🌟Dear Abby🌟: How does it look on my resume if I take a job with a lower title than I’m at now?!
As with a lot of my answers – it depends! Titles are so nebulous. I have “controllers” that are making $60K, and I have “controllers” that are making $185K. I have “Sr. Accountants” making $75K, and I have “Sr. Accountants” making $115K. There are SO many factors that go into a title – company size, public, private, PE-backed, managing people, managing a process, and so on.
Why You Should Chase Opportunities, Not Titles
My best advice is to not title chase, rather opportunity chase. Look at the opportunity as a whole – company size, growth opportunity (both the company and personal growth), gaining certain experiences, working with a certain mentor, work/life balance, etc. Make sure you have a firm intention as to why you are making the transition and confirm that your new opportunity hits those main drivers.
On your resume, you can write a small company highlight next to the name of the company that details the size of the company, ownership structure, etc., to help explain the title naming conventions for each company (e.g., transitioning from a Controller of a $5mm company to an Accounting Manager of a $500mm company).
Evaluating Career Moves: The Three Key Factors
When making a career decision, I always tell people if:
- The pay makes sense
- The responsibilities make sense
- You like the people/company
You can’t make a bad choice. When you accept a job based on it being the right overall opportunity, you end up performing better, growing faster, and gaining more meaningful experience, which springboards your career more than just accepting a position because a title fits a superfluous expected growth trajectory!
Share Your Experience: Have You Taken a Lower Title?
Who has taken a lesser title, and what was your reasoning for doing so? How did it work out for you? Love the insight!
Let’s Talk About Your Career Transition
Reach out to anyone at Prospex Recruiting if you want to walk through any decisions you’re making right now or to talk through your next career transition! Head to our website, www.hireprospex.com, to learn more about our services and how we can help guide you towards your dream job.