Name change and the job search

blabla89

I haven't been formally job searching lately but an opportunity came up, so I'm getting ready to send out resumes, emails, etc. I plan to take DH's last name and drop mine but I just got back from the HM and haven't done any of the paperwork yet. Lord only knows when I'll get around to it, between crazy work schedules, moving, and a bunch of other stuff. As of right now all my email addresses and social media accounts still have my maiden name, as does my resume, and the person who connected me to this opportunity introduced me by that name.

In the meantime, should I list myself as Blabla Maidenname DHname on my resume and email? Or just change the resume over to my new name and let my contacts know that I'm in the process of formally changing it? Since I wasn't actively looking for a new job, I hadn't really thought about how to navigate this and planned on dealing with the name change stuff later. Any advice for me?

novella1186

I would keep everything in your maiden name for now. Until it's all legally changed -- like SS card and driver's license-- which could take a while depending on when you get around to starting the process, just keep it simple by using the name that all your legal documents are in. 

labro

So theoretically, if they were to hire you tomorrow, your maiden name would still be your legal name. I'd stick with your full legal name for now - especially if they complete any background checks or whatever.

The name change process was fairly quick for me though. Just make sure you visit the SS office first (I went to the Gainesville location on a weekday morning and only had a 35 minute wait). They'll give you a letter that you can take right away to the DMV to have your driver's license changed over. Banks took a bit longer, but DL and SS card were the big ones and happened to be the fastest and the easiest for me.

Good luck with the opportunity!

thisismynickname2

I'd keep it all maiden name on the resume. If you get to the point in the interview process that they need to do a background check, tell them that you're in the process of changing your name. If you get hired and have to do the tax documents, maybe by then you'll have the name changed. 

Point being, don't worry about the name change with the company unless they're about to hire you. 

theartistformerlyknownas

blabla89 said:

I haven't been formally job searching lately but an opportunity came up, so I'm getting ready to send out resumes, emails, etc. I plan to take DH's last name and drop mine but I just got back from the HM and haven't done any of the paperwork yet. Lord only knows when I'll get around to it, between crazy work schedules, moving, and a bunch of other stuff. As of right now all my email addresses and social media accounts still have my maiden name, as does my resume, and the person who connected me to this opportunity introduced me by that name.

In the meantime, should I list myself as Blabla Maidenname DHname on my resume and email? Or just change the resume over to my new name and let my contacts know that I'm in the process of formally changing it? Since I wasn't actively looking for a new job, I hadn't really thought about how to navigate this and planned on dealing with the name change stuff later. Any advice for me?

Whatever you do, DO NOT do this. I made the mistake of signing ONE email that way after I HAD legally changed my name but all the recruiting communications up to that point had been with Lolo Maiden - I didn't want her to be confused about who this new Lolo Newname person was. Now my employer forevermore has me with a hyphenated name, which is NOT correct. Even my EMAIL ADDRESS which is now the longest address in history and I'm having a hell of a time trying to get them to change it.

Just make a clean break whenever it's legal. 

huskypuppy14

lolo883 said:

blabla89 said:

I haven't been formally job searching lately but an opportunity came up, so I'm getting ready to send out resumes, emails, etc. I plan to take DH's last name and drop mine but I just got back from the HM and haven't done any of the paperwork yet. Lord only knows when I'll get around to it, between crazy work schedules, moving, and a bunch of other stuff. As of right now all my email addresses and social media accounts still have my maiden name, as does my resume, and the person who connected me to this opportunity introduced me by that name.

In the meantime, should I list myself as Blabla Maidenname DHname on my resume and email? Or just change the resume over to my new name and let my contacts know that I'm in the process of formally changing it? Since I wasn't actively looking for a new job, I hadn't really thought about how to navigate this and planned on dealing with the name change stuff later. Any advice for me?

Whatever you do, DO NOT do this. I made the mistake of signing ONE email that way after I HAD legally changed my name but all the recruiting communications up to that point had been with Lolo Maiden - I didn't want her to be confused about who this new Lolo Newname person was. Now my employer forevermore has me with a hyphenated name, which is NOT correct. Even my EMAIL ADDRESS which is now the longest address in history and I'm having a hell of a time trying to get them to change it.

Just make a clean break whenever it's legal. 

