Putting your job title on LinkedIn is an important decision that requires some thought. On one hand, your title communicates key information about your role and level of seniority to your network. This can help others understand what you do and can open up new opportunities. On the other hand, there are some risks to putting an inflated or inaccurate title on your profile. Ultimately, the decision comes down to balancing the benefits and drawbacks for your specific situation.
The Benefits of Putting Your Title on LinkedIn
Here are some of the main advantages of including your job title on your LinkedIn profile:
- It quickly communicates your role and seniority level. Your title is a shortcut that tells people at a glance what you do and your general level of responsibility. This helps put the rest of your profile details in context.
- It can make you more discoverable for opportunities. Recruiters often search for specific titles on LinkedIn. Putting your title makes it easier for relevant openings to surface for you.
- It demonstrates your professional status. A leadership or advanced job title can add legitimacy and authority when networking and applying to roles.
- It provides keyword richness. Titles contain keywords that help your profile get found in search.
- It gives you naming consistency. Having the same title across your resume and LinkedIn keeps things simple when people view both.
Clearly displaying your most recent or most advanced title on your profile has some significant upsides. In many cases, it’s an important piece of information to share on your summary page.
Potential Downsides to Putting Your Title on LinkedIn
However, there are also some risks and “cons” to consider:
- It may come across as resume puffery or title inflation. Some people embellish titles to seem more senior than is accurate. This can hurt your credibility.
- It can cause confusion if you change roles. If you list an outdated title, it may conflict with your employment dates and details. Frequent title changes can look messy.
- It might violate company policy. Some organizations restrict sharing formal job titles externally.
- It can impact salary negotiations. In places where salaries are tied to specific titles, displaying your title early on could limit your negotiating power.
- It opens you up to compliance issues. If your title carries legal status (e.g. lawyer, accountant, etc.) there are often restrictions around using it if not currently active in the role.
There are certainly situations where listing your title could do more harm than good. It’s wise to think critically before adding it to your profile.
When Should You Put Your Title on LinkedIn?
The decision about including your title on LinkedIn comes down to a few key factors:
1. Ask if it accurately and ethically represents your current role.
If your title genuinely reflects the work you do day-to-day, then displaying it on your profile is likely fine. However, if your title is misleading or inflated, avoid listing it. Using a dubious title that overstates your responsibility level will hurt your brand and credibility.
2. Consider if it will help or limit your job search.
In most cases, sharing your current title will make you more discoverable to the right opportunities. However, think twice if displaying it could cap your earning potential. You may choose to exclude your title until later in the negotiation process.
3. Review company policy to make sure display is permitted.
Some organizations have rules against publicly posting internal job titles to protect brand consistency or staffing information. Check whether policies allow you to share your exact title externally on LinkedIn.
4. Determine if there are any legal or compliance factors.
If your title carries special status, like “CPA” or “MD,” ensure you are legally permitted to use it if not currently practicing in the role. Displaying certain protected titles when inactive can get you in hot water.
5. Ask if it will create confusion based on your timeline.
If you have changed roles recently, listing an outdated title that conflicts with your employment dates can raise questions. Consider leaving off titles for short-term roles to simplify things.
In general, if displaying your current title helps people understand your experience, helps you get found for relevant opportunities, and does not misrepresent your role, then including it is advised. But take the time to carefully weigh the considerations above before deciding.
Best Practices for Putting Your Title on LinkedIn
Assuming you’ve decided listing your title makes sense for your situation, here are some best practices:
Put it front and center in your headline.
Your profile headline (the text under your name) is prime real estate. Including your title there makes it readily visible. For example:
Vice President of Marketing at XYZ Corporation
Keep it consistent with your resume title.
Avoid confusion by using the same title across your LinkedIn and resume. Differences can raise questions.
Use your most advanced relevant title.
No need to list every past title. Pick the one that best conveys your current experience level and responsibilities.
Cut extras like “manager” or “head of.”
Shorter titles are better. Stick to the essentials vs. the fuller internal versions used by companies.
Check for spelling and formatting issues.
Typos or inconsistencies with capitalization can diminish the polish of your profile. Double check accuracy.
Set your title for your most recent role.
Don’t list an outdated title from a past employer. Your title should match the company you currently work for.
Avoid abbreviations or internal jargon.
Use titles that make sense externally vs. insider company shorthand that could confuse others.
Keep it consistent across any job changes.
Update your headline title promptly when you start a new role so it stays current. Don’t let it become outdated.
Following these tips can help you present your title in the best possible light as part of putting your best foot forward on LinkedIn.
Examples of Good LinkedIn Titles
To make these best practices more concrete, here are a few examples of strong title presentation on LinkedIn:
For a marketing executive role:
Headline: Vice President of Marketing at XYZ Corporation
Summary:
Vice President of Marketing at XYZ Corporation, overseeing a team of 50 marketing professionals. Responsible for brand strategy, campaign execution, and performance analysis.
For an accounting manager role:
Headline: Accounting Manager at ABC Incorporated
Summary:
Accounting Manager at ABC Incorporated managing a team of 5 staff accountants. Handle full cycle accounting, financial reporting, and budget management.
For a project manager role:
Headline: Senior Project Manager at 123 Industries
Summary:
Senior Project Manager at 123 Industries with 7 years of experience leading engineering initiatives from conception to completion. Skilled in Agile, waterfall, and hybrid approaches.
