Different Positions at One Company? Here’s How to List Them on Your Resume

Multiple positions at one company can indicate a promotion, and they also demonstrate loyalty—you stayed with the same employer rather than look outward. Those are good things, but when it comes to explaining the situation on your resume, you may find it challenging. 

Since you have limited space to work with, trying to decide what to include is no easy task. Should you list all your positions at that company? Should you only include the most recent one? Should you separate them into different job descriptions or keep them under one umbrella? 

Your best bet is to hire a professional resume writer to help you with your specific situation. They know what employers want, and their years of experience have taught them how best to handle each case. However, if you want to take a stab at it yourself, let’s take a look at some general principles applying in this scenario.

Method 1: Separate them

This method works if the positions are strong enough to stand by themselves, which will be the case if you can cite multiple accomplishments in each position. For this to work, the jobs should be relatively high level—this doesn’t work if you started at an entry-level position. Most of the time, separating positions means that they were supervisory in nature. However, there’s a risk with having separate entries for each job: If you changed positions within the same company more than two times, it may appear as though you didn’t like the one you had and kept moving to new ones.

This method really helps emphasize your qualifications and achievements in different positions, so it’s a great option if you have a lot to show for each of them. Don’t hesitate to split them up if you’re confident that your accomplishments can further prove the qualifications you’ve listed in your skills sections. 

Let’s look at how to format a resume utilizing this method. It can be a little tricky to list different positions with the same company. You always want to put the most recent one first, even if you feel like your accomplishments from an earlier position are more impressive. With that being said, the formatting should look something like this:

Company Name: City, State – Date Range

Position 2

Job Description:

• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2
• Achievement 3

Same Company Name: City, State – Date Range

Position 1

Job Description:

• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2
• Achievement 3

The bottom line here is that you’re simply listing the positions as two separate jobs, each with different accomplishments. If you begin listing your achievements and find they’re very similar, you may want to consider grouping them together. In this case, separating them is just a waste of space since it doesn’t allow you to add value with distinct accomplishments.

Another instance in which you should separate your positions at the same company is if you left to work elsewhere before returning to the original employer. Since there’s a gap in the employment period, it’s best to keep the positions separate. Chronological order is important in resumes—not only does it make it easy for the hiring manager to study your work history, but it also reveals important details about you, including any gaps in your employment. Your resume would look something like this: 

Company A Name: City, State – Date Range

Position 2 at Company A

Job Description:

• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2
• Achievement 3

Company B Name: City, State – Date Range

Position at Company B

Job Description:

• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2
• Achievement 3

Company A Name: City, State – Date Range

Position 1 at Company A

Job Description:

• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2
• Achievement 3

Here, it’s nothing more than detailing your work history in chronological order. So, if your positions can stand alone or you went back to a previous employer, it’s best to keep your positions at the same company separate. 

Method 2: Group them

Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish with your resume, grouping multiple positions at the same company may be an ideal solution as it allows hiring managers to easily track your movement within the company, the additional responsibilities you took on, and your achievements. It shows you were valuable enough for your employer to entrust you with additional tasks. This style also demonstrates your loyalty to the company by highlighting your longevity and promotions.

There are some formatting rules you’ll want to keep in mind when grouping your positions together. First, always start with the most recent one. This is the standard when you’re presenting your work history, whatever the style. Second, specify the date range next to each position. Finally, list any achievements in that position. It might look something like this:  

Company Name, City, State – Complete Date Range of Employment

Most Recent Position -  Date Range

Job Description

• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2

Previous Position – Date Range

Job Description

• Achievement 1
• Achievement 2

Review

There are different reasons for choosing one of these methods, and things can get a little confusing since both approaches have their pros and cons. You can look at it in one of two ways: completely different jobs with their own key achievements or different positions that served as stepping stones to a higher level of authority. Ultimately, you should determine what works best for your resume and go with it. 

Your resume is simply a tool to help you land a job, and since people’s circumstances are different, the right approach will also differ. You want your key achievements to be highlighted in a way that clearly demonstrates your value to the company, so whether that means separating the positions or grouping them together, do what best serves your specific needs.

Also, don’t forget that your resume is a living document. You may find that grouping your positions together is more appropriate when applying for one job but that separating them is a better bet when applying for another. Find the way that works best in a given situation and go with it. This quick reference may help you:

Separate

• Promotions that come with their own key achievements
• A hiatus from the company
• Specific dates that demonstrate the amount of time at the company

Group

• Promotions that reflect continual growth
• Key achievements that led to more responsibility
• Job descriptions that reflect your qualifications

Still unsure how to handle listing multiple positions within the same company? Consult our resume experts and let them help you decide what’s best for you!