Include Nickname Document For Free

Resumes and cover letters are not legal documents, so it is acceptable to list your preferred name on them. The way that some people do this is by listing the first initial of their legal name, followed by their preferred name (e.g. M. Andrew Smith).

On the job application, which is generally viewed only by those in HR, you can list as an alias your legal name for the background search. It shouldn't be a big deal really unless the employer is a very small organization. It depends! In most cases, the short answer is yes.

1. : an often descriptive name (as "Shorty" or "Tex") given in addition to the one belonging to an individual. 2. : a form of a proper name (as "Billy" for "William") used by family or friends. nickname.

Nicknames: When introducing someone by both a proper name and a nickname, put the nickname in quotes: Jake ?The Snake? Smith. You don't need to use quotes if it's a common shortening of a name, like Jake instead of Jacob. Just use the name they prefer to be called.

To make a long story short, you do not need to put your full name on your resume. Your resume is not a legal document or government-issued ID, so it is perfectly legal to use a nickname. It makes sense to introduce yourself to your potential employer by the name you want to be called at work if you get the job.

Most stylebooks specify placing the nickname after the forename and enclosing it in quotation marks. Some stylebooks say parentheses may be used instead. Examples of the preferred form: General James "Mad Dog" Mattis, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, Prime Minister Margaret "Iron Lady" Thatcher.