New job offer - name change

[crazy about cars]

A bit of tricky one so hopefully someone can offer some advice.

I'm always known by a first name that's not on my official documents. However I have a Deed Poll and plan to get my official documents updated soon by adding the name I'm known as to my first name.

HR should be contacting me in a few weeks (I start Jan 2015) to get my documents sorted. Should I apply with the current name on my official documents or the new one as in the Deed Poll?

My current company uses my official name but have the first name I've known as in the email, business cards etc. However the current company is a smaller company and the new one is a blue chip company. Perhaps I can ask the HR when the time comes but would appreciate any thoughts before that.

[Troubleatmill]

I would apply with what you wish to be known as.

For instance - There are plenty of Chinese/ Taiwanese who have adopted Western names.


Best regards
'Robert" John Smith

[crazy about cars]

Troubleatmill said:

I would apply with what you wish to be known as.

For instance - There are plenty of Chinese/ Taiwanese who have adopted Western names.


Best regards
'Robert" John Smith

Thanks for the quick reply Very good example in your signature. Everyone knows me as Rob although my official docs says John Smith.

What about payments? My current work pays to John Smith as that's is how my bank is setup. I would guess name doesn't matter as long as account number etc is correct?

[c8bof]

We had a candidate for a job who advised us once they were successful for the job that they wanted to be known by a different name - she had always used her maiden name professionally and had applied to us using that name. For a totally random reason, she decided she wanted to be known by her married name when it came to working for us.

She phoned and told us about it - no big deal for us, we knew what name to use where when checking references, qualifications etc and for setting up her payment details on payroll.

I'd say just give them a call and discuss

[liner33]

You dont need a deed poll to change your first name anyhow , I have always been known by my middle not first name , my birth certificate is correct but my passport, driving licence , national insurance card etc all use my given name

[Big Pants]

My experience is that most of the HR forms you fill in when you start contain a "known as" box.

You continue to be known by the name with which you introduce yourself. Business cards and so on don't normally get ordered until after you've started and mobile/email details are known.

Your biggest challenge may be the link up between HR & IT to secure the email address you'd prefer, but only a truly hardass employer wouldn't be prepared to play ball. And you don't want to work for one of them...

[crazy about cars]

liner33 said:

You dont need a deed poll to change your first name anyhow , I have always been known by my middle not first name , my birth certificate is correct but my passport, driving licence , national insurance card etc all use my given name

Ah I see, however my known as name is not in my birth certificate hence why the Deed Poll.
My birth cert will remain as it is but the plan is to use the passport to update rest of my documentation after it's been updated.

[crazy about cars]

Big Pants said:

My experience is that most of the HR forms you fill in when you start contain a "known as" box.

You continue to be known by the name with which you introduce yourself. Business cards and so on don't normally get ordered until after you've started and mobile/email details are known.

Your biggest challenge may be the link up between HR & IT to secure the email address you'd prefer, but only a truly hardass employer wouldn't be prepared to play ball. And you don't want to work for one of them...

I will be under IT department so hopefully that should be easier to setup

I haven't gone through a formal interview process - I was involved in a few projects with them and have been asked if I am interested in a role with them (they are technically our parent company). It was a very long process and took almost a year to get where I am now but I should be formally signing the contract January next year.

Haven't been contacted by HR yet so just wanted to know everyone's thoughts. Got my Deed Poll witnessed and signed, passport name change application filled now just need 2 Passport photos.

Thanks again all for the helpful replies!