I am writing my resume. Please help me with job titles?

Question

I am known as a “Test Applications Engineer”. I write software that assists in manufacturing and troubleshooting, of electronic banking equipment.

As far as I am concerned, I have a super cool job. But my employer is outsourcing all its manufacturing to an overseas contract manufacture, that will do my job, as long as pretty much everyone else’s.

Now, I need to write an awesome resume.

Do I put on my resume that I am seeking a job as an “Application Developer”, or as a “Test Engineer”, or a “Application Engineer”?

Perhaps somthing else?

Thank you.

Answer 1

>>> Do I put on my resume that I am seeking a job as an “Application Developer”, or as a “Test Engineer”, or a “Application Engineer”? <<<

I'd keep that off of your resume and focus on your accomplishments and qualifications.

You can always mention your enthusiasm for "Test Application Development" in a cover letter and relate how your experience would be a benefit for the job you are applying for.

I would not limit your job prospects by defining what type of job you will take. There may be a slightly different job for which you are well qualified for but they may think you won't be interested in because you said you were looking to be [BLANK].... You also do not want to give an impression that you are inflexible as compared to other applicants.

Answer 2

I would use "Software Engineer."

Even though the applications you wrote in your previous job were for testing, you were writing software.

If you categorize yourself further, you might eliminate yourself from consideration for different types of software development. (For example, "test application engineer" might look extra good to an employer hiring people to write programs for testing, but might well be ignored by an employer looking for people to write different things.)