Why the Job Title on Your Resume Matters (With Examples)

Your current job title and previous job titles can inform potential employers about your employment history. Job titles reveal information about skills, knowledge and experience. It can also indicate your seniority in comparison to other employees. In this article, we discuss what job titles are and why they matter on your resume.

What is a job title?

A job title is the name of a position held at a company. Common job titles, such as teacher or doctor are widely understood. When someone hears these job titles, they have a general idea of the function of the role and the basic skills needed to perform the job duties effectively. Job titles are also a good indicator of the seniority and experience someone has accumulated, such as junior copywriter and senior manager.

Related: What Is a Job Position? (And How It Differs From a Job Title)

Why the job titles on your resume matter

The job titles listed in the work history section of your resume matter for the following reasons:

Shows your career progression

The titles you've held show the way your career has progressed. Most people start with entry-level roles before moving into mid-level, then senior positions. People often start with general duties before specialising in their chosen field. Your job titles may also show you started working in one industry, then moved to another sector. Viewing your job titles can teach employers about your career path and how ambitious you are. They can also help employers understand your career goals.

Influences salary

Many job titles show your level of seniority and responsibility. Employers consider both these things when determining your salary package.

Helps you pass applicant tracking system (ATS) filters

Many companies use ATS filters to automate part of their hiring process. These filters prioritises applications containing keywords, such as relevant job titles. Listing matching job titles on your resume can help your application pass through to the next stage.

Improves your confidence

Many job titles carry a level of prestige, so holding them and listing them on your resume can boost your self-esteem. Feeling confident will help you speak eloquently and build a rapport with your interviewer.

Read more: Self-Worth in the Workplace

Helps you gain employment overseas

Job titles are very important in some countries, such as the United States and Singapore. If you want to work overseas, your job title can help you access international opportunities in your field.

Read more: How To Search for Remote Work on Indeed

Tips for including job titles on your job applications

Listing your job title is a quick way to share information about your role and responsibilities that companies can process at a glance. However, most recruiters understand they should look beyond one or two words when assessing a candidate's worth. These tips will help you make the most of the job titles listed on your resume.

Use common job titles

Some companies give their employees creative job titles, such as talent delivery specialist rather than recruiter. While these titles are unique, they can also be misunderstood. For example, a talent delivery specialist could be a talent scout for a sport team or a casting manager in the entertainment industry. If you have one of these creative job titles, use a more common, easily understood alternative on your resume for clarity. Common job titles also seem more professional.

Match your job title to the job post

Many jobs have a variety of different job titles. For example, an administrative assistant is sometimes called an office support professional, a secretary or an office manager. As all these job titles are clear, you should let the job posting you're responding to guide your choice.

If the employer is looking for an office manager, use that title for your existing or previous roles, where applicable. Job posts will often list experience in particular roles that the employer requires or prefers. You may also be able to match these job titles on your resume. Matching your words helps you pass through ATS filters and ensures employers know you're a good candidate at a glance.

Provide context to your current job title on your cover letter and resume

Being the managing director of a multinational company is very different from being the chief managing director of a small local firm. Provide some details about your company and seniority on your cover letter, so employers can understand what your title means. Add key responsibilities and transferable skills for every listed job title to your resume's work history section for extra context.

Read more: How To Write a Cover Letter

Job title examples

Here are some of the common job titles from popular industries, which you could use on your own resume:

Agriculture

Most people in the agriculture industry work to cultivate and produce crops, livestock, poultry and seafood. The agriculture industry also includes people who monitor the quality of these foods to ensure they're safe for eating. Some common agriculture job titles include:

• Farm manager

• Station hand

• Soil sampler

• Agronomist

• Machinery operator

Animal science

People with animal science jobs care for animal welfare. They monitor their health and sometimes study their life cycle. People in this industry may work with wild animals, animals in captivity or pets. Some animal science job titles include:

