Your job title can say a lot about you in a few words!

As you prepare your resume, you'll want to present yourself in the best possible light. For a resume to be an accurate portrayal of you, your skills, your experience, and your career progress, you'll certainly need to include some job titles. But what exactly is the best practice when it comes to adding job titles to your resume? 

In this article, we'll examine why job titles are necessary, whether you can change your job title, and how to present your job title on your resume. We've also got over 150 examples of real-world job titles to inspire and direct you. 

Without further ado, let's start exploring this diverse topic.

What is a job title?

A job title is simply your professional designation – it's most likely found at the top of the original job posting you responded to or on your job description. Usually, a job title will do two things:

  1. Describe the level you're working at (for example, Assistant, Supervisor, Manager, or Executive)

  2. Define the area you work in (for example, Business Development, Sales, Marketing, Accounting, IT, Supply Chain, and so on). 

There are many job titles that don't fall into this simple description, but they usually perform the same function of concisely describing your role. 

Why put job titles on a resume? 

There are certain bits of information that recruiters and hiring managers expect to see on your resume. In the context of your professional experience, that includes your job title, employer name, and dates of employment, as well as an overview of the remit of your role and your achievements while in that position. 

A job title on your resume is a key detail that gives context to your role, as it will usually provide an idea of what you do and the level you're working at. They can use this information to determine, to some extent, whether you're likely to have the background necessary to fill their vacancy. 

By understanding job titles and the role they play on your resume, you can ensure you're presenting a truthful – yet appealing – first impression. 

What is a professional title, and how is it different from a job title?

A professional title is different from a job title. 

While a job title relates to a specific role, a professional title relates to your career identity as a whole. For example, you may hold the professional title of Supply Chain Specialist but achieve progress in that career by holding several different roles. So your job titles as a Supply Chain Specialist could be Warehouse Assistant, Logistics Supervisor, and Supply Chain Manager.

What is the difference between a job title and a role?

While the job title is the professional designation that provides a general and concise overview of the job, a role is everything you do within that job. For example, a Barista is a job title, and the role is to make drinks and serve customers, among other things. 

Where should I use job titles on my resume?

Usually, it's the job title that recruiters want to see on your resume rather than your professional title. You should specify job titles within the subheadings for every role you mention in the Professional Experience section of your resume. You may also like to include them in your header and in your Summary section. 

Your professional title, on the other hand, isn't an obligatory part of your resume. If you're not aiming for a specific job title with your next career move, you could use a professional title in the header and Summary section to keep your options open – otherwise, sticking to your current job title is a wise move. 

How to choose the right job title for your resume 

Usually, the job titles you use on your resume will be pretty straightforward. It's likely that you can use the title you were given when you landed the job, which will be recorded on your employment paperwork – for example, Technical Project Manager. 

However, sometimes the lines may be a bit blurry. For example, maybe your company has come up with some pretty original job titles that won't be recognized outside of that one business, or maybe you're a freelancer or contractor with no official job title. In that case, we'd advise identifying a standard job title that encapsulates your role neatly and using that. 

If you're employed, you can put your official job title in parenthesis afterward, if necessary, to ensure you're not red-flagged for providing untrue information when your references arrive bearing a different job title. 

It could look like this: 

Call Center Manager (Chief Chatterbox)

Top tip: If you choose to use a job title on your resume that's different from your official title, it's important that it's not misleading. Choose the closest title you can think of that accurately conveys the responsibilities and remit of your role. 

You may struggle to identify an appropriate job title if you've worked informally, for example, as an intern or volunteer. In that case, try to be as informative as possible with the title you choose. Take inspiration from this list of unofficial job titles to inform your decisions: 

  • Marketing Intern

  • Library Assistant (Voluntary)

  • Volunteer Befriender

  • Helpdesk Analyst (Work Experience Placement)

  • Work Shadowing (Legal Department)

  • Classroom Assistant (3 hours per week)

  • Animal Rescuer (Unpaid)

  • Intern (HR Department)

  • Voluntary Environmental Monitor

  • Seniors Tech Coach (Monday evenings)

How to include job titles on a resume

When adding job titles to your resume, they should form part of the subheading for each role. Best practice and convention state that this subheading should include the name of your employer and the dates you were employed in this role, as well as the job title. 

