Former employer (or school) changes name - Change on Resume?

Submitted by stephenbooth_uk
in
Career Management

I was recently having a conversation with an old friend and he mentioned wondering if he should ammend his CV to reflect that the university he attended had changed name since he graduated (When he started it was called Birmingham Polytechnical College, then changed it's name to University of Central England and recenty rebranded itself as University College Birmingham).  It got me thinking about two of my former employers, one changed it's name during a merger (several companies came together under a new name) and the section I worked for of the other was acquired by another company.  Should I leave that job on my Resume/CV as it is or change it?

 

As I see it there are 4 options:

  1. Do nothing.  Leave the company name unchanged but be prepared in case I'm asked about why I'm listing a company that doesn't exist any more. e.g. "Sema Group Midrange Centre of Excellence North"
  2. Change to the new name but be prepared in case I'm asked why I'm saying I worked for a company that either didn't exist at the time or did exist but I didn't work for them as they were at that time. e.g. "Atos Origin"
  3. List the name as it was when I worked there but add "(now known as...)" or "(since acquired by ...)" as appropriate. e.g. "Sema Group Midrange Centre of Excellence North (since acquired by Atos Origin)"
  4. List the new name but add "(at the time known as...)"

My feeling is that number 3 is probably the best as it makes the situation clear and both is hoinest and gives the appearance of honesty.  4 doesn't really work for the section acquired by a different company (hence not giving an example).  1 and 2, I feel, smacks of dishonesty.

Does that sound reasonable or am I totally off base?

 

Stephen

 

Submitted by pabloxiii on Sunday November 7th, 2010 4:42 pm

I've worked for companies that have been through mergers and acquisitions during and after my tenure. I use the last name of the company during my tenure. For example I went to work for Company A which was bought by Company B then by Company C while I worked there. It has since been bought by Company D. I put "Company C and predecessors" on my resume. If anyone asks "why not D?" my answer would be, "I worked for Company C. I never worked for Company D."
To say I worked for Company D would not be true. To write "Company C, now know as Company D" seems to be a waste of space. I don't think we can always keep up with all the acquisitions that all our former employers have gone through before and after our tenure.
I hope that makes sense.