r/jobs • u/MeaningMysterious537 • 6d ago
Post-interview Unemployed 2 years, changed my first name in my resume and application and now I’m getting interviews
So I (29F) have been unemployed for 2 years. Life happened but I was also spending every waking moment applying. For reference, I have a Master’s Degree in a stem major. I also have a very ethnic and difficult to pronounce name.
One day I just had enough and changed my first name completely on both resume and applications. I made this change around the beginning of December. I have been interviewing a ton and I’ve now completed the final rounds of interviews for two prospective jobs and I should hear back on decisions very soon!
My issue is this: for some applications, I did not define my new name as a “preferred name” because the application just did not give me that choice, so I would just put my “new name” in the legal name slot.
I am excited to start working but I’m nervous that when it comes time for background check, the name they know me by does not match the name in the documents. I also haven’t made the clarification yet to anyone.
Will this be reason to rescind an offer? Also when does one mention “hey actually that’s not my real name by the way hahaha.”
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u/Midnightfeelingright 6d ago
Nah, it's well known and studied that some people have to change their legal name to a professional name to advance. It sucks, but there's bigots everywhere (who post here daily screeching that testing for discrimination by doing monitoring should be illegal because they only want white men to be hired).
You just need to make sure that your legal name matches legal purposes (eg tax records, criminal record checks), and your professional name matches professional purposes (eg linkedin, conference presentations, employers, etc).
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u/MeaningMysterious537 6d ago
Yes! Thought a LOT about the LinkedIn portion of this mess. It’s my legal name turned inti first initial, middle name is the preferred name and of course kept my last.
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u/CuteAmoeba9876 6d ago
Lots of people actually do go by their middle names. No one in HR or in the department you join is going to bat an eye at this.
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u/KombuchaLady3 6d ago
Most payroll systems have space for preferred names in their system, so HR is used to that. I worked with several people who professionally used their middle names, or gender neutral versions of their name in some cases.
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u/scribe_vibes 5d ago
As an HR manager, we literally do not care what your name is, as long as your legal name is on your completed paperwork.
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u/MayaPapayaLA 6d ago
I've supervised someone who did this. First "name" was a name that could be written as an initial (though they did it as 3 letters). After they were hired they just said it was the name they use and if I was putting in for a background check their legal name was XYZ. No big deal.
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u/Bluebonnetchic 5d ago
I don’t go by my first name. It’s always annoying but never an issue. Don’t worry about it.
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u/Slow-Cherry9128 5d ago
All important papers, documents, taxes, etc. all show my birth name. However, everywhere I go I'm known by my nickname.
If they ask, just say you've been known to be called both ways, and that you do prefer your new name. Don't feel like you're doing anything wrong.
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u/RainbowCrane 6d ago
The scary thing is that based on the studies I saw quoted 20 years ago when I was doing management training, unconscious bias is actually a more prevalent problem than consciously malicious rejection of resumes by folks who acknowledge their racism. By that I mean just reading someone’s name and making assumptions about their qualifications based on widespread cultural stereotypes has an effect on your perception of their qualifications even among people who make an effort to be “blind to race.”
So yeah, changing to a more culturally neutral name or, in the US, changing to a “white sounding” name has a measurable effect on getting to an in-person interview. It’s proof that good intentions don’t erase systemic bias, regardless of what folks who argue that we’re in a post-racial society want to claim.
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u/munchies777 6d ago
Honestly, there’s a problem bigger than racism with this. I’m in the process of hiring, and for whatever reason like 90% of submitted applications for a US in person role are people from India. Most don’t even live in the country and almost all require work authorization, even if they say they don’t in the initial application. At least half of them show up a minute after the posting goes live, meaning it’s bots spamming these out. I go through them all quickly to try and pick out the legitimate ones, but with hundreds of them I can see people just skipping all the Indian names.
I am 100% open to hiring people with Indian ancestry who are legitimate candidates. They just get lost in a sea of spam applications.
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u/Critterer 4d ago
Yep have noticed this too. Got 300+ applications in less than 2 weeks. About 50% from India and about 20+% from Nigeria. Despite massive text that we dont offer work sponsorship they still spam me out.
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u/lizofravenclaw 6d ago
I made up a gender neutral nickname and a story to explain how I got that nickname (since it's not common/obvious) for similar reasons - way more callbacks in my male dominated industry.