For example: 

Dec 2021 - Mar 2024

Sales Manager

XYZ Corp, Townsville

or 

Acme Enterprises (2019 - 2021)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE 

Below this subheading, you can give an overview of what you did every day at the job, followed by a handful of achievement-focused bullet points to show how you've had an impact and added value to the position. 

To keep your resume looking professional and easy to navigate, keep the layout of every subheading consistent in terms of order, font, and alignment. Leave plenty of white space between roles to aid readability, and use bullet points below the subheadings to avoid solid walls of text. 

Can I change the job titles on my resume?

As we discussed above, there may be some times when you need to change your job title for clarity or because you don't have a formal job title. Sometimes, though, you may want to change your job title to align more closely with the title of a specific role you're applying for. Is that advisable? 

Applicant tracking systems, or ATS, have a sinister reputation for discarding resumes before they're even read if they don't meet very exacting requirements. BUT – there's a human behind those systems. 

An ATS doesn't make decisions on its own… but it may miss your resume if it doesn't find the keywords the human is looking for. In an ideal world, humans would personally review every resume they received for every vacancy and use variations on their desired job titles when carrying out searches, but we don't live in an ideal world. 

While a different job title is unlikely to disqualify you from the candidate pool, it's not unheard of. So should you change your job title to match that on the advert? 

The number one rule here is that honesty is always the best policy on a resume. 

If you can change your job title so that it is still a very accurate representation of your role without being misleading, it's generally OK to do so (although do be aware, again, that your references will probably use your official job title, so consider including your official title, too, or, at the least, let them know you're making the change on your resume). 

If changing your job title to match the advertisement would be too much of a stretch in terms of accuracy and honesty, leave it as it is. If you're determined to use the exact title of your target role on your resume, consider adding it within your header or as a brief objective statement – for example, a Project Assistant could say: 

Keen to secure a role as a Project Manager

Another way around this problem, if time isn't of the essence with your job search, is to negotiate a change of title with your current employer. If your responsibilities have changed since you first took on the role, or you're performing well beyond its basic remit, they may be open to a discussion about your job title changing to better reflect industry norms and what you actually do. 

Unique job titles on your resume

Of course, you may be forging a path in an industry where creativity and uniqueness are valued. In that case, you can embrace a quirky job title on your resume! 

While not advisable for most corporate jobs, an original job title can make you memorable and may even encapsulate your job duties and working style better than a conventional title. 

Here are a few of the more unusual ones we've come across: 

  • Brand Evangelist 

  • BusDev Rockstar

  • Marketing Ninja

  • Geek Squad Agent

  • Chief Happiness Officer

  • Domestic Technician

  • Director of First Impressions

  • Kitten Cuddler

  • Chief Storyteller

  • Stress Engineer 

We reiterate, though, that for most job applications, you should steer clear of such titles and achieve clarity with a more descriptive and standard job title instead. 

Other job title considerations 

Occasionally, you may need to add further details to clarify your role. Rather than waste space explaining simple concepts in full sentences, you can add a note to your job title. For example: 

  • Solutions Architect – Fixed-Term Contract

  • Receptionist – Maternity Cover 

  • Security Manager – External Consultant

  • Illustrator – Freelance

  • Product Manager – Secondment

These notes aren't technically part of your job title but are a concise way of explaining why you've only held a role for a short period. 

Job title examples

Still needing some inspiration for a conventional job title to use on your resume? Your first port of call should be the official job title on your employment records, but if, for whatever reason, that's not an option, we have some examples of job titles for different industries that you can pick from. 

