Do I need to put my full name?

Can You Use a Nickname on Your Resume?

When crafting your resume, one common question job seekers ask is whether they need to include their full legal name. The short answer? Not necessarily. While your legal name will likely be required during onboarding and for official documentation like tax forms or background checks, your resume is a personal marketing tool—and it’s perfectly acceptable to use a more familiar version of your name.

Think of your resume as your professional introduction. If you go by a nickname or a shortened version of your name in daily life, there’s no reason you can’t reflect that on your resume. For example, if your full name is Elizabeth Anne Thompson but you’ve always gone by “Beth,” using “Beth Thompson” is both natural and appropriate. Similarly, someone named Jonathan Smith Jr. might prefer “John Smith” to keep things simple and consistent with how colleagues and friends know them.

What matters most is clarity and consistency. Choose the name you’re most commonly known by in professional settings, and make sure it matches the name on your LinkedIn profile, email signature, and other application materials. This helps hiring managers easily connect the dots.

Just remember: your legal name will still be needed later in the hiring process, especially once you reach the offer stage. But during the initial job search, your resume should feel authentic to who you are in the workplace.

Ultimately, using a nickname isn’t about hiding your identity—it’s about presenting yourself in a way that feels genuine and approachable. And in a competitive job market, that personal touch can make all the difference.