How do I put this on my resume?

November 13, 2006 8:38 AM

I've been with my present employer for nearly four years. Of those four years, the first three were spent as a Web Development Intern and the last was spent as the Lead Web Developer. What goes on my resume?

If it was the other way around (three years as Lead, one year as Intern), I wouldn't be too worried about it. And quite honestly, they milked me for those three years spent as an intern. I was most often functioning well beyond the role of an intern, completing projects worthy of a greater title (and pay rate).

On my resume, I'm inclined to lump the four years together and simply list 'Web Developer'. Though, it may be awkward having to clarify when "so tell me about your last job" comes up in an interview. I guess I'm not sure how to go about putting my situation in the best light without being sheisty. Do I list them as two separate jobs, or do I combine them somehow? Any advice?

posted by csimpkins to Work & Money (8 answers total)

The advice I was given in a similar situation was to list both along with their respective years provided that they do indeed have different titles (Web Development Intern and Lead Web Developer). I followed this advice and it seemed to be well understood by all who read my resume.
posted by horseblind at 8:41 AM on November 13, 2006

List both. It shows the company had the confidence to promote you, which is good. I have my past jobs as Production Associate and Web Producer listed this way.

Or what horseblind said.
posted by MsMolly at 8:59 AM on November 13, 2006

List both. However, use a combination (hybrid) resume format. That way, you can shift the focus to your skills and experience up-front and push your job titles to the second page.
posted by acoutu at 9:15 AM on November 13, 2006

Ditto horseblind. That's what I've done on my resume when I've held multiple positions within several companies. Give each position a date range under the general heading of XYZ company.
posted by limeonaire at 9:27 AM on November 13, 2006

Definitely list both: I did and it worked for me. If a prospective employer sees that your 3 years' work was so good (and believe me, there are bad interns you can't wait to get rid of) that you were promoted, well, it speaks well of you.

Just remember to include the relevant dates, and list the jobs in descending order, i.e:

2005 - 2006 Lead Web Developer
Stuff and Things, Inc.

2002 - 2005 Web Development Intern
Stuff and Things, Inc.

Good luck with any upcoming job searches!
posted by unmusic at 11:14 AM on November 13, 2006

Or you could do:

Stuff and Things, Inc.
2005-2006 Lead Web Developer
(duties explained here)

2002-2005 Web Development Intern
(duties explained here)
posted by croutonsupafreak at 4:41 PM on November 13, 2006

croutonsupafreak has it—that second one is what I did.
posted by limeonaire at 1:50 PM on November 14, 2006

List both and explain in your letter of application that at some point your intern responsibilities heavily crossed over into web developer territory. There's no law that says you can't plainly explain the truth in your letter.
posted by mecran01 at 6:54 AM on November 16, 2006