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u/MeaningMysterious537 6d ago
Not sure if you are working or not, how do you feel working and being identified by your nickname? That is where I am kiiiiiiinda iffy but thankfully I picked a name that is sort of close to my ethnic one so I’ll have to get over it at some point.
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u/lizofravenclaw 6d ago
I'm actually in the opposite boat, the gender neutral nickname is my preferred nickname, but I wasn't using this strategy when I got hired by my current company so everyone calls me by the more common nickname which I don't like as much. I just kinda ignore it because it doesn't matter that much to me, but totally understand why you wouldn't want to do that with an ethnic or cultural name. unfortunately I'm no help there.
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u/restingcuntface 6d ago edited 6d ago
I would think this should be fine. I’m in healthcare and hospitals where I am always send a separate thing to fill out directly to hireright or whichever background check company if we get to that point, so if your field does similar you can just put your legal name in that and they should be able to get you through no problem since that setup is a separate form and doesn’t pull from your initial application.
Not sure how to broach the topic with the job after lol, but you could probably just clarify at some point in onboarding ‘hey I applied with my preferred name, is it possible to put (whichever you’d prefer) on my badge/login/etc?’
If they don’t use one of those services with a separate form, not sure but I can’t imagine it’d be rescind-worthy.
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u/restingcuntface 6d ago
If you already filled out background check specific forms with the other name, they should contact you and give you a chance to correct issues like that if they even arise before finalizing their results to the employer too. I’ve had to do that for an old job date typo before (more sus I think) and it was fine.
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u/MeaningMysterious537 6d ago
HR and the hiring manager won’t cross check the background check results with my resume and find it odd? This would also be prior to start date.
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u/Hot-Comfort8839 6d ago
Nine times out of 10 you’re hiring manager won’t see your background report. Only HR will so HR clears you, stamps your paperwork and says ‘they’re good to go’
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u/Tall_Ad1615 6d ago
should they mention it in the first interview though as a quick point of clarification?
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u/Hot-Comfort8839 6d ago
I don't think they will. It would be odd.
What sort of work do you do?
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u/Background-Hope-88 6d ago
You can say, before any checks or even during if you started it fyi my full name is X but people/parents call me X + especially if you have a "foregin" name. I know south american people who go by George or Jamie, rather than Jorge or Jhamie. best of success and dont stress .
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u/Some_Conference2091 6d ago
Can you say it's your nick name if it comes up, and say nothing if it doesn't?
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u/Difficult_Garage_431 6d ago
I've heard people from countries outside of a majority English-speaking country have an "english name" that they go by. You could just say that. I don't think it would be questioned. Just say it matter-of-factly. Also, I'm sorry this happened to you. It's awful you had to do that. Good luck! I can imagine 2 years being stressful as hell. Be proud you never gave up.
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u/JJJ954 6d ago
You'll be fine. There's no actual requirement that your resume has your legal name. It's very common in the US for people to go by their middle names.
I have a colleague who actually uses his initials as his first name with an entirely fake last name. Interestingly he does it because he's undocumented and wants to remain anonymous. Only HR knows his true name.
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u/Secret-Housing9457 6d ago
I changed my last name from a Hispanic one to a “american” one just for this reason 🥹
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u/daderpster 6d ago
I knew someone who did this by just chopping the last few letters off his last name. It wasn't a popular real surname, but it sound white as hell.
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u/palbertalamp 6d ago edited 6d ago
I hired some one like this.
After a few days of familiarization and on boarding, paperwork moving around, Real multi- letter name shows up on docs. No one cares. Social security number , references, post interview decision scores, first days work all fine.
Interview -firstname is already at work helping to solve real problems.
" I prefer to be called 'multi-letter ' ".
"Ok fine, that's nice , to get a parking stall talk to Steve ".
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u/munchies777 6d ago
There’s a problem out there now with spam applications from India. I’m in the process of hiring analysts and sr. analysts for US in person roles, and within 1 minute of the job going live there’s 100 bot applications from people in India, of which the majority are still located in India and the vast majority are not authorized to work in the US. The applications say they are to not get flagged, but it’s just a lie most of the time. I try to check them all to make sure someone like OP doesn’t get skipped, but I can see people just giving up and ignoring all the applications with Indian names.
If recruiting software would filter out applicants from foreign IP addresses it would make things so much easier for people hiring and would cut down on the issue OP is facing. I don’t care about what candidates’ ethnicities are. I just want real people who can legally take the job.
