Using the shorter version of your name could even make it stand out more to reviewers—“John Jennings” has a better ring to it than “Jonathan F. W. Jennings IV. ”[2] X Research source The same can be done if you go by your middle name, although it may be helpful to omit your first name in this case in order to avoid confusion.
This format works best for monikers that are abbreviations of or common nicknames for longer names, such as “Matt,” “Jeff,” “Liz,” and “Alex. ” You can also put your nickname in quotation marks when it’s something unrelated to your legal name (as in “Margaret ‘Carol’ Atkinson”).
“Adam” may roll off the tongue easier than “Ata-ur-Rahman” for someone who isn’t used to pronouncing Arabic names, while “Julie” will probably be easier to manage than “Xiuying. ” Some common names in English speaking countries may be difficult to pronounce in other countries, and it is entirely possible to have a nickname that you go by in other countries; having this recorded may help clarify confusion. The decision to use a nickname in place of your birth name is entirely up to you. It is entirely your right to be called by your name, even if it is not easy to pronounce.
If you’re worried about being passed over because you’re a woman, for example, simplifying your name from “Rhonda Jeanette Schmidt” to “R. J. Schmidt” will help conceal your sex until you’re selected to interview. The same can be done for names that can indicate ethnicity. With a little tweaking, “Ángel Castaneda Martín” becomes “A. C. Martin. ”
In some cases, it may be necessary to provide your legal name when completing job applications, registration forms, and other legal documents.
One downside of this approach is that it may be hard for a coworker to get in the habit of addressing you by your preferred name after committing the name listed on your resume to memory.
Certain nicknames may be more suitable for some types of workplaces than others. It may be okay to go by “Venus” at a holistic therapy center, but not so much at a high-profile financial advisory firm.
If you’re attached to a particular nickname, it may be wise to ask your coworkers to use it privately in order to keep from hurting your chances of being hired. The rare exception is when you’re known for your nickname, as may be the case for entertainment personalities, sports figures, and performers with unique stage names.
Generally, your safest bet is to put down whatever name you respond to most often.
Many hiring forms offer prospective employees a place to include a preferred name or nickname. Having the wrong name on file with your employer could result in other unintended consequences, like having important files sent to the wrong person.
