Diving headfirst into the world of job titles can unlock a new level of understanding about your career and job search. These often overlooked descriptors are more than just labels on a business card—they represent your role and responsibilities within an organization.
And on your next resume, your job title could be the make-it-or-break-it factor that gets you an interview.
Navigating job titles can provide clarity, help your resume be easily found within Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and underscore your professional growth.
That’s why, by the end of this post, you’ll understand how to choose and use job titles for resume, the significance of professional titles versus job titles, and much more.
3 key takeaways
- What job titles are and why they matter
- Examples of job titles by field and level or experience
- The difference between professional titles and job titles
Understanding job titles
Job titles are a quick way of describing your role within a company. They immediately let hiring managers know about your position, the nature of your work, and, often, your level of seniority.
Job titles can range from generic descriptors like "Marketing Manager" or "Software Engineer" to more specific, industry-dependent ones such as "SEO Specialist" or "Data Scientist."
Job titles carry significant importance both in your resume and your job search for a number of reasons:
- Clarity and context: Job titles provide a fast and clear understanding of your role and responsibilities. A well-chosen job title can immediately give hiring managers insight into what you do and the level at which you operate.
- Keywords for ATS: Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to file incoming resumes. Using these systems, recruiters and hiring managers can search for keywords related to the job description—which often include job titles. Using accurate and relevant job titles can increase your chances of being easily found.
- Professional growth: Tracking your progression in job titles (for instance, from 'Junior Analyst' to 'Senior Analyst' to 'Department Lead') allows potential employers to see your career growth at a glance.
How to use job titles effectively in a resume
Using job titles effectively in a resume is a skill that can really help your job search. Here are some tips:
1. Accuracy
Ensure that your job titles accurately reflect your role and responsibilities. Remember, this isn't your desired job title. It's the exact job title (or in your work history, the multiple job titles) you've held. Misleading job titles can create confusion and may harm your credibility. Do NOT get tempted to inflate your job title to impress hiring managers.
Remember, a background check can easily reveal the truth, and dishonesty can cost you the job.
Stick to the official job title you were given. If it doesn’t fully represent what you did, you can clarify your responsibilities and showcase their impact in the "Work Experience" section.
2. Consistency
Be consistent in how you list job titles. Whether you decide to place them before or after the company name, make sure to do the same throughout your resume. Generic titles like "Manager" or "Professional" can leave hiring managers guessing about your actual responsibilities.
Review your roles, responsibilities, and achievements, then choose a title that accurately represents what you did. For instance, instead of “Manager,” use “Customer Relations Manager.”
3. Clarity
Avoid internal jargon or overly creative titles that might not be recognized outside your company. If your official job title doesn't accurately represent your role, consider adding a universally understood title in parentheses.
For example, imagine your last company was laid back, and your sales role title was: "Revenue Rainmaker."
While "Revenue Rainmaker" may be a fun, creative title within a company that signifies a role focused on driving sales and increasing revenue, it's not a commonly used or universally recognized title. It can confuse recruiters or hiring managers who are not familiar with your company's internal jargon.
Instead, consider using a universally understood title in parentheses: "Revenue Rainmaker (Sales Manager)."
This makes your role immediately clear to anyone reading your resume, regardless of their familiarity with your company's specific terminology. You can also add more clarity when describing your accomplishments in your “Work Experience” section.
Ok, but what types of titles would be best, and when should they be modified?
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The benefit? A significantly enhanced resume that portrays your role in a compelling light, one that resonates with your unique career narrative and the targeted job role.
