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female
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anonymous
writes: I got a job i really want and they want to call my boss after i give notice to probably verify a few things. I am really though about some details. The duties on my resume are well written with adjectives expressing what i do and it mentions everything from things I did once (but wouldn't be hard to do again such as a car rental or booking a hotel room) to things i have done numerous times over and over. Of course it makes me sound very very competent and this world class assistant but every resume is well written or is supposed to be anyway..it's pretty direct and to the point. My official job title from when i started doesn't really say too much in my opinion..it doesn't stand out and doesnt seem like it would catch an employers eye..it's called blank blank assistant (i didn't add it in for privacy reasons) It basically relates to the department I am in which makes sense but it doesn't really stand out when looking for a job and at times it lead to more questions by agencies what is that etc and they even said since I did provide admin support to a director of the department and those in a senior level, i should put Executive Assistant. Yes, i could have put administrative assistant I am guessing but since my duties ranged from data entry, confirming appointments at times, sending out materials, covering reception, editing letters, mass mailings, updating certain certain pieces, emailing people on the behalf of someone else. Underneath the title i still put providing strong level of administrative support to: I just thought it would be ok to say Executive Assistant and if any new potential employer disagreed when they saw my responsibilities then they wouldn't have to call me etc. Is this something i should be very worried about? I need to give my notice in and I am planning on telling my boss and saying I do appreciate being here for so long and if there is anything i can do even after i leave, i will do it and ask for a reference and even give her a copy of my resume so that she can see everything I placed down and can use it for a reference as well. And in that way, everything is out in the open and if she disagrees with anything it can hopefully be settled then. I just hope she wouldn't hold this against me and say something that will affect me permanently getting this job which is conditional right now based on passing everything else. If she says she can't support this title, I am pretty much screwed unless i just tell her and be honest that i was questioned in the past b/c it wasn't so specific and just wanted to use a generic and fancier title.I have been told on message boards that i pretty much made myself a much higher level than an admin assistant and i lied about my titleIs this something i should be very worried about?
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female
reader, Madalo 1  +, writes (18 September 2011):
I dont think its something to be worried about. In a resume you're selling yourself so i dont see much of a problem putting a fancy title. After all, an executive assistant and administrative assistant can have similar duties.
I think you need to tell your boss beforehand though, so that she doesnt contradict herself when giving a reference to your potential employer. Hopefully she cooperates. All the best!
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 September 2011): Have a chat with your boss. If she is reasonable and you have a good relationship with her, point out that you feel your duties have been those of an executive assistant and see if she agrees. I think executive assistants generally have more of a decision-making role but maybe not always. I would speak to your boss and explain to her that other employers have been of the opinion that you should put EA rather than your title. After that it's up to her. It might not even be such a big deal for your new employer, as long as you are competent in what you do. I wish you the best of luck.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 September 2011): Being an "executive" assistant means, quite literally, that you have a degree of autonomy/power with which to "execute" - or carry out - important decisions on behalf of the company. It would seem from what you write that you are not aware that this is the true meaning of the word and, in this case, thought that it would just imply a higher degree of support being given by you. If agencies did tell you that you should put executive assistant as a title then they have misled you, not only about protocol and morality, but in regard to the actual meaning of the term.Job title's absolutely suck sometimes - especially in the case of 'female' stereotypical roles, because they so rigidly imply a position in a hierarchy without necessarily reflecting the reality. "Secretary" is a term that can completely understate what that person does in her role - which can be essentially running the company and putting everything in place for her - often male - boss to sign the dotted lines in order to carry out his "executive" decisions. Or it can mean someone who answers the phone and nothing else. Unless you have had discussions with your boss, before now, in which your job title has been discussed as an issue of concern, I would say that it is now too late in the day to gain her sympathy over your changing your job title on your C.V. Quite obviously, for a new employer to realise that their new employee has lied - and sorry but it is a lie - on their C.V. will probably mean that they will be unlikely to trust you in future. Even if you say that you were encouraged to do this, the fact that you haven't thought it through properly and made a trustworthy decision about it does imply that you are not upto "executive" type decisions in any case.Either you can sit it out and wait to see if this comes up in their discussion with your boss - I have actually never heard of someone calling someone's boss AFTER they have already given notice - and deal with the consequences then or you can take the plunge and speak up and tell the truth, even explaining that you were not clear about what Executive actually meant. Many people don't know the real meaning of the term. Either way, the odds of your new employer being sympathetic are not good. They might sympathise as a human being, but probably not as a professional.
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A
female
reader, KittieS  +, writes (18 September 2011):
 Firstly don't panic - quite common for people to have a little poetic license on their titles - in my opinion it's not the title but the experience (I'm a sales director, and this would be the last thing that bothered me should your CV cross my table) when looking for people you look at the level of experience, the person and then make a decision - more experienced and further up you go, your realise titles just aren't that important.
Good idea giving your current employer a copy of your CV, thank her/him for their time and support and enjoy your new job!
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