Post # 1

Member
62 posts
Worker bee
Hey Bees… I’m currently applying for jobs and I haven’t gone through the name change process but just got married like a week and a half ago. I have to wait two weeks for the courthouse to get us our marriage certificate then I can go through the process.
Do I still apply for things with my current legal name or my soon to be legal name?
Do you change to your married name on your resume?
Post # 3

Member
13099 posts
Honey Beekeeper
I was applying for jobs around my name change too (still am). I am looking for both an internal transfer within my current company as well as exterally.
I haven’t changed my name with my company (they have a horrible system for name changes that results in lost emails and lots of confusion). So internally, I’m applying with my maiden name and my maiden name is on my resume. If I get an internal transfer position, I will change to my married name with the company at that time.
For external positions, I have a second version of my resume that has my married name (which is now my legal name). I also indicate my maiden name on this resume (formerly known as First Maiden) since if they contact anyone I’ve previously worked with, my maiden name is what I will have been known by.
Post # 4

Member
204 posts
Helper bee
Same boat. I chanced my name on my resume, and sign my emails, letters, etc. with Smores Maiden Married just to try to help with any confusion. Half the time, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to sign things since my name is not officially changed yet either.
Post # 5

Member
1991 posts
Buzzing bee
I changed the name on my resume a month before I got married. I knew that anyone that called me, it would be at least 2 weeks before things became finalized, which by that point would be done on my end.
Post # 6

Member
6009 posts
Bee Keeper
I always recommend to employees that they leave everything else alone until they have received their new social security cards and driver’s licenses. That way, I’m always using their legal name.
If you do apply to a job right now with your maiden name, and you complete your name change paperwork during the recruitment process, you can just let HR know during your contract negotiation or pre-employment process. At that point, it’s not much of a hassle to change everything over to your new legal name.
Post # 7

Member
62 posts
Worker bee
@smores: Yes, I’ve been feeling really confused with that too!
@Mrs. Spring: Thanks! That makes sense.
Are you suppose to call up like your college and let them know your name has changed?
I just want to figure out a good way for my past work experiences and education to match up to me. I never really got how that worked if I say my last name is now Smith, but this transcript I’m handing you says Brown.
Do you let prospective employers know somehow so they conduct the reference check looking for the right individual? Anyone know?
Post # 8

Member
13099 posts
Honey Beekeeper
@HotPinkFire: That’s why I put First Married (formerly First Maiden) on my resume. So things in my madien name (work experience, transcripts, etc) could be easily matched up.
Post # 9

Member
6009 posts
Bee Keeper
@HotPinkFire: At my company, we have a space on both applications and reference questionnaires for former names and aliases. If you are not filling out a formal application, or if the application does not have a space for previous names, you can put something on your resume like what @Mrs.KMM: has. Otherwise, most (all?) companies should ask you before performing reference checks, and I would let them know at that time.
Post # 10

Member
375 posts
Helper bee
I put my maiden name and when I went to interview I informed them I was still in the process of changing my name.
Post # 11

Member
1501 posts
Bumble bee
My name is changed on mostly everything now and I’ve been applying for jobs with my married name.
The other day I was making a follow up call and after I left a message realized I referred to myself with my maiden name. Big oops!