That's surprising. I know a bunch of people who are published under their maiden name but are now married use both last names on their resume, because that's the only way to show that previous publications are yours. 

I also know a few people who use their maiden name professionally, so they are known as Sally Maiden at work, but their legal name is their married name. I think in that instance, they just have their maiden name on their resume. 

JennyColada

Whatever your legal name is, use that.

However, when I was job searching pre-name change, I got a job offer post-name change but before I got my ID in. I ended up getting my ID right before signing the paperwork, so it was kind of an issue because I was filling out paperwork under the name of an employee that's not technically hired. So HR bounced it back saying it's not valid. Ugh. I ended up filling out paperwork in my maiden name and then immediately doing a name change form. So my business cards had my married name but my email was maiden.

theartistformerlyknownas

huskypuppy14 said:

lolo883 said:

blabla89 said:

I haven't been formally job searching lately but an opportunity came up, so I'm getting ready to send out resumes, emails, etc. I plan to take DH's last name and drop mine but I just got back from the HM and haven't done any of the paperwork yet. Lord only knows when I'll get around to it, between crazy work schedules, moving, and a bunch of other stuff. As of right now all my email addresses and social media accounts still have my maiden name, as does my resume, and the person who connected me to this opportunity introduced me by that name.

In the meantime, should I list myself as Blabla Maidenname DHname on my resume and email? Or just change the resume over to my new name and let my contacts know that I'm in the process of formally changing it? Since I wasn't actively looking for a new job, I hadn't really thought about how to navigate this and planned on dealing with the name change stuff later. Any advice for me?

Whatever you do, DO NOT do this. I made the mistake of signing ONE email that way after I HAD legally changed my name but all the recruiting communications up to that point had been with Lolo Maiden - I didn't want her to be confused about who this new Lolo Newname person was. Now my employer forevermore has me with a hyphenated name, which is NOT correct. Even my EMAIL ADDRESS which is now the longest address in history and I'm having a hell of a time trying to get them to change it.

Just make a clean break whenever it's legal. 

That's surprising. I know a bunch of people who are published under their maiden name but are now married use both last names on their resume, because that's the only way to show that previous publications are yours. 

I also know a few people who use their maiden name professionally, so they are known as Sally Maiden at work, but their legal name is their married name. I think in that instance, they just have their maiden name on their resume. 

I wouldn't have cared if they'd kept me as just maiden name, but I don't exist as a hyphenate. And it's SO LONG. My email address has 19 characters BEFORE the @ sign.

Security badge, nameplate on my desk, everything is wrong. 

huskypuppy14

lolo883 said:

huskypuppy14 said:

lolo883 said:

blabla89 said:

I haven't been formally job searching lately but an opportunity came up, so I'm getting ready to send out resumes, emails, etc. I plan to take DH's last name and drop mine but I just got back from the HM and haven't done any of the paperwork yet. Lord only knows when I'll get around to it, between crazy work schedules, moving, and a bunch of other stuff. As of right now all my email addresses and social media accounts still have my maiden name, as does my resume, and the person who connected me to this opportunity introduced me by that name.

In the meantime, should I list myself as Blabla Maidenname DHname on my resume and email? Or just change the resume over to my new name and let my contacts know that I'm in the process of formally changing it? Since I wasn't actively looking for a new job, I hadn't really thought about how to navigate this and planned on dealing with the name change stuff later. Any advice for me?

Whatever you do, DO NOT do this. I made the mistake of signing ONE email that way after I HAD legally changed my name but all the recruiting communications up to that point had been with Lolo Maiden - I didn't want her to be confused about who this new Lolo Newname person was. Now my employer forevermore has me with a hyphenated name, which is NOT correct. Even my EMAIL ADDRESS which is now the longest address in history and I'm having a hell of a time trying to get them to change it.

Just make a clean break whenever it's legal. 

That's surprising. I know a bunch of people who are published under their maiden name but are now married use both last names on their resume, because that's the only way to show that previous publications are yours. 

I also know a few people who use their maiden name professionally, so they are known as Sally Maiden at work, but their legal name is their married name. I think in that instance, they just have their maiden name on their resume. 

I wouldn't have cared if they'd kept me as just maiden name, but I don't exist as a hyphenate. And it's SO LONG. My email address has 19 characters BEFORE the @ sign.

Security badge, nameplate on my desk, everything is wrong. 

Big fat fail on your company.