The companies you are applying to know what position they are trying to fill. They search for someone with a job title and history that matches their expectations for the position.

However, your own company might have a different approach to job titles. You should never change your job title on your resume: you should use the title your company uses. However, you may need to bridge the gap between your current title and your actual responsibilities, accomplishments, and contribution to your company.

Even the clearest job title, like Executive Assistant, might not sum up all you do. One executive assistant might take on project management responsibilities. Another might function more as a secretary. A third might run the company in the owner’s absence. Sometimes you need more than one job title at the start of your resume to show what you are really capable of: Executive Assistant & Project Manager.

Your accomplishments can include any duties outside the “normal” definition of your job title: “assumed leadership of the company in President’s absence.” Part of my job as a professional resume writer is to make sure that you give yourself credit for those extra duties.

Your job title might be too unusual. You may need to relate a title like Chief Strategist or Software Mastermind or Product Champion to a more standard title: Product Champion (Vice President of Product Development). Clever titles are fun but companies who are looking to hire do not have time to puzzle out their meaning.

Your job title might be standard for your profession but not well known. Someone who is hiring for the first time might not know the difference, for example, between a Corporate Marketing Director and a Chief Marketing Officer. Make sure your accomplishments clearly demonstrate to hiring managers and recruiters your responsibilities, knowledge, and contribution to your current company.