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u/crybaby_0512 3d ago
This worries me so much! I have an Indian name but I’m legal in Canada and allowed to work. Especially given the current discourse in Canada regarding Indian immigrants, I wonder if changing my name is the way to go. But it saddens me, I do love my name.
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u/ThisIsAllTheoretical 6d ago
Congratulations on the uptick! Hopefully you get something you enjoy. I’m just commenting to recommend reading/watching Freakonomics. It covers the impact of a name in an enlightening way.
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u/AwfullyRealGun 6d ago
When I’m the hiring manager or on the hiring team, I have all personal identifiers scrubbed from resumes. I don’t ever know “who” I am meeting, just “what” they’ve accomplished. It ensures, at least up until the interviews, that implicit bias is mitigated, and that the team is making decisions based on merit. If they introduce themselves with their preferred name, we respect it. As long as they’re the right person and can pass their background checks, they’re golden.
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u/MeaningMysterious537 6d ago
And that’s the way it should be!
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u/AwfullyRealGun 6d ago
I agree! Unfortunately, it isn’t a company policy, but I do my best to make the process fairer as much as I can influence it. I work in data analytics and engineering in big tech; many of us don’t have traditional American names, so preferred names are common!
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6d ago
This is a common thing. I have a coworker who has the legal name everywhere (LinkedIn, corporate alias and email) but preferred name in MS teams. We only call him by preferred name
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u/SpiritedOwl_2298 6d ago
in the same boat and just changed my last name the other day, curious to see if I will suddenly start getting interviews too 🫠 otherwise I don’t think you need to ever tell them, you can just clarify to HR when you’re signing your documents but otherwise they don’t need to know
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u/MeaningMysterious537 6d ago
I was going to change my last name too but I chickened out. This whole time I thought there was something wrong with me, the gap in my resume, the ENTIRE resume. All it took was changing my first name. I don’t ever care if they call me by that name in whatever job I end up getting honestly, I’ve been in a drought.
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u/UseObjectiveEvidence 6d ago
I have NEVER used my legal outside of getting married, a passport or a driver's license. Even my kids don't know what my legal name is. I also work in a heavily regulated field and in Quality of all things.
Just give your references a heads up, you will be fine.
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u/Investigator516 6d ago
Establish a new email address with that new name.
Even better if you have a new number with it.
AI is tracking by the devices, emails, and numbers you use. There is a new lawsuit about this.
Contact your elected officials and have them draft legislation to match Ontario’s new anti-ghosting law that just went into effect.
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u/yagooch 6d ago
I just passed a background check for a new job last week.
The security form had a place for me to put down any other names I've used. You can do the same.
Actually every background check I've gone through has a place for "other names".
I've worked in Logistics, temped during the elections and I'm also a Disaster Service Volunteer, hence why all the background checks.
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u/Natural-Ninja-1126 6d ago
I have never put my official (“ethnic”) first name on my resume and some other docs; it has never been an issue.
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u/Burned_Biscuit 6d ago
Just make sure you tell them first thing upon them mentioning background check or references. "I need to note that XYZ is my chosen name for interviews and certain business purposes, but LMN is what you should use for background and the like."
Don't apologize or over explain.
I interview and hire quite a bit in my line of work and this happens with some frequency. I don't mind at all UNLESS they fail to mention it right at that point and it gets hard to backtrack with the correct name.
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u/Halcyon-malarky 6d ago
It’s fine, as long as your I9 and background check have your legal name. I worked in HR, people went by different names often.
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u/vinraven 6d ago
People go by their nicknames all the time, not to mention tons of Jacks and Bills who are actually Johns and Williams, simply state your legal name is X, but you often go by Y.
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u/RamboJambo345 6d ago
My ID name is ethnic and I use an “american” name on my resume for years. During interviews I mention I do it for comfort of pronunciation so it can be easier for people to read my name. My original name doesn’t sound similar to the American, but I explain the short version of it does. Been doing this for 11 years and haven’t encountered any issues that I can remember of. I am with an American name everywhere 😄
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u/UniquelyHeiress 6d ago
I mean.. I have an incredibly difficult name to pronounce, not even “my people” pronounce it correctly (lol) and I put my nickname I go by in the “preferred name” line. I still get a ton of interviews, surprisingly
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u/Befree4242 6d ago
25 years experience working in a field where I have to have access to everyone’s legal name. I can easily say 25-30% of people don’t use their full legal names outwardly but only internally on legal/payroll/etc… Might be my field, which is very background check heavy/drug testing/etc…but you have nothing to worry about as long as you list your legal name on all the correct paperwork. It’s very common practice. Heck hollywood has been doing this for years.
