Ethical Resume Writing

I'm in the process of rewriting my resume. I've been with my current employer a long time (10 years), but we merged with another company and when that happened, I changed positions. Prior to the merge, I had two different titles, desktop support and server administrator. I was trying to get on the server team for a little bit and was promoted to server administrator in 2013. two years before the official promotion though, I was essentially doing both jobs. I had my main desktop duties but also managed exchange and built the vmware infrastructure and many other server tasks. The delay in the promotion was an HR thing.

My question is, since it was always reporting to the same person either way, could I just combine those into one position like.

Desktop & Server Administrator: 2006-2013

If I don't, I feel I'm selling myself short on two years of server experience

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Comments

TranceSoulBrother

There are two options in my opinion:
- List them both as one line but one bullet point should prominently describe "Promoted to manage...." with your quantifiable deliverables after that.
- Or list them separately under the two titles and if the question arises in an interview, say that they were two discrete job positions with different but incremental responsibilities.

Russell77

I don't see anything wrong with it but the best thing to do is match the job posting. If you are applying for server admin say you were a server admin, If you are applying for desktop support say you were desktop support. The resume gets you an interview. The interview gets you an offer. The best way to get an interview is to match your resume as close as you can to a posting. On a general site like indeed write it like you were both. You can elaborate all you want on an online resume but keep one sent to a company on point. People read them a lot less than you think they do.

CE1028

My design was kind of going to be like this

Company Name 2006- Present
Network Engineer 2015 - Present
Desktop & Senior Server Administrator 2006 - 2015

Then have a bullet point in there, like promoted to senior server admin in 2013

Whenever I start applying for jobs, as of now, I'll probably be focusing on security

DatabaseHead

I always prefer to roll them up, mentioning I was promoted from X to Y. Never list them together looks cheap and weird, JMHO.

Server Administrator - 2006 - 2016
Received promotion from Desktop Support to Server Administrator

Bullets here or a little write up of your responsibilities then bullets. Your call but I would only list your final title, in fact HR can't nor will they elaborate on all your positions etc. They will be asked title AKA final title and start and end dates.

Thankfully I no longer have to stretch the truth as much anymore, just on some of my old positions. I only focus on items that would apply to my current roles. No mention or password resets or buliding user accounts.

thomas_

I agree with DatabaseHead. For a company that I have held multiple positions with, I just list the highest position I attained. My bullet points reflect what I achieved at the highest position. Before my bullets points I list a short summary similar to Databasehead's where I mention I was in this higher role for x years and the lower role for x years.

CE1028

DatabaseHead wrote: »

I always prefer to roll them up, mentioning I was promoted from X to Y. Never list them together looks cheap and weird, JMHO.

Server Administrator - 2006 - 2016
Received promotion from Desktop Support to Server Administrator

Bullets here or a little write up of your responsibilities then bullets. Your call but I would only list your final title, in fact HR can't nor will they elaborate on all your positions etc. They will be asked title AKA final title and start and end dates.

Thankfully I no longer have to stretch the truth as much anymore, just on some of my old positions. I only focus on items that would apply to my current roles. No mention or password resets or buliding user accounts.

Interesting so I should do like ?

Network Engineer 2006 - present
Received promotion from server admin to network engineer
Received promotion from desktop to server

Technically from server to network wasn't a promotion, it was a lateral

scaredoftests

Either spread the two positions out (I did that) or combine, still with the same company.

CE1028

anyone willing to share examples of their resumes so I can get an idea of how to format this? For me, I'm a network engineer now, but the things I did as a server admin are very important to my resume, especially since it wasn't that long ago. Still very relevant. I'd like to have key bullet points for both of those positions. The desktop stuff obviously is less important, as I don't plan to go back to that, but it was my first five years of working there. 3 positions in one company is tough.

This was my original thought, but I don't know how to properly incorporate the years of desktop. I could probably exclude it, but it's just not ethical to me. If I add it, and say 2006 - 2013, then I'm back to looking like I have less server experience than I really do.

Company ABC - City, State 2006 - Present
Senior Network Engineer ( 2015 - Present)

Bullet 1
Bullet 2
Bullet 3 ....

Senior Server Administrator ( 2006 - 2015)

Bullet 1
Bullet 2
Bullet 3

DatabaseHead

Network Engineer 2006 - Present
Received 2 promotions blah blah blah....... Take this a turn it into a good thing. Being promoted twice over 10 years is a GOOD thing, let them know. Still keep the position rolled up to one position. Your call, LOTS OF WAYS to write a resume. You are highlighting what you want them to see. This isn't a job application.....

CE1028

DatabaseHead wrote: »

Network Engineer 2006 - Present
Received 2 promotions blah blah blah....... Take this a turn it into a good thing. Being promoted twice over 10 years is a GOOD thing, let them know. Still keep the position rolled up to one position. Your call, LOTS OF WAYS to write a resume. You are highlighting what you want them to see. This isn't a job application.....

thanks man, I'll take your advice