Getting a Nice New Title Instead of a Raise

How Does “Your Serene Highness” Sound?

Many articles have appeared recently about making your employees feel valued and retaining the good ones who might be tempted move on when the recession ends. Sarah E. Needleman’s Wall Street Journal article, “Business Owners Try to Motivate Employees” takes a look at these issues. One of the business owners interviewed recognized that after layoffs, increased workloads, no raises, etc. her employees “are stressed out and in need of extra attention.”Nice of her to notice; many bosses don’t get it. Another boss gave her employees shiny new titles.

Often companies will dole out titles in lieu of raises. But why would that appease us? From a psych perspective, my thought is that we are hot-wired to give too much weight and status to a job title. We are also programmed to look at co-workers in a hierarchical system. The VP is always more important than the admin. assistant. (My personal opinion is that an excellent admin. is worth about six VPs.)

When I worked in advertising for a paint company, my title was “Advertising Assistant.” At review time, my boss told me that I’d get a minuscule raise. I told him I understood, but that I wanted a new title, “Assistant Advertising Director" (it was a two-person dept, - he was the director). Being a copywriter, I knew the value of getting the word “director” on a future resume.

Admittedly, the title thing can get ridiculous. Who hasn’t worked for those imperious types who, if they could get away with it, would have you call them “Your Majesty?” And if you get too liberal with the borderline-fictitious job titles, the employees see through it and that currency ceases to have value. Or the titles get really weird. In my husband’s company, there is a SME designation or “Subject Matter Expert.” Naturally, everyone calls them “smees,” which for me conjures up that creepy Schmegel (Gollum) character from “Lord of the Rings.”

What are some of the goofiest titles you’ve heard?

This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.

Comments

[stacey]

In my previous job, my title was "Field Director" though after a certain period of excellent performance, you were re-titled as "Membership Development Specialist." No one wanted the new title, knowing that "director" looks much better on a resume, so I quit while I was ahead. That'll teach 'em.

[Amy]

When I was in manufacturing, I worked hard and my boss liked me, so he gave me the title of Corporate Quality Assurance Certifications Specialist. I still got laid off when they merged with another company. These days I work in a one girl office. I'm ICOE. In Charge of Everything. That means I have to polish my own tiara.

[Dana]

ICOE - In Charge of Everything

Love it! Mind if I borrow that? No tiara's around here but I wield a mean mop.

[Brendan]

I'm glad you are talking about this topic Nancy. The problem isn't as black and white as it seems:

A. Any company big or small can hand out any titles they want just to appease employees. This is done to some degree we all (should by now) know that.
B. Job titles have a value and people aspire for betters ones. They have value both internally in the company and outside.

How can A and B coexist? It's a fine line but they do. HR and recruiters heavily weight job titles often to save time and they don't really know the opening or candidate well enough to make any other judgement as to fit. Job titles *should* describe the your role and/or function in the company. It should sum up just about everything you do in a couple words. It occasionally works that way, but often there is confusion when titles are misused, overused and abused. I think a job title combined with the reputation of the company or brand has is VERY important. For example Director of Business Development at Google is not the same as it is at a 3 person company.

Nancy, I think you proved the point that the tension exists when both you and poster Stacey commented on how they actively did something to improve their title even though it had little effect to their job at hand. I believe when it comes to job titles the reason people value them is they know the impact it has on your resume and for the rest of your career. While job titles certainly aren't everything (how about a raise or bonus first), carefully managing them will help you focus your career and hopefully get to where you want to go.

For a very inclusive list of job titles checkout http://jobtitled.com . It's a site where we actually combine analytics to career management. I think you would enjoy it if you have never tried it before.

PS - whew... sorry for the long reply. Oh and I used to work at a company that had SME's too. That IS a valid job title!

http://jobtitled.com
Twitter: @jobtitled