Job titles for students and graduates 

In your resume summary, you can describe your status as a student and your area of expertise. For example:

  • Undergraduate with a particular interest in Human Resources

  • Student pursuing a degree in Computer Science 

  • Business Administration Postgraduate specializing in Finance

  • Education student with relevant classroom experience 

  • International Logistics Graduate with expertise in air freight

With regards to roles you've held whilst studying, use the official job title for each role. For university jobs, you can consider titles such as: 

  • Research Assistant

  • Teaching Assistant 

  • Student Representative

  • Tutor

  • College Blog Editor

Job titles for HR roles 

  • Human Resources Assistant

  • HR Generalist

  • Human Resources Analyst

  • Learning and Development Specialist

  • DEI Manager 

  • Talent Acquisition Manager

  • HR Manager

  • Senior HR Business Partner

  • Director of Workforce Analytics 

  • CHRO

Job titles for sales and marketing roles 

  • Social Media Assistant 

  • Sales Coordinator

  • Marketing Executive 

  • Copywriter

  • Business Development Manager

  • Account Manager 

  • Head of Content

  • Regional Sales Manager 

  • VP of Sales

  • CMO

Job titles for supply chain roles 

  • Warehouse Assistant 

  • Production Operative 

  • Multi-Drop Delivery Driver

  • Materials Controller  

  • Supply Chain Analyst

  • Demand Planner

  • Technical Buyer

  • Logistics and Distribution Manager

  • Operations Director 

  • Director of Global Procurement

Job titles for IT roles 

  • Helpdesk Analyst

  • Network Administrator 

  • Web Developer 

  • Systems Engineer

  • Data Scientist 

  • Cloud Engineer 

  • Network Architect 

  • Cyber Security Consultant 

  • Digital Transformation Manager 

  • CTO

Job titles for finance roles 

  • Bookkeeper

  • Accounts Technician

  • Accountant 

  • Financial Analyst

  • Financial Controller

  • Financial Advisor

  • Payroll Manager

  • Fund Accountant

  • FP&A Manager

  • CFO

Job titles for project roles 

  • PMO Assistant

  • Project Administrator

  • Project Coordinator

  • Project Manager

  • Scrum Master

  • Senior Project Manager

  • Head of Projects 

  • Programme Manager

  • Portfolio Office Manager  

  • Director of Change and Transformation 

Job titles for creative roles 

  • Graphic Designer

  • Photographer

  • Content Writer

  • Animation Designer

  • Layout Artist

  • Video Editor

  • Art Therapist

  • Creative Lead 

  • Head of Design

  • Creative Director

Job titles for customer service roles 

  • Retail Assistant 

  • Call Centre Agent

  • Flight Attendant 

  • Customer Service Representative 

  • Relationship Manager 

  • Complaint Handler

  • Customer Success Specialist 

  • Client Services Manager

  • Senior Customer Service Advisor 

  • Chief Experience Officer

Job titles for education roles 

  • Classroom Assistant 

  • Teacher

  • Special Needs Educator

  • Exam Invigilator

  • Sports Coach

  • Corporate Trainer 

  • Head of Department

  • Lecturer 

  • Principal

  • Superintendent

Job titles for healthcare roles 

  • Healthcare Assistant

  • Physical Therapy Assistant

  • Medical Biller

  • Paramedic

  • Dentist 

  • Diagnostic Sonographer

  • Mental Health Nurse

  • Pediatrician

  • Oncologist 

  • Surgeon

Job titles for animal care roles 

  • Small Animal Assistant

  • Pet Store Associate 

  • Dog Groomer  

  • Farrier

  • Assistance Dog Trainer 

  • Yard Manager 

  • Countryside Ranger

  • Wildlife Conservationist 

  • Zoologist 

  • Veterinary Surgeon

Job titles for senior executive roles

  • C-suite titles (e.g. CEO, CFO, CTO, COO, and so on)

  • Director

  • Executive Director

  • President

  • Senior Vice President 

  • Vice President 

  • Chairman / Chairwoman

  • Head of [function]

  • Country Head

  • Global Head

Key takeaways

We've covered a lot of ground here, so let's summarize the key points to remember when adding job titles to a resume:

  • Job titles generally tell a recruiter about your seniority and area of expertise

  • Add a job title for every role you're including on your resume 

  • Include the job title as part of the subheading for the role

  • Always use your official job title

  • You can add a variation on your official job title as long as it isn't misleading 

  • If you have an unusual job title, add a more common version in brackets 

  • Where possible, include your target job title on the resume too

Now you've got the lowdown on the importance of job titles on your resume; you're ready to write your own knock-out career document. If you still have questions about any aspect of your resume, why not submit it for a free, no-obligation resume review? With expert feedback, you'll be able to ensure your resume has the impact it needs. 

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