How to List a Merged Company on a Resume

You should thoroughly research company mergers before submitting your resume.

Improperly listing a merged company on your resume can confuse the reader, and that's the last experience you want a hiring manager to have. Many prospective employers perform thorough background checks on your work history, scrutinizing the information you provide in your resume. If these application reviewers sense that you're embellishing your work experience, then you might fall out of consideration for a job opening. The responsibility is on you to correctly list the newly restructured company, but this task is much easier than it sounds.

Instructions

Preparation

1. Gather your latest paycheck stubs, separation notices, or other documentation that clearly states the merged company's current name. Also navigate to both the new company and the old merged company's websites (if available) to detail the name changes. Click on the "Press Release" or "About Us" sections to find merger-based information and print out this Web page, or keep it open on the computer screen.

2. Create a rough draft on a sheet of paper that shows how the companies merged together. A merger generally involves two companies that combine together to form a single entity. This single entity might combine parts of both companies' names to form a new, single name. Alternatively, one company may drop its name and assume the name of the other merging company, or both companies might continue to use their original names, but merge business operations. Write the following column headings across the top of your paper: "YOUR COMPANY" / "OTHER COMPANY" / "MERGED COMPANY."

3. List company name information under the respective column headings. Use the following fictitious business names and resulting mergers as examples. Champion Coffee Shop (your company) and Excellent Espresso Beverages (other company) merged, and the newly created name shared by both companies is "Chexcellent Beverages" (merged company). If Champion Coffee Shop assumed the name of Excellent Espresso Beverages, then the final name for both companies is Excellent Espresso Beverages. Or both companies can continue to use their original names.

Resume

1. Open your existing resume document on your computer. Alternatively, if you're creating a resume from scratch, temporarily create a section titled, "Work Experience," and concentrate of listing the merged company in this section.

2. List merged companies in the following format under the Work Experience section: "MERGED COMPANY (formerly YOUR COMPANY)." The coffee shop example translates to the following: "Chexcellent Beverages (formerly Champion Coffee Shop)." Only list the "other" merging company's name if it's the agreed-upon name: "Excellent Espresso Beverages (formerly Champion Coffee Shop)." If both companies are continuing to use their original names then you would list "Champion Coffee Shop" on your resume.

3. List the date of the merger, if that information is available, similar to the following example: "Chexcellent Beverages (formerly Champion Coffee Shop; merged in January 2011)."

4. List several positions that you worked between the merged companies, by breaking your responsibilities down by title, on separate lines, from most recent to earliest. For example:
   "Chexcellent Beverages (formerly Champion Coffee Shop; merged in January 2011).
   Master Barista Trainer, District, 1-2010 to 12-2010;
   Assistant Manager, 1-2009 to 12-2009;
   Associate Coffee Brewer and Server, 1-2008 to 12-2008."

Tips & Warnings

• Use the same verbiage on your list of personal references as well.

• The term "acquisition" is very similar in meaning to merger. However, when a company is acquired or taken over by another company, there is often a significant change in the financials (shares, assets, debt) between the two companies, as well as the name. Use the same preparation as listed above about mergers to help you decide how to list an acquisition.

• List a bankrupt or out-of-business employer, even if you cannot locate information confirming that the company restructured or was spun-off into another division. Avoid leaving employment gaps, if possible.

References

• ResumePower.com; Corporate Restructuring and Your Resume: How to Deal with Mergers, Acquisitions, Company Closings and Layoffs; Kim Isaacs
• Dummies.com: How to List Employers That Have Merged or Been Acquired
• Experience.com; Tips for Creating a Resume That Downplays Job Hopping; Dana Mattioli
• Purdue University; Online Writing Lab: Reference Sheets; April 2010
• New York University; Giddy: M&A Definitions and Motivations; Professor Ian Giddy; 2009

Resources

• CareerOneStop: Resume Guide -- Work Experience
• The Library of Congress: Directories -- Doing Company Research
• Hoovers: Business Directory
• Reuters: Mergers & Acquisitions