Using a pen name in your job search

Can Ivan Ivanov become Pyotr Petrovich?

He can.

The company hiring you will not pay it any mind.

They are entirely relaxed about it and they understand.

You can go the whole way under a pen name, right up to filling in the paperwork for your future salary.

Sometimes they will ask you to send your Green Card, sometimes your work authorisation. You can send all of it and say: "I job hunt under a pen name, my real details are different."

Some companies do not ask for your documents at all — no Green Card, no original social security card.

They will need those once you are actually in the office.

You can take a relative's surname, or use a different first name on your resume or your profile.

There is not much point to it.

If you do adopt a pen name, stick with it for a while — nobody is going to stop you.

Do what you think is right.

If you believe it will help you feel calmer, or spare you unwanted attention, then go ahead.

But at PASV we think your name should stay constant, and that pen names are an unnecessary game that will eat your time.

Publish your real name and apply as a professional. Use your own brand, because your name is the best brand you have. It is what advertises you as a specialist.

Build up your name and talk to companies and recruiters with a clear head.

Different pen names can get you more attention. You could create ten LinkedIn profiles, tune each one to a particular set of skills and then see which draws the most responses.

You can use different phone numbers, or create them in Google, which has a feature for exactly that. It will help you attract more attention.

But if that is what you want, go for it — and get on with the search.

Programming Academy in Silicon Valley will help you along the way.