Using a Nickname Professionally? Forum

[Anonymous User]

This guy goes by "Fish" professionally and is somewhat niche famous among biglaw attorneys for it. "Sandy" is nothing.

[girlrunning]

(1) Go by whatever name you feel most comfortable with. That should literally be the only factor in this regard. I know many people at my firm that go by other names. It's seriously not a big deal.

(2) Don't have different names to different people. Choose whichever one you want, but have it be universal. You're in a spot now that it's easy to explain that you actually go by "Sandy" but for the application process you used your "given name." If you wait until after your summer to make a change, it'll get super confusing and awkward.

(3) I disagree that one of those names sounds more professional/grown-up than the other. Nobody will care either way; the quality of your work product is what will carry you. (If anything, using Sandy avoids you being called Mr. XYZ in an email.)

(4) Whichever you decide, make sure you let the recruiting coordinator know if that's not the name they're used to. Otherwise your email address, outlook tags, name plate on your door, etc. will all be messed up.

I'd echo numbers 2 and 4. I went through the recruiting process as [first name, last name], but once I had to fill out forms for SA and other things in preparation for it, I said "I go by [nickname]." It made sense for me b/c I was summering with classmates and frankly never ever go by [first name] and also kind of hate how generic it is.

However, I have a friend (and fellow summer) who had always gone by her nickname, but wanted to be known professionally as [first name]. As well as others who went from [shortened first name] to [full length first name]. It's not strange to do this, just make sure you are not confusing people (especially people who might review your performance, etc.) by using several names. If you're going to change it, make sure recruiting people know ahead of time, so that "Sandy" (or whatever you choose) is your name on all firm things.

[bwh8813]

I go by a nickname, but one that is plenty conventional that I'd never even think to ask about it. The only time it matters is with email addresses. If your firm has a standard email naming convention, which most do, make sure it's aligned with whatever name you go by. For example if you go by Sandy but your email is Alex.Lastname or ALastname it can cause problems.

[Bob Souffle]

Sandy, I think you're overthinking this.

-Bob Soufflé (also my firm nickname)