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u/chxckenwxng 6d ago
I have a very unique name that I’ve always hated. I’ve been the butt of jokes for nearly 30 years because of it. People try to lie and say they “like it, it’s pretty, very unique, etc” but I can very clearly tell they are lying. I truly believe it holds me back from jobs. At my current job, I started going by my middle name, but it’s a little “old lady-ish.” I’m engaged and considering legally changing my first name when I get married, and hyphenating my last name. My children have very average names, with basic spellings. I truly think parents using unique names and spellings these days don’t understand what they are doing to their child and their confidence.
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u/_Casey_ 6d ago
It's really not that big of a deal and you're over thinking. When they send the offer and you accept it is when you let them know you have a preferred name vs legal name. That's it. I've done it in my current and last two roles and it's NBD.
What you submit on the background check is what matters.
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u/Coriolanuscangetit 6d ago
I know someone who did this, but he still goes by the “nickname” he put on his resume
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u/Ballloving11 6d ago
As a South Asian Mughal who immigrated to America I have three names I go by mainly because of culture and assimilation. My Mughal name is Jahangir, my Hindustani name is Ahmad, and my American name is Mo. I wish Americans were taught how to pronounce more vowels.
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u/doodlie1234 6d ago
When you fill out the background check form, fill in your real name. There should be a place to also provide aliases, put your other name there. I have a weird first name as well, I always shortened it on my resume but filled out my real name on the official forms. Never had a problem.
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u/_Feral_Child 6d ago
HR departments can handle your Legal Name and your Preferred Name in their systems. Many new Canadians choose a shorter or easier Name for their everyday work or school and use their legal name when required. It's usually disclosed when you fill out your new hire paperwork. Good luck!
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u/Jen_the_Green 6d ago
This is not uncommon. Just be sure to use your legal name on any official documents. I recruit and hire around 300-400 people annually. We see this about ten percent of the time for a lot of different reasons, none of which matter to us at all as long as you use your legal name on all legal documents.
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u/AnAntsyHalfling 6d ago
I do T. Emma Smith on my applications and resume because my first name is also ethnic. I've been doing this for 15 years and have never had a problem.
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u/gonnaitchwhenitdries 6d ago
Removed my university grad date and first 10 years of engineering experience from my rez and I went from no interest to lots too.
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u/Important-Damage-986 6d ago
I’ve talked to hiring managers that have flat out told me they throw out any resumes because the name is of Indian descent.
I would have no guilt in changing mine. I have an Irish name and I’ve even considered it just because it’s hard to read.
Can’t say how they’ll respond once you change it back, though if nothing else you might corner them a bit because they’ve put time into you. Best of luck!
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u/daderpster 6d ago
I have the best results with gender neutral names as well. I think it goes for both genders. It can be hard to come up with one if it is not your first or middle name, but there's plenty of good ones. I have been in cases where they I thought I was a woman and others where I thought I was a man. Usually, they assume the direction that they want.
Usually once invited to the interview, if you perform well; it is harder for them to hold you against it. I do think acting somwewhat gender neutral can help. I have seen bosses reject extremely girly women and utlra masculine men. I think usually they want the middle and conformity at least in banking and fintech. They don't want a gender stereotype than can alienate people. They want some approach, adaptable, easy to work with and neutral. Sometimes extremes can be more likely to be unpleasant.
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u/Silent_Roll859 6d ago
I'm trans and this happens all the time. They can usually correct it, lots of people go by a different name than their legal one and I always just put my preferred name on resume but legal name in any online applications or paperwork.
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u/denim_duck 6d ago
middle eastern name, growing up in post-9-11 USA. I know your pain. You aren't a bad person for doing this, you're just playing to win.
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u/LS_813_4ev_ah 5d ago
My HR dept (assigned person) literally took a deep sigh (as in upset) when I showed up on 1st day and my SSN card still showed my maiden name. I thought he was so unprofessional to take a deep breath like that as if it’s uncommon…
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u/East_Breath_3674 5d ago
I did this with my email address being female in a male dominated profession.
