Can I tweak my job title on my resume?

A common question I’m asked is about job titles. Since different organizations have different titles for virtually the same job, titles can become confusing!

On a resume or even your LinkedIn profile, it is fine to “tweak” the title. When filling out an application, use the title you were given.

The difference is in the fact that an application is a legal document. Your resume is your marketing material, and as long as the title you use accurately describes what you do, it can often make sense. Many companies use nonstandard titles that can be confusing to outsiders.

One trick, if you aren’t sure if you should use another title, is to use both. For example,

System Engineer / Application Developer.