vera' would use will only provide my current title and existing salary, other information. The HR team said they I am 'level 5' in my analyst track.

I know that Re Vera reaches out to the applicant if they see any discrepancies, and if they do reach out to me, I'll explain. But if they are not satisfied, do they try to get a hold of HR of the company or recommenders? My essays, recommendations and application all have consistency and proof that I am the head of XX or Manager, Analytics. For example, my recommenders have mentioned couple times that 'he is a top manager ... ' or 'he is the head of XXX'. So I am good there. Maybe I am thinking too much here, but I just want to be safe. I'd greatly appreciate if you could provide any more insights on Re Vera's process.

Thank you very much!

ARLeeConsulting · Answer

Hi  sdlife ,

if internally (i.e. as per the HR system) you're an Analyst Level 5, then you can write on your resume " Head of XX (Analyst Level 5) " or " Manager XX (Analyst Level 5) ".

This way you minimize the chances of discrepancy while using a position name that is more descriptive of your real role and less techy.

I hope this helps.

Thank you very much.

Warm regards
Alex

Using functional job title instead of actual job title

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