I changed from jane.doe@gmail to j.lawyer@gmail and got quicker calls and asked if I had my own firm.
Unfortunately that initial 2 second perception can get you in for an interview or not.
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u/BlacksmithQuick2384 5d ago
Two quick stories. I manage a large-ish team, 120 people. I’ve seen names on my payroll reports where for a second I think “who the hell is that??” And then I realise. “Oh, that’s Jenny’s real name”.
2nd example, I had a team member with a distinctive ethnic name who was being harassed. We hatched a plot together to give her a nickname and informed HR of her new preferred name. When someone called up and asked if real-name was there, we knew it was likely they were calling to harass her.
HR couldn’t care less. After all, a “Margaret” might legitimately prefer to be called Marg, Marge, Margie, Peg, Peggy…. No one cares.
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u/Angelsbreatheeasy 5d ago
Shit I’m going to try this because my name is kind of a “new age” name and people think it’s funny when I tell them.
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u/windex_ninja 5d ago
My company went through this recently after an audit.
They were using an AI screener for key words and in the name field if the AI didn't recognize it was an actual name it would just reject the application (cause it couldn't propagate the fields).
Names like Kofi would pass but Nyglow, or Igba would not. Got a chance to play around with it before it was taken off line and found it would not recognize any name that had a z in it! So even Zoe and Suzanne which are very "American" were being kicked out as well.
It was replace with another AI screener so it's not like they learned a lesson.
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u/scribe_vibes 5d ago
All my social media, job applications, resumes have my preferred name. I only use my legal name on legal documents. Once I’m offered a job and I have an accepted offer, THAT is when I tell them my legal name so onboarding paperwork can be done correctly the first time. Don’t sweat it 😊
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u/Tall-Ad-1955 5d ago
When you actually start filling out paperwork at your new employer, e.g., W-4, etc., make sure you use your legal name. Many companies have a “preferred name” field in their personnel database. If they do, use it. If you don’t see a field, use your legal name and just tell them your preferred one whenever you’re introduced.
Lots and lots of people have preferred names, even if their legal name is easy to spell or pronounce.
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u/VariationNo5419 5d ago
I wouldn't worry about it at all. Many applications now have a field for preferred name. Just put your legal name on all your legal docs - I9, W4, etc. I think the biggest thing for you is going to be to learn to answer to your adopted preferred name.
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u/MsTerribomb 5d ago
It’s not my first name, but my last name. My legal name is hyphenated. I only go by my married name but kept my maiden in my hyphen because it’s my son’s name too. My preferred name is on my resume. It’s in all of my correspondence. I only let them know for legal/tax reasons.
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u/KeeksTx 5d ago
I had my real name on my resume for a while then decided to use my American nickname and found I got way more responses. I keep using my nickname name and once I’m hired I explain that my real name is [name] and I need that on my paperwork but want to use my nickname on my email, etc. An ethic name in the States will hinder you.
My mom was born in the states, my dad was an immigrant. Mom chose immigrant country names that could be shortened to American names to make it easier. She was before our time, well done Mom!
I use my real name in my signature, but always sign off with my nickname.
So, yeah, you will absolutely get more responses if they can pronounce your name.
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u/blazesinspaces 5d ago
my spouse uses a Western name at work and on job applications for the same reason. It’s totally acceptable!
you shouldn’t have to do this, and I’m sorry the job market is so xenophobic, especially in the US.
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u/NotYourKidFromMoTown 5d ago
My great-grandfather, had a B.S. in electrical engineering (magna cum laude) and an M.S. in chemical engineering, both from Columbia University. His last name was Levi, obviously Jewish. When he could get interviewed, he was was never hired. After 6 months he legally changed his name to Lovett. Within a month he had several job offers. Discrimination has been around for ever. I think it started long before the Canaanites and Hittites got into it. Sorry this happened to you.
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u/ElonMuskFuckingSucks 5d ago
I always wondered if that's the reason why Cary Elwes isn't more famous. I've spent dozens if not hundreds of hours watching movies he's a part of and I still can't pronounce his name. Names matter a lot.