• Veterinarian

• Zookeeper

• Pet groomer

• Wildlife rehabilitator

• Breeder

Beauty

People with job titles from the beauty industry aim to enhance their clients' hair, skin and nails. Many job titles reflect an area of specialty within this industry. Common beauty industry titles include:

• Makeup artist

• Nail technician

• Hairdresser

• Beauty therapist

• Cosmetic injector

Business

People with business job titles help their company or clients reach their financial goals. This broad category includes people working in finance, accounting and marketing. Common business job titles include:

• Project manager

• Office manager

• Sales manager

• Assistant buyer

• Business analyst

Customer service

People with customer service job titles interact with a business' customers. They may process purchases and returns, answer customer queries and field customer complaints. Job titles from the customer service industry include:

• Checkout assistant

• Concierge

• Technical support representative

• Call centre operator

• Bank teller

Creative

People with creative job titles produce artistic content such as films, written content and visual artworks. They may create using their own original concepts or work from a client brief. Job titles for creative professionals include:

• Art director

• Screenwriter

• Graphic designer

• Actor

• Musician

Education

People in the education industry teach children and adult students or oversee the operations of schools, universities, training centres and educational systems. Their titles often reveal what they teach or their place of work. Job titles for people working in education include:

• Kindergarten teacher

• Science teacher

• Tutor

• Senior lecturer

• High school principal

Engineering

People who work in the engineering sector build and design components for machines and other structures. Their job titles indicate their area of specialty. Some job titles for people in the engineering industry include:

• Civil engineer

• Mechanical engineer

• Chemical engineer

• Electrical engineer

• Environmental engineer

Finance

Finance employees helps clients and businesses improve their financial health. They may help clients and businesses manage their bank balances or portfolios and prepare for the future. Some common job titles for finance workers include:

• Financial planner

• Financial advisor

• Budget analyst

• Credit analyst

• Accounts assistant

Healthcare

People in healthcare look after sick, injured and elderly patients. Healthcare job titles often indicate an employee's medical specialty. Common healthcare job titles include:

• Doctor

• Nurse

• Physiotherapist

• Optometrist

• Pharmacist

Hospitality

People with hospitality roles help guests feel welcome using travel and recreation services. They may have customer interface roles or behind-the-scenes duties, such as cooking or cleaning. Hospitality job titles include:

• Travel agent

• Bartender

• Executive chef

• Tour guide

• Flight attendant

Human resources

People in the human resources sector help businesses recruit, hire and train employees. They also determine employee packages and administer benefits, such as superannuation payments and leave entitlements. Common job titles in the human resources sector include:

• Human resources manager

• Talent acquisition coordinator

• Executive recruiter

• Human resources specialist

• Training and development manager

Information technology

People working in the information technology sector build, test and maintain computer and mobile device hardware, software and systems. Their job titles usually reflect their special area of interest within the broader information technology field. Some popular job titles in the information technology sector include:

• Information technology manager

• Computer programmer

• Front-end website developer

• Mobile application developer

• Information security analyst

Leadership

People in leadership roles manage teams of employees or entire companies. Their job titles often indicate their area of responsibility. Common leadership job titles include:

• Chief of operations

• Chief executive officer

• Chief financial officer

• Team leader

• Manager

Marketing

People with marketing roles help companies promote products and services. Their work looks to raise brand awareness, engage customers and increase sales. Some common job titles for people in the marketing industry include:

• Marketing assistant

• Marketing consultant

• Brand manager

• Content marketing manager

• Social media manager

Operations

People working in the operations industry oversee and refine their company's production processes for maximum efficiency. Their work saves businesses money and helps customers enjoy better products shipped faster. Some common job titles in the operations field include:

• Chief operations officer

• Logistics coordinator

• Warehouse supervisor

• Supply chain specialist

• Distribution supervisor

Sales

People working in sales sell their company's products and services to consumers. They identify and pitch to new customers while maintaining their existing customer base. Often sales job titles indicate what people sell or where they work. Common job titles for people working in sales include:

• Sales representative

• Sales director

• Telemarketer

• Insurance sales agent

• Regional sales manager