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Examples of job titles for different industries
Every industry has a unique set of job titles, often including a combination of common titles and industry-specific ones. Here are some common job titles and job title examples for seven different industries, categorized by level of experience:
Marketing
Entry-level:
- Marketing Assistant
- Social Media Coordinator
- Junior Copywriter
- Content Creator
- Advertising Assistant
- PR Coordinator
- Market Research Analyst
- Digital Marketing Intern
- Branding Assistant
- Event Planning Assistant
Mid-level:
- Marketing Manager
- Content Strategist
- SEO Specialist
- Public Relations Manager
- Branding Manager
- Content Marketing Manager
- Advertising Manager
- Digital Marketing Specialist
- Social Media Manager
- Media Buyer
Senior-level:
- Director of Marketing
- Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
- Vice President of Brand Strategy
- Chief Brand Officer
- Senior Marketing Strategist
- Digital Marketing Director
- Global Marketing Director
- Head of PR
- Marketing Vice President
- Chief Content Officer
Information Technology (IT)
Entry-level:
- Junior Software Developer
- IT Support Specialist
- Systems Administrator
- Helpdesk Analyst
- Network Technician
- Data Center Operator
- Junior Data Analyst
- Front-End Developer
- QA Tester
- Database Administrator
Mid-level:
- Software Engineer
- IT Project Manager
- Data Analyst
- IT Security Analyst
- Cloud Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Network Engineer
- Full-Stack Developer
- IT Business Analyst
- QA Engineer
Senior-level:
- IT Director
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Senior Systems Architect
- Senior Software Engineer
- Head of IT Security
- Cloud Architect
- Senior Data Scientist
- Infrastructure Manager
- Enterprise Architect
- IT Operations Manager
Finance
Entry-level:
- Financial Analyst
- Junior Accountant
- Audit Associate
- Treasury Analyst
- Loan Officer
- Tax Associate
- Investment Analyst
- Risk Management Associate
- Junior Financial Planner
- Billing Specialist
Mid-level:
- Financial Controller
- Senior Tax Consultant
- Risk Manager
- Senior Financial Analyst
- Portfolio Manager
- Corporate Finance Manager
- Senior Auditor
- Credit Analyst
- Treasury Manager
- Tax Manager
Senior-level:
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Director of Finance
- Vice President of Investment
- Head of Risk Management
- Senior Portfolio Manager
- Treasurer
- Audit Director
- Chief Investment Officer (CIO)
- Senior Financial Planner
- Chief Accounting Officer (CAO)
Sales
Entry-level:
- Sales Associate
- Business Development Representative
- Inside Sales Representative
- Sales Development Representative
- Sales Analyst
- Junior Account Manager
- Outbound Sales Specialist
- Sales Support Specialist
- Sales Trainee
- Telemarketing Representative
Mid-level:
- Sales Manager
- Account Executive
- Territory Sales Representative
- Senior Sales Associate
- Business Development Manager
- Regional Sales Manager
- Sales Operations Manager
- Product Sales Specialist
- Sales Coach
- Key Account Manager
Senior-level:
- Director of Sales
- Vice President of Business Development
- Chief Sales Officer (CSO)
- Senior Account Executive
- Global Sales Director
- Head of Business Development
- Sales Operations Director
- Senior Key Account Manager
- Senior Sales Strategist
- Head of Sales Training and Development
Human Resources (HR)
Entry-level:
- HR Assistant
- Recruitment Coordinator
- Payroll Specialist
- HR Analyst
- Junior Talent Acquisition Specialist
- Employee Relations Specialist
- HR Intern
- HR Administrative Assistant
- Onboarding Specialist
- Benefits Coordinator
Mid-level:
- HR Manager
- Talent Acquisition Specialist
- Employee Relations Manager
- Senior HR Generalist
- HR Project Manager
- Compensation and Benefits Manager
- Training and Development Manager
- HR Business Partner
- Diversity and Inclusion Manager
- HR Systems Analyst
Senior-level:
- HR Director
- Chief People Officer
- Vice President of Talent Management
- Senior Talent Acquisition Director
- Senior HR Business Partner
- Head of HR Operations
- Global HR Manager
- Director of Employee Engagement
- Head of Diversity and Inclusion
- Chief HR Officer (CHRO)
Project Management
Entry-level:
- Junior Project Manager
- Project Coordinator
- Project Analyst
- Assistant Project Manager
- Project Support Officer
- Project Scheduler
- Project Engineer
- Project Control Specialist
- Project Estimator
- Project Assistant
Mid-level:
- Project Manager
- Agile Coach
- Program Manager
- Senior Project Analyst
- IT Project Manager
- Project Portfolio Manager
- Risk Management Specialist
- Project Quality Manager
- Project Procurement Manager
- Construction Project Manager
Senior-level:
- Director of Project Management
- Senior Program Manager
- Chief Project Officer (CPO)
- Project Management Office Director
- VP of Operations
- Director of Project Portfolio Management
- Senior Project Procurement Manager
- Principal Project Manager
- Project Strategy Director
- Head of Project Operations
Customer Support
Entry-level:
- Customer Support Representative
- Technical Support Agent
- Help Desk Specialist
- Customer Service Specialist
- Customer Success Coordinator
- Customer Experience Associate
- Technical Customer Support Specialist
- Bilingual Customer Support Representative
- Support Analyst
- Customer Support Technician
Mid-level:
- Customer Support Manager
- Quality Assurance Specialist
- Escalation Manager
- Senior Technical Support Specialist
- Customer Experience Manager
- Customer Success Manager
- Support Team Lead
- Technical Account Manager
- Customer Support Specialist
- Product Support Manager
Senior-level:
- Director of Customer Experience
- Vice President of Customer Success
- Chief Customer Officer (CCO)
- Senior Customer Success Manager
- Head of Customer Support
- Director of Support Services
- Senior Technical Account Manager
- Global Customer Experience Director
- Director of Customer Service Operations
- Head of Customer Retention
Pro tip: Take a look at Teal's comprehensive selection of resume examples across a variety of jobs by seniority level, industry, specialty, and more to see how job titles look on a resume.
