Should You Change Your Name On Your Canadian Resume?
Do you wonder if you should put your real name on your resume as a newcomer to Canada? You’re not alone. Newcomers, international students and underrepresented professionals can find themselves screened out of the hiring process based on the name they put on their resume. This article will outline the situations that cause people to hesitate to use their real name, and five facts about Canadian hiring practices you should know about.
Discrimination and bias in the recruitment process due to minority names
According to The Harvard Business Review, Minorities who ‘whiten’ their resumes are much more likely to be contacted for an interview. This discussion continues through 2024, as Black man has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against a Detroit hotel, alleging that he was only offered a job interview after changing the name on his resume. According to CNN, Dwight Jackson filed a lawsuit against the Shinola Hotel, claiming he was denied a job when he applied as ‘Dwight Jackson,’ but was later offered an interview after changing his name to ‘John Jebrowski.’ The Amercian lawsuit asserts that Jackson's job denial violated the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act which aims to to prohibit discriminatory practices, much like the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Every day qualified international students, newcomers, Black, Brown, BIPOC and other underrepresented candidates are being screened out of recruitment processes due to bias around their names. Here, employers are making false assumptions about their skills based on the given name at the top of the resume.
For example, an employer might assume a candidate with a non North-American sounding name lacks strong communication skills. As a result, this minority candidate may see themselves screened out of the process without ever landing an interview.
Many job seekers face discrimination and bias in the recruitment process. The bias and discrimination might be conscious or unconscious.
Unfortunately, as a consultant in the HR space, I’ve seen candidates be screened out of the hiring process based on assumptions related to their given family name. For example, I’ve heard employers say things like this about candidates with a non-North American sounding name: they won’t fit with my team, they probably don’t speak great English. This is not right or fair but it is very honest and real.
Video: Should I change my name on my resume?
Maybe you’ve been struggling with something like this in your job search. Something’s feeling very off and you suspect this might be due to your family name on your resume. Maybe you’ve even considered changing the name on your resume and adopting a nickname for your job search.
I really hate to think that you’re not getting interviews on the basis of your name. On the other hand, I want to be real with you.
I don’t love the idea of a candidate needing to change their name to get a job interview. It is morally and ethically wrong for employers to require this.
I can’t honestly imagine how that would make you feel. But at the end of the day I get it. You need a chance, a fair shot, a job. And you might be willing to try just about anything at this point.
5 facts about changing your name on your resume to get more interviews in Canada:
1.It is legal to use a nickname
You have absolutely zero requirement to put your full legal name on your resume in Canada. In fact, a lot of people don’t put their legal name on their resume. For example, Michael goes by Mike. Herbert goes by his middle name, Craig, and so on.
It’s fairly common for folks with Asian names like Xiue Yu, for example, to adopt a North American nickname. Xiue might list their first name as Rebecca on their resume. This is a common and accepted practice in the North American job market. You can do whatever you want when it comes to your name on your resume, without any negative repercussions.
2.You only need to reveal your legal name IF accepting an offer
At the point of a formal job offer, you would need to disclose your legal name for the hiring paperwork.
At this point, you could have a discussion with your employer about how you would like to be addressed going forward and how you would like to be introduced to the team. There is no right or wrong. Go back to your legal name, or continue with the nickname. It is up to you.
3.You should ignore ridiculous advice
If you have a non-North American sounding name and someone tells you that your name is not impacting you in the job search, ignore them. They are not woke and do not understand.
Their assumptions and advice is likely based on their own lived experiences. Perhaps that experience has not included working with newcomers or minorities.
It is a fact that candidates with white sounding names and two and a half times more likely to land a job interview. You can Google the Harvard study which reveals this.
Changing your name to a white sounding name will land you more interviews, studies show. Just ignore ridiculous advice and ridiculous people. They are, well, ridiculous.
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4. You can apply to the same jobs again, under a different name
You could actually apply to the same job in your legal name, and under your nickname. You might be screened out of the process when using your given name and called for an interview when using a whiter sounding name. This can be the case even when there are no other changes to the resume.
If your resume isn’t great in the first place, changing your name isn’t going to help much. But if you’ve got a solid resume and you’re certain the fit between you and the role exists, why not try again?
5. The right answer is what feels right for you
I’ve worked with clients who feel okay about this approach of name changing for more interviews as a potential short-term solution. Others feel this is wrong altogether.
Only you know how this makes you feel and the unique details of your situation. If it feels really wrong for you to change your name on your resume, by all means, don’t do this. But if you’re out of phase in your job search and life where you’re willing to try anything at all, go for it.
Conclusion: the name you put on your resume depends on you – there is no legal standard
There are two key perspectives the case for resume name changing.
Perspective 1:
You should do all you can in your control to overcome a broken system. If name changing works, that’s the right approach. Get your foot in the door and affect positive change and education about biases from there.
Perspective 2:
By encouraging resume name changing, we are perpetuating and encouraging a broken system. We’re not getting at the root of the problem which is bias in recruitment.
In my opinion, the true root of the problem going to take a lot of time and education to fix. And you probably need a job sooner than that. I leave it to you to decide and form your own opinion.
For the record, there’s not a thing wrong with your beautiful name. It’s the system. Not you.
“Close my eyes, imagine a place next to me, where I no longer can be labeled a refugee...”
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Having clarity about your career goals is essential when deciding whether to change your name on your resume and during the job interview process. Reflecting on your objectives can help you determine if altering your name aligns with your professional aspirations and the image you want to project. This decision can significantly impact how potential employers perceive you, so it's crucial to approach it thoughtfully. The career advancement journal can serve as a valuable tool in this reflection process, offering prompts that guide you through examining your goals, values, and the potential outcomes of such a change. By gaining a clear understanding of your career trajectory, you can make a more informed decision that supports your long-term success.
Using the career advancement journal encourages introspection and helps you delve deeper into your motivations and expectations. The comprehensive guide within the journal provides questions designed to uncover your true intentions and how they align with your professional identity. Consider questions like, "What are my long-term career goals?" and "How do I want to be perceived by potential employers?" This reflection process ensures that any decision to change your name is not made lightly but is rooted in a well-considered understanding of your career path. Embracing this inward reflection can empower you to make choices that best represent who you are and where you want to go in your professional journey.
