# Resume help – Company changes names often
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 16, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834 "2006-02-16T18:06:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/1 "2006-02-16T18:06:14Z")
I currently work for a branch AT&T which was, before the merger a few months ago, SBC. Not too long before the change to SBC (due to a previous merger) I worked for Ameritech.
On top of that, telecom companies LOVE to reorganize and redefine responsibilities. As a result, in the last 8 years I have had 7 different titles with 5 different organizations even though I’ve never left the same desk.
This makes my resume look a bit crazy. It looks confusing at best and at worst it appears I’ve been job hopping.
Is there an accepted or at least tidy way to deal with a situation like this to present a better picture of my work history?
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### Author:  [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/2 "2006-02-16T18:14:18Z")
I think it would be best to just put down the last title you held at the last company and use it as one entry.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/3 "2006-02-16T18:14:58Z")
I’d just use the current name of the company and your current job title. There’s no need to go into the details until your interview.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/4 "2006-02-16T18:36:39Z")
Wow - 2 for 2!
OK so then do I have to in any way indicate that this is my current title or do I just list it like…
* * *
AT&T – My Town, IL
01/1998 – Present
MyBigFluffyCurrentTitle
## Listing of all of the stuff I’ve done over the last 8 years that has led me to believe that I am personally responsible for the fantastic shareholder return and market growth the company has seen even though the reality of the situation is that I’m just a small cog in a huge machine and because of downsizing as the result of a recent merger which made a large number of positions redundant my head as well as that of my colleagues is more than likely on the chopping block.
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### Author:  [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/5 "2006-02-16T20:20:31Z")
I would do:
AT&T (were you part of a sub-business? If so include it), Chicago IL
Mybigfluffytitle (Dates of employement)
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/6 "2006-02-16T20:39:52Z")
Either way is fine. You’re not graded on format. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/7 "2006-02-16T20:56:20Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Either way is fine. You’re not graded on format. 🙂
I wouldn’t be so quick to assume that. The more resumes that come in, the more superficial screening will take place.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/8 "2006-02-16T20:58:43Z")
Thanks all!
😃
> [@treis](#):
>
> I would do:
>
> AT&T (were you part of a sub-business? If so include it), Chicago IL
> Mybigfluffytitle (Dates of employement)
I’ve been part of several sub-businesses. Do I just list the most curent?
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/9 "2006-02-16T21:25:27Z")
Remember that resumes are marketing tools first and foremost. Clear presentation of the product and telling a coherent story is its main job. You don’t want to lie but you don’t have to include everything and you have some leeway with the details. If you have 4 job titles with roughly the same function, just pick the one that you like the best or pick the last one. It doesn’t really matter.
Leave the convoluted and yawn inspiring details to the interview. Actually, don’t do that either. Just make it truthful in spirit and put together a coherent tail of how you got from here to there.
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### Author:  [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/10 "2006-02-16T23:54:22Z")
> [@zoid](#):
>
> Thanks all!
> 😃
>
> I’ve been part of several sub-businesses. Do I just list the most curent?
Yeah I would use the most recent, or if you have some bizzare orginizational structure the most accurate.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resume-help-company-changes-names-often/344834/11 "2006-02-17T00:27:23Z")
I would use one name. Many of the HR people which will do the initial resume screening don’t read the _Wall Street Journal_ and will assume you’re a job jumper and may discard you’re resume.