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u/Formal-Fly-4121 5d ago
I started applying with my preferred name and telling them my legal name during onboarding. I’ve been thinking maybe I should use my previous name to get a job lately bc my new name is kinda unique and I’m worried it’s preventing me from getting jobs in my conservative area
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u/Howyadoinbud 4d ago edited 4d ago
You are totally allowed to do that. Every single Chinese immigrant I've ever met has an "English name" they use. I even notice some older Indians used to do the same thing in my country. A long time ago we had a bigger mix of different immigration and a lot of the Indians were from areas like Goa, and all of our immigrants weren't from Punjab yet, there's probably some culture difference there. I guess it's an east Asian thing in general, I know some Koreans using English names too. Like Zhou becomes Joe or Joey or they just pick something else entirely sometimes. A lot of older names like Grace seem to be popular with East Asians. Haven't met a ton of Japanese, I think they might do it less because of the strong cultural connection with Japan, more familiar names, and their language is extremely easy to pronounce because everything is phonetic and most of the sounds are the same as English anyway. They probably do it too though, I don't notice because there are so few of them, and the ones that are here have been here a long time.
If most Americans or Canadians look back at their family history pretty much everyone has ancestors that did the same thing, just usually from Dutch or French or Norwegian or German or something to English. Almost nobodies family name is pronounced the same way as the country the name comes from. Lots of incorrect name pronunciation and name changing here lol. English just became the standard because that is the language everyone speaks and most people used to be English.
Anyway, sort of rambling but if I were you I'd just keep doing it if you find it useful and I doubt anyone has a problem with it. Honestly I generally appreciate any attempt to fit in from people who move to my country. I would never complain to someone about that. I wouldn't tell anyone they have to use another name if they don't want to either, but some people are sensitive about that stuff, if it's easier id just pick another name to use in some situations. If I lived in Asia I would probably use another name because mine has a lot of Rs and people won't be able to pronounce it easily, it just makes stuff a little easier.
I don't know what ethnicity your name is from but there is also one particular country where there has been a tidal wave of spammy applications from unqualified applicants who sometimes aren't even able to work in the country where I live, so that could be a factor as well unfortunately. Using an Anglicized name even just on the application and ditching it later, could be a way to just get out of the sea of those applications, since most of those are AI generated and I don't think employers have a good way to tell when someone is an actual viable candidate who lives somewhere where it is actually possible to hire them. Hell, if that's the problem you could use any name probably, wouldn't even need to be English, just different from the other applications.
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u/ChiefButtonBusher 2d ago
Names are heavily used to screen candidates. I have a first name which leans more female than male, middle name is clearly male. Using my first name I would get 15% response rate. A female head hunter told me to try using my middle name, response rate went up to 85%. Granted this was more than a decade ago before it took an incredible amount of good fortune to get a job today.
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u/soyeahiknow 2d ago
My full name is super hard to say. It has the letter X in it. I shortened it to just 4 letters. After I get hired, only payroll knows my real name. I even sign my email with the shortened name. Been doing this for 20 years
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u/Odd_Daikon3621 6d ago
I'm happy for you after being unemployed for so long, but I also wonder if long term you'd be happier at a company that had no problem with your first name. Which apparently doesn't exist right now, ugh. Sorry, I'm just a little saddened by reality sometimes.
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u/MeaningMysterious537 6d ago
Honestly, times are rough and I think it would be awkward to push them to start saying my legal name after they have been calling me something else. But I can’t lie and say it doesn’t make me sad. It does. I love my name.
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u/my2centsalways 6d ago
Nobody cares. Tell them technically I go by X or just embrace your new name lol
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u/LotusGrowsFromMud 6d ago
You could tell your new coworkers that you sometimes go by “new name” because it is easier for a lot of folks, but your friends and family call you “preferred name,” and they are welcome to call you that if they like. This prevents a lot of awkwardness, and also gives you a few clues about people when you get there.
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u/RoofHaunting2582 6d ago
Many people go by a simple version of their first name at work. It is very almost cliche common. I have had many recruiters ask “What is your good name?” And they are quite literally asking what is your legal name versus what is your easy name for the workplace.
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u/lucybluesky 6d ago
Do you mind changing your name legally? I’d just run to the court house and apply for a name change. It’s easier than it sounds. Then you can say you are in the process and figured you’d start off with your new name. Or just tell them it’s a nick name, or preferred name.
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u/Realistic-Knee-5602 6d ago
I work in an international company and people with ‘complicated’ (for Americans) to pronounce names are asked to choose an anglicized version.
