This is the first thing anyone reads about you. Make sure you put
exactly what you want to be called or you'll run the risk of co-workers
calling you what your grandmother calls you.
For some positions, diminutive forms of names (Bill for William,
Cindy for Cynthia, etc.) can be good ways to look pleasant and informal.
In fact, the more unique the name, the more likely an employer is to
remember it. And for really silly names, employers might even pull an
applicant in for the interview just to see what a Peter Hickey, Ingrid
Monster, and Douglas Fir look like. These are real people who have
hunted for jobs, just like you. Do you think they had a hard time
getting their names remembered?
For both men and women, listing just first and second initials can be
a good way of withholding information while creating an bit of a
debonair, mysterious aura (A.J. Benza, P.D. James, H.G. Wells). This
tactic works for persons whose ethnic names could have negative impact
on their resume because of discrimination or pronunciation difficulties.
Likewise, if you think your ethnic or gender identity will open up
doors for you, use a version of your name that will show that off.
Bold or capitalize your name, using letters two to
six points larger than the rest of the text. Place your name on the
first line of your page. The traditional place to put the name is at the
center of the page, but many now prefer to right justify their names so
when the resume lands in a folder, it has a better chance of being
noticed.
