Is is fine to use nickname at work instead of legal name?

[emjan]

Is it a must to use legal name (as seen in ID card) for work? Lets say my legal real name is Neram Smith or Neram Mikanae Smith, I prefer to be known Sharon Smith. Would it be fine if I use Sharon Smith in my emails, business cards...?

Thanks

[emjan]

Additional question: If it is ok to use nickname at work, how do you put it in resume? how do you tell your boss about the nickname?

[wafflyversatile]

''Although my name is Neram I've always been known by and called myself Sharon. Can you introduce me as Sharon and can I have my business cards and email set up as Sharon, please?'

I think on a Resume I would put N. M. Sharon Smith or Neram Mikanae Sharon Smith. My boss uses her middle name so always fills in forms with the middle name underlined.

[julesldn]

You can be called whatever you want! I don't see it as being different from a Francesca going as Fran or a Joshua going as Josh. Id just tell them on your first day to avoid confusion and for practical reasons like business card printing etc.

[Spartak]

Probably depends on the job to a certain extent. A police or military ID card is likely to have more stringent regulations than a Mcdonalds name badge.

[emjan]

Just to clarify, the name Sharon is not my legal name, not my first/middle/last name. It is just a name I use because it is easier to pronounce.

I am not shortening longer names like from a Francesca going as Fran or a Joshua going as Josh.

[nooka]

I used to work somewhere that had to do security checks on everyone, and where all ID used official names only, which made it a bit complicated for the people who didn't use their official name (a surprisingly large number). Many then used the form (eg) Ethedreda (Mary) Jones so you knew that they were known as Mary but had to acknowledge the Etheldreda, and others just ignored the Etheldreda entirely and went by Mary, and just explained it it came up. I don't think it's a bit deal, and in most workplaces HR will record your formal name for the files and then adopt the name you normally use.

[julesldn]

Emjan - yes, I got that. Just saying I don't see it as being different as it's your name, your choice. I'm sure if you let HR know they won't mind at all.

[Lilydreams]

Can't imagine it being an issue- I've been in my job 8 years and it has high security checks etc, when I got married 2 years ago I never bothered changing my surname on any of my work stuff- even my payslips are still maiden name but changed everything at home to married name and I've never had a problem.

[Nolim]

I have work colleagues who use a western name instead of their legal foreign name. The name in the directory is neman (sharon) smith or maybe sharon (neman) smith, i dont recall. It is pretty common

[crumpet]

I know people at work whose email address is eg Andy Smith, even though their full name is Andrew. I also know Chinese colleagues whose western name appears in their email address

[MamaLazarou]

Not a problem in the slightest: you just have to make sure HR know for when they do your ID checks, security checks, etc.

I work with a guy who goes by the name Tiger - not what he was Christened!

[ohidoliketobe]

I work somewhere with enhanced security (less glamorous than it sounds) and all documentation had to be filled in with name as on passport etc. but we did have option of selection a preffered name for email. ID cards had to be in official name though for security and travel purposes.

[Trills]

My email address and business cards have a shortened name (think Katie rather than Katherine).

A number of colleagues from other countries have their "Western" name, which is not their legal name (usually Chinese names or similar, although some others do use their original names).