How to choose the right job title for your resume
Choosing the right job title for your resume is more than just jotting down what your business card says. To ensure it accurately represents your role and grabs the attention of the hiring manager, consider these factors:
- Accuracy: Your job title should accurately reflect your responsibilities and duties. Exaggerating or inflating your job title can be misleading and may cause complications in the hiring process.
- Relevance: Choose a job title that is relevant to the job you're applying for. While your actual job title might be industry-specific or unique to your company, it's important to use a title that's commonly recognized in your industry and makes sense to hiring managers.
- Level of seniority: Your job title should reflect your seniority or experience. If you were leading a team or a project, ensure that this is reflected in your job title.
Again, the biggest mistake you could make is lying about your employment history or inflating your previous job titles. Instead, remain honest and use your work experience when writing effective job descriptions that share your tangible accomplishments.
Should you match your job title to specific job descriptions?
While a job title should be the name of the last position (or previous positions) you held during your tenure at a company, aligning a target title with the job description for the role you're you're applying to can improve your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers and recruiters. (It also helps your resume be found within Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) if someone on the hiring team searches for a particular keyword.)
Think of your target title as almost a resume title. And rather than adjusting your job title, adjust the target title on your resume to something that aligns closely with the job ad, if it accurately represents your role and responsibilities. (Remember, misrepresentation can lead to potential credibility issues later in the hiring process.)
You can build out an exhaustive list of job titles are target titles in Teal's AI Resume Builder. This allows you to easily check the box for the title on your resume that most closely aligns with the job description.
How are professional titles different from job titles?
While both professional titles and job titles play a significant role in your career narrative, they serve different functions and are used in different contexts.
A job title refers to the specific role you hold or held within a company. It typically appears on your business card and is used within the organization to denote your responsibilities and level of seniority.
Job titles can be specific to a role (like 'Senior Data Analyst' or 'Head of Marketing') and often change as you transition between jobs or receive promotions.
On the other hand, a professional title is a broader label that describes your line of work, regardless of your current job or employer. It captures your professional identity and expertise in the field.
For instance, you might be a 'Marketing Professional' or 'Data Science Expert.' A professional title often remains the same throughout different roles or jobs as long as they fall within the same field of work.
In short, while a job title is more about your specific role and duties within a company, a professional title is about your career identity and overall expertise in your professional domain.
Both play crucial roles in your resume and LinkedIn profile and should be carefully chosen to represent your relevant experience, and skills accurately.
When to use a professional title vs. a job title on a resume
Using a job title on a resume
Past job titles should be used in the "Work History" section of your resume to list your previous roles. You can also include one in your resume summary. This provides recruiters with a clear understanding of your past positions and the associated responsibilities you held within those roles. For instance:
- Software Developer at ABC Corp (2017-2022)
- Marketing Manager at XYZ Inc. (2014-2017)
Using a professional title on a resume
In the resume header
If you prefer the less common method of not using a target title on your resume, you could instead include a resume header or resume headline. A suitable place for this is just below your contact information. It serves as a brief highlight of who you are as a professional, which might be broader than any specific job title you've held.
For example, if you've had several roles in digital marketing—like SEO specialist, content strategist, and social media manager—you might add a professional title on your resume like "Digital Marketing Professional."
When crafting an effective crafting an effective resume headline, be sure to try Teal’s generative AI to help you beat the blank page and write more compelling headers!
When your job title isn't widely recognized
Suppose your previous job title is unique to your organization and not widely recognized or understood in your industry. In that case, you might use a more standard professional title that better conveys your role and responsibilities to potential employers.
For freelancers or consultants
If you work in various roles or for multiple clients simultaneously, a professional title can better capture the breadth of your work. For example, if you're a freelance graphic designer, website developer, and content creator, a professional title like "Digital Creative Professional" could be more appropriate.
The objective of a resume is to present your skills, experience, and qualifications in the most relevant and digestible way for the hiring manager or recruiter.
So whether you use a job title or professional title, the key is to ensure it aligns with the roles you're applying for and provides a clear snapshot of your professional persona.
Optimize your job title with Teal
Job titles matter more than you might think, especially in today’s competitive market. They aren't just labels; they can be powerful tools to distinguish your professional journey, showcasing the unique skills, knowledge, and experience you bring to the table.
If you're looking to level up your job-search game and enhance your resume, Teal has got you covered. By pulling out the right keywords, Teal transforms your resume into a recruiter magnet, ensuring your skills and experiences get the recognition they deserve.
And you don’t need to worry about the cumbersome formatting issues of Google docs, because Teal has designed a seamless, user-friendly interface to streamline your resume creation process.
In other words, crafting a standout resume has never been easier.
With Teal, you're not just selecting a job title; you're choosing a clear path to your dream job. If you're ready to embrace your potential and redefine your professional narrative, then it's time to take the next step with Teal.
After all, the right job title can open doors—but the right platform can help you stride through them with confidence.
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