How to Present Yourself: 5 Tips on Handling Your Name

You would think with your name there is no job advice I could possibly give. There are actually a few practical tips I can offer to job seekers:

1. If you have a super common name, include your middle name on your resume. That way the hiring manager or recruiter can easily distinguish you in a database, and my phone won’t keep prompting me to merge you with the 3 others with the same name.
2. If you have a super common name, definitely add a photo to your LinkedIn profile. That way, a prospective employer or recruiter can easily recall you.
3. If you changed your name, include the original name, like a maiden name, in parentheses on your resume and LinkedIn profile. Now hiring managers can find you, and background checks will not be confusing.
4. If you go by your nickname, include it on your LinkedIn profile and resume so people can find you easily online or in a database. You can put in parentheses either your nickname or your given name.
5. If your first name is super complicated, consider going by a short easy name. Include it in your LinkedIn profile and on your resume (e.g., in parentheses) to signal your facility with English and/or to enable easier recall.