Does your job title really have that much of an impact on your job search? Over the course of your career, you’re likely to hear both sides of the argument:

• “Yes, job titles matter. And some companies won’t even look at you if you haven’t been in an XXX position for two years.”

And, you’ve probably also heard the exact opposite:

• “No, job titles don’t matter anymore. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t rely on them as much as they used to, and they care much more about your experience, skills and attitude.”

And unsurprisingly, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. While job titles aren’t as such a sign of seniority as they once were, they can still have an impact on your chances as you search for your new job. Many hiring managers or recruiters will use them as an indicator of your experience, your responsibilities in your job, and your level of seniority and experience.

Why Your Professional Job Title Matters, in Your Job Search

Your job title matters for a few reasons. To some, it’s also a point of pride: a sign of their progression in their career. We’ve spoken to job seekers who haven’t been interested in a role because of the job title it comes with. Or who have asked for a different job title, as a condition before they accepted a new job.

Your job title can be an important part of optimising your social media or LinkedIn profile and help you get your new job. Because when you have an unusual job title, or a lesser used variation, you can be harder to find. And it’s your LinkedIn profile, which you have complete control over. If your actual title is a “Senior SEO Consultant” but you call yourself an “Senior SEO Executive”, you’re not giving yourself a promotion and no one’s going to call the LinkedIn police on you. Probably…

3 Ways to Choose a Professional Job Title For Your CV or Resume

There are a few different ways that you can standardise your job title to help you in your job search.

1. Look at your network on LinkedIn.

Absolutely no clue what your job title should be? A quick 5 – 10 minute research on LinkedIn should give you a good idea of a similar job title to bestow upon yourself.

You can have a look at people you’re connected with who work in the same industry. Even if they’re further along in their career, their experience section will give you everything you need.

2. Look at the job titles on the job advert you’re applying to, and match it.

A great place to start would be to look at the job advert that you’re applying to. Mirroring the language used there is great advice for your job search overall, not just for your job title.

Say your official job title is an “Content Marketing Executive” and you have 2 years of experience in SEO. You’re applying for a “Senior SEO Executive” position, that you’re a perfect fit for. And while your role covers more than just SEO, it’s been your primary focus. Then changing the job title on your resume or CV to “SEO Executive” may help you pass any applicant screening software, or make it easier for the recruiter to understand you’re the right person for the job.

Because an SEO Consultant can be a vague title that covers anyone with a wide range of experience and job responsibilities: Whereas a hiring manager or recruiter will immediately understand you’re potentially the right person for the position, and there’s no ambiguity around your experience.

3. Have a look at a salary survey.

If you’re looking to change your job title to one that will help you secure a new job, a good place to start would be a salary survey in your industry. Matching your years of experience with the roles in a few different salary surveys, will give you a good idea of what to call yourself on your CV.

Provide a Summary of Your Job Title For Your CV or LinkedIn Profile

In your CV, it can be a good idea to give a summary of both your professional experience, and your job. Because when someone reads your CV or looks at your LinkedIn profile, you only have a short amount of time to grab their attention, and let them know that you’re right for the role.

In this example, we’ve not only highlighted the current job title at the top of the CV, but also provided a quick summary of skills, experience, and strengths. SEO, for example, is a huge industry, and can cover a huge variety of skills: From content, to technical, on-page to off-page. And then even further, these skills can differ depending on the company and industry the individual works in.

So providing a quick summary of your job title like this can be a huge help for a hiring manager or recruiter looking at your CV or your LinkedIn profile. As well as helping your CV pass through any potential Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or keyword screening software in the application process.

The Most Common Digital Marketing Job Titles

Job titles in digital marketing usually follow a similar route, with a few outliers and specialities. In order of seniority they would be:

• Graduate Digital Marketing Executive or Digital Marketing Intern.
• Digital Marketing Executive.
• Digital Marketing Manager.
• Digital Marketing Director.
• Head of Digital Marketing.

This is the typical career path for someone working in digital marketing, and if you’re hoping to be found on LinkedIn and approached with job offers, these are the titles we would advise to stick with.

There are more specialist job titles such as:

• Digital Marketing Consultant.
• Digital Marketing Team Lead.
• Digital Marketing Specialist.
• Digital Marketing Strategist. 

These titles reflect the more specialist nature of the digital marketer: Whether they have chosen not to go down the people management route, or if they work in a contract or freelance environment. 

These job titles may also make you harder to find on LinkedIn and appear in less searches. But, they also more accurately describe your roles and responsibilities and will help you be approached with more relevant job offers.

Job Titles For Your CV

If you’re looking to find yourself the best job title to go on your CV, resume, or LinkedIn Profile, then the job title is just the first step.

For a complete guide on writing a digital marketing CV, you can read here, for our best advice, based on years of experience of supporting digital marketers.

And of course as always, you can see our open vacancies here, to see if there’s a job that’s right for you.