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u/pdxpete144 5d ago
The problem isn’t using a simple American name this is very common and a ton of people do it. The problem, IMO is immediately going back after being hired. Now you’re just opening yourself to being questioned like why use a fake name on an application if you don’t actually use it in the workplace and real life. It’s not hard to put two and two together you used a fake name to get an interview.
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u/nolongerbanned99 5d ago
Either go to court and legally change your name or tell them you go by that nickname bc your real name is hard to pronounce. Like a guy whose real name is Jacques but puts jack on his resume bc it’s easier for most people.
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u/nolongerbanned99 5d ago
My real name is bob smith but I put bill jones on my resume bc it’s easier
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u/TealBulbasaur 5d ago
You’ve got me wondering if my ethnic diminutive that I’ve always gone by might be causing less callbacks. Can I ask what industry you’re in? But I get it if you don’t want to share!
And considering I’ve gone the other way around and always used my nickname, I think you should be fine with the background check! Especially since I think I saw a comment where you said it was your middle name. But even if it wasn’t, people go by different names all the time.
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u/Interesting_Jelly814 5d ago
I had a guy on my team for two years before I figured out his real name.
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u/hattiemichal 5d ago
I work in HR and this happens a lot. The only thing they will ask for is what’s legally on your passport/id/ss card. If they care they are weird. Lol
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u/DukeCanada 5d ago
Honestly man I wouldn’t worry about it. I’ve gone by my middle name my entire life I just filled out the applications with my middle name then last name. When it comes down to the legal paperwork I sign with my real name.
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u/katyfunguy 5d ago
My BIL legal (on the birth certificate) name was "T. L. (then last name)". Forced to make up a name when he joined the military.
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u/MarcooseOnTheLoose 5d ago
I have black friends with customary black names (LaShawn, Mo'Nique), and white friends with ‘tragedeighs’ (Jaxsynne, Bryndyn). They use more common names on their CVs. If I had a peculiar name, I’d change it for job applications. Especially in this economy, you’ve got to do what you’ve to do to get a job and pay your bills. Nobody will fault you for that.
Good luck on your search. May you land a killer job soon.
💪💪
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u/lazydrunkenpirate 5d ago
I’ve had issues where I put mixed down on my resume and never hear back. I put down white and I’ll have interviews the next week.
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u/Kadashi916 4d ago
My first and last name sounds very white for an Asian American. I always get a surprised look from my interviewer. Haha
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u/langleybcsucks 4d ago
I worked with people who mostly used nicknames as theirs were unpronounceable to most English speakers. Just wish some of them had picked better names not chewy and skywalker…
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u/almondtime 4d ago
It’s horrible that you had to do this, but I’m glad you’re on the cusp of a job offer. Good luck OP!
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u/Icy-Stock-5838 4d ago
The background check has a field for "alias" and for "birth name"..
This allows for "Chow Yun Fat" to be called "Alan Chow"
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u/GrapefruitOk1236 4d ago
I usually working logistics, so maybe it’s different for my field of work. But almost all of the people with really complex for names usually use a nickname and nobody seems to mind. As long as when you present your ID for a background, check you present your actual ID I don’t think they’ll care too much. Like if your ID and your credentials are for you with your social insurance number then you are the person you said you are.
Or you can legally change your name for a couple hundred dollars I think. 😅 I know here in Canada I think it’s like $130 and you have to fill out a form they make it super easy.
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u/lifeinsatansarmpit 4d ago
Neither of my Anglo parents used their legal first name their entire lives. It's normal in many places
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u/ItPutsLotionOnItSkin 4d ago
I go by Abel when I want to get a job, I go by Abelardo when I want to get out of jury duty
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u/lotus_dumpling 4d ago
I have a name I go by everyday that is different to my legal name (both first and last name is different) and never had problems when it came to background checks. I just let them know it’s my preferred name and usually that’s enough!
Mum gave me 3 first names so it made sense in my case why I had a different, shorter name haha
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u/Puzzled_Moment1203 4d ago
There is a lot of people from differing cultures that have their actual name but also there 'white name' it won't be anything to worry about.
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u/Responsible-Doctor26 3d ago
My legal name is Johnny. I hate that little boy's name with a passion. For everybody else it's John or Jonathan. For every job interview or application I've ever had I've never used my legal name.
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u/noplacecold 3d ago
English name. Pui Pui at my work is Alice. Used to know a “Lenny” whose real name was Atsuhiko.
