These days, there are a variety of ways to show your professional experience to a future employer. Of course, there is the classic resume. Then there’s your LinkedIn profile. And then there are all the internal databases you enter your information into. It begs the question: does consistency matter?
The answer is a resounding yes! In the final stage of hiring, your future employer will likely verify your employment. If they give a job title that doesn’t match what you have on your resume and LinkedIn profile, it could set off some alarm bells about your honesty and integrity. The same is true with the dates of your employment. It may seem to you like a simple, innocent mistake, but it could have severe consequences.
Fortunately, it’s easy to fix! Before applying for a legal technology job, compare your LinkedIn profile and your resume and fix any discrepancies with job titles and employment dates. When it comes to internal databases, create a document with all your job titles, employment dates, and a few bullet points summarizing your work and accomplishments so that you can easily copy and paste. This will help you avoid any accidental typos, spelling errors, or unintentional misrepresentation of your work history and experience.
The one exception to this consistency rule: your photo. While you might use a casual photo on Instagram or LinkedIn, a professional photo—good lighting, professional attire, and an engaging smile—is essential on LinkedIn. And it’s best practice to leave your photo off your resume.
While it can be tempting to adjust your old title to make it match a job you’re applying for, or to fudge your employment dates to cover a gap, it isn’t worth the risk. Honesty is always the best policy in your Legal IT job search.
Read our recommendations for creating a superior technical resume and optimizing your LinkedIn profile.