In each case, the title is prominently displayed in the headline and matches the description in the summary. This presents a consistent and credible snapshot of their position.
What to Do If You Can’t Put Your Title on LinkedIn
While displaying your title in your headline is ideal, it’s not always possible. As discussed, you may be prohibited from sharing it externally due to company policy or legal issues with your credential. In these cases, here are some alternatives to consider:
Describe your role type generically
Rather than “Vice President of Marketing,” you could put “VP-Level Marketing Role.” This still conveys your seniority and area of expertise.
Highlight your employer name
Including the well-known name of your employer (e.g. “Apple”) can signal prestige and authority even without a title.
Show your department or team
Listing that you work in “Accounting Dept.” or “Digital Analytics Team” gives helpful context about your function.
Use your education
Degrees like “MBA Graduate” or credentials like “CPA” can help strengthen your professional brand when a title is unavailable.
Focus on skills
Rather than title specifics, summarize core competencies like “Leadership” “Project Management” or “Business Development.”
List number of direct reports
Saying you manage a team of “25” shows you have leadership experience without the exact title specifics.
Show job family or series
Some companies classify roles into broader “families” or “series” that can safely be shared externally as an alternative to titles.
While not always ideal, using creative alternatives can help you get your role and authority across without divulging restricted internal titles.
Titles to Avoid on LinkedIn
On the flip side, here are some dubious or dishonest titles it’s wise to avoid including on your profile:
“CEO” or “President” when you’re not
Putting the top titles of CEO, President, General Manager, Owner etc. is very misleading if you do not truly occupy these senior executive roles. Reserve them only for actual heads of organizations.
Inflated titles from past jobs
Listing “Senior Manager” from a prior role when you were actually only a “Manager” risks credible issues. Stick to your literal titles from each employer.
“Promoted” future titles
While you may be slated for an upcoming promotion, wait until it’s official to change your title. Jumping the gun looks iffy.
Unofficial “acting” titles
If you’re “acting manager” but not formally bestowed the title, don’t list Manager on your profile until it’s made permanent.
Abbreviations without explanation
Don’t expect people to know what “SVP” or “AD” means. Spell out any abbreviations so they’re clear.
“Self-appointed” titles
Calling yourself “thought leader,” “national expert,” or other subjective superlatives you’ve not been awarded by others comes across as pompous.
Titles tied to inactive credentials
Be careful about continuing to use titles like “CPA” or “PE” if your license/accreditation has lapsed. Follow all legal guidelines.
Outdated titles from past roles
Make sure to update your headline when you change employers. Leaving stale titles from old jobs looks slipshod.
Stretching the truth about titles you have not formally earned will undermine your LinkedIn presence. Be scrupulous and stick to bona fide titles only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s review some common questions about displaying titles on LinkedIn:
Should I put my full job title on LinkedIn?
You don’t necessarily need your full formal title. Oftentimes a shortened or simplified version is best for LinkedIn. For example, “Senior Project Manager” instead of “Senior IT Project Manager.”
What if my job title doesn’t match my LinkedIn title?
It’s best to keep your LinkedIn headline title consistent with your current formal company job title to avoid confusion or misrepresentation. If they absolutely don’t match, explain why in your summary.
Do I have to put my job title on LinkedIn?
No, it is not strictly required, but it is highly recommended in most cases. Leaving it off makes it harder for people to understand your professional status and role.
Should I include job title in experience?
Yes, you should include the formal job title held at each company listed in your experience section. This helps substantiate your work history.
What if my job title changed at the same company?
List your title at each job stage at that employer. For example, you can put “Marketing Manager (2012-2014); Senior Marketing Manager (2014-2017).”
Should current job title be on top or current company?
Current job title is usually listed first in your headline (e.g. Marketing Director), followed by your current company name (e.g. at XYZ Corporation).
Do you have to legally use your correct job title?
For regulated professions, yes – you need to follow all professional guidelines regarding proper display of legally-protected titles.
Should you change your LinkedIn title when promoted?
Definitely. Update your headline with your new title as soon as it becomes official to reflect your most up-to-date role.
Carefully considering how you present your job titles on LinkedIn is an important part of putting your best foot forward and managing your professional brand on the platform. Follow the guidance above to strike the right balance for your situation.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key tips to keep in mind:
- Displaying an accurate, ethical title aids credibility and opportunities.
- But inflated titles or policy violations hurt your brand and trust.
- Weigh factors like searchability, negotiations, confusion, and compliance.
- List formal titles in experience section, simplified titles in your headline.
- Keep your headline title current when you change roles.
- Get creative if unable to share an official title externally.
- Avoid embellished titles that overstate your actual responsibility.
Conclusion
Your job title is a crucial, but complex element of your LinkedIn presence. There are compelling reasons to display your title proudly when done properly, but there are also good reasons to omit it in certain circumstances. Evaluate the pros and cons carefully as they relate to your own career trajectory and current situation.
When in doubt, lean towards being conservative and accurate to avoid misrepresentation. But in most cases, your genuine formal title deserves showcase in your profile headline to convey your professional status and expertise. Just be sure it is an authentic reflection of your designated role and complies with any company restrictions or legal guidelines.
With a thoughtful title strategy, you can maximize the opportunities and networking possibilities that LinkedIn has to offer as a core element of managing your personal brand in the digital age. So take the time to make informed decisions, follow best practices, and keep your titles current across job changes. The investment of care you put into your LinkedIn presence can pay dividends for years to come.