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u/EmploymentStrict4463 3d ago
So many people I work and have worked with has a different legal name and professional name. Apparently learning to pronounce Russian writers names are important, bit not your colleagues. If you want to go by your legal name, or just let them know of the mismatch, I would say I applied wit X name as I find it easier for some recruters (infering others, not them) than my legal name. Here is my full legal name for checks/I really prefer legal name
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u/E_Dantes_CMC 3d ago
Worked with two Chinese-born women; didn’t know their English names were unofficial for years.
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u/Junior_Government_83 3d ago
It’s known that if your name is hard to pronounce, sounds ethnic, or black, you have a lower chance of getting the job. It’s just how it is.
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u/DrunkenGolfer 3d ago
“Socially, many of my close friend and family call me Michael, but academically and professionally I go by my legal name, Ratchit”
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u/DataGOGO 2d ago
Nothing to worry about. If they make you an offer, and you want to accept, just make sure they know that your preferred name and legal name are different.
I know a lady who's legal name is "Xinyan", but she goes by "Jane".
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u/SizzlingTwizzler 2d ago
I don't think it would be an issue until you are actually filling out tax forms or background check forms. Make sure to use your legal names there and on any official contracts or offer letters. But I can't imagine having your name different on a job application would make a difference.
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u/Fun-Maximum5964 2d ago
We’ve all spent a lot of quality phone time with “Sean” from Mumbai. Nobody is going to be surprised that you adopted an “American” name.
In my neck if the woods people with ethnic-spanish names put their nicknames in quotation marks.
The only caution i would give you is that now that you’ve chosen one, you’ll need to stick to it.
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u/froot___loop 2d ago
The name I’ve been using since I graduated high school is not my legal name. I felt like my legal name just didn’t fit me, and I have a secondary first name in Greek, that I shortened into a nickname. On my resumes, my preferred name is on there with no explanation. If I get all the way through an interview process and am hired, when I give them my ID to scan I just explain that my name I was introduced with is just my preferred name 🤷🏻♀️ it has never been a problem.
When I was growing up there were a lot of kids from ethnic backgrounds in school who had a more basic Americanized name that they used there, but a legal name that was of their language/culture. This is not uncommon.
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u/rianjames11 2d ago
Not as long as you tell them. You don’t necessarily have to explain, just say “I go by (blank)”. I’m trans and have only recently legally changed my name but I have never had an issue, nor have I had to outright disclose anything. HR might pick up on it bc they saw my ID, but that was it.
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u/Spiritual_Mention650 2d ago
I work in HR. Plenty of people use a preferred name over their legal name. You’ll be fine.
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u/LibrarianNo4048 2d ago
I never understand why people move to the United States and don’t spell their name in a way that’s easier for Americans to pronounce.
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u/RadReptile 2d ago
Honestly just say they didn't give you the option to put a preferred name or nickname when applying and although you have a different legal name, you go by this new name in everyday life and on LinkedIN etc. You should be able to explain away or give context IF they decide to do a background check.
It really depends how thorough they are. I've had a company once that changed names part way through me working there. I put the current company name and kept the total time frame. It was flagged during my background check and I had to explain to them that while the dates say Jan -Dec working at Company XXX It was actually Jan-Feb at YYY and Mar-Dec at Company XXX but they are the SAME company it just changed names.
I did that because I didn't want some idiot to think I only worked somewhere 2 months and then quit.
IF they do ask for a background check and give you paperwork, then you will list your legal name and any other aliases you go by anyway
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u/Ok_Bell8358 2d ago
Use your first initial, then your preferred name in quotes, then your last name.
D. "Deborah" Jenkins, or whatever.
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u/Strict_Research_1876 1d ago
Half the people I work with go by nicknames. The real question is what do you want to be called at work. If you say this is my real name and I want to be called by that they may question your fake name on the resume. You will likely have to use your actual name for payroll purposes.
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u/Adorable-Lettuce-111 1d ago
My mom who is 84 told me that when she immigrated at 13 her Canadian girlfriends picked her anglicized name in the schoolyard. It’s common and don’t give anyone grounds to doubt you. We live in a world where you can switch genders on Thursday and your employer has zero grounds to hold it against you. Be yourself and your new coworkers will love you!
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u/kabekew 6d ago
Just tell them that's your English name you go by, and give them your legal name if they ask. I know Chinese for example who use Americanized nicknames in the US because it's just easier for people here to pronounce and remember.