Job titles matter greatly, say many analysts. According to a recent survey of 1,500 office workers, 70 percent of workers are attracted by a decent job title and don't care as much about the pay. Clerks like to be called specialists, or sometimes call themselves office logistics coordinators. Are there any real advantages for having a prestigious sounding job title, or is it just a gimmick to satisfy vanity?
Recruiting or hiring heads must really understand how much importance is given to job titles by job seekers, especially when they browse for jobs. Tittles have the same attraction as that of the salary component. Economic slowdown may sometimes push job seekers a bit more towards the salary component, but that doesn't mean job titles don't have any importance. Recruitment heads should give importance to both job titles and the responsibilities of the job. On the whole, job seekers give importance to positions in view of their career growth.
Some HR professionals do not give much credence to job titles because they don't clearly define job responsibilities. The prefix ‘senior' attached to some titles make no sense, as it doesn't necessarily reflect ability, but it may hint at the age of the employee. For many, ‘office manger' sounds better than ‘senior office assistant'.
HR managers would be wise to come up with inspiring job titles that can boost an employee's confidence, while also hinting at the company's faith in the employee's potential to grow. Some say that jobs should be correctly titled and should be motivational. They should reflect pride and confidence. Employees aspire for titles that brighten their career path.
On the other hand, recruitment professionals must help employees learn to accept the job title that they are not satisfied with, and then make efforts to get it changed during their performance reviews. Recruiters should advise job seekers to search for such a job title that suits the current job responsibilities and also sounds prestigious enough to allow them to gain a job they like in the near future. Job seekers should opt for appropriate job titles acknowledging their contribution to the company.
Importance of the Title
Many companies haven't changed job titles for decades, but the job responsibilities have under gone a sea-change. In the changed scenario, job titles should reflect how multi-skilled the employees are, and they should get recognition as such. Fancy job titles can help employees plan their career path. In other words, job titles should be realistic and focus on the employees' strengths rather than their weaknesses. If you are in recruiting, you can even study your job title as a recruitment manager and see whether there should be a drastic change in your own title based on what you do.
