What should my new job title be?
April 5, 2013 10:46 AM Subscribe
I've been given the opportunity to upgrade my title to anything I choose. Yay! I could use a little help, though. Anyone with experience working with web developers, your insight is wanted! Details of my job inside.
I'm the only web person at my small company. My current job title is just "Web Developer." I'd like to have a more impressive title. Other titles I've held have been "Junior Web Developer", "Senior Web Developer", "Director of Web Services" (these were at another company).
I am responsible for everything related to the internet - back end (programming and databases), front end (design and coding), social media, and also giveaway promotions.
Can you think of an appropriate title that I should suggest? I think Director of Web Services could work again, but is that misleading if I don't have anyone reporting to me? I am also not sure that it encapsulates everything that my job entails.
I'm the only web person at my small company. My current job title is just "Web Developer." I'd like to have a more impressive title. Other titles I've held have been "Junior Web Developer", "Senior Web Developer", "Director of Web Services" (these were at another company).
I am responsible for everything related to the internet - back end (programming and databases), front end (design and coding), social media, and also giveaway promotions.
Can you think of an appropriate title that I should suggest? I think Director of Web Services could work again, but is that misleading if I don't have anyone reporting to me? I am also not sure that it encapsulates everything that my job entails.
Director of Web Development
Web Development Manager
Web Manager
posted by Foci for Analysis at 11:06 AM on April 5, 2013
Web Development Manager
Web Manager
posted by Foci for Analysis at 11:06 AM on April 5, 2013
If your workplace has a sense of humor, how about 'Web Czar'?
posted by jackbishop at 11:10 AM on April 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jackbishop at 11:10 AM on April 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
My company has some director-level employees with no reports... at that level they typically do have reports, but it's not unheard of for them not to. It sounds like you have department-level responsibility, even if you are the entire department, and at least in my opinion that seems like it would justify a director-level title. Is your company expanding, and is there a chance you might end up with reports in the foreseeable future? That might inform your decision too.
I personally like "Director of Web Development." Does your company have a marketing department, or are you handling all of that too?
posted by Kosh at 11:15 AM on April 5, 2013
I personally like "Director of Web Development." Does your company have a marketing department, or are you handling all of that too?
posted by Kosh at 11:15 AM on April 5, 2013
Find some jobs you might want to have in two to three years and see what titles they're listed under?
posted by jsturgill at 11:51 AM on April 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by jsturgill at 11:51 AM on April 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'd do what jsturgill suggests. Also like Director of Web Development, and don't like Web Czar because that will look weird to future employers.
posted by sweetkid at 12:30 PM on April 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sweetkid at 12:30 PM on April 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Here's my cautionary tale for consideration.
I had a job in advertising at a small company. Since I was basically solely responsible for the creative work (there were only three employees and the owner), my title was "Creative Director". It was very apt, because I really did direct all the creative work. And we had one client that was a huge national chain, so I did TV, radio, print, a bit of web, event marketing, just about everything you could imagine. It was a title I deserved, from a certain perspective.
When we were hit by the economic downturn the company virtually went under, and I started shopping my résumé around. Not a single ad agency would talk to me. If they had a junior position available, my title made me overqualified. If they had a senior position available, I didn't have the typical, large-scale supervisory experience that others with the same title at larger firms had. If there was a position in between, they figured I'd only be with them for a short term while I kept looking for a more senior position.
For almost three years this went on, and meanwhile my résumé started filling up with holdover jobs to keep the bills paid but did nothing to advance my chances to return to my area of expertise. I contacted a friend/mentor in the industry for advice, and he told me to drop my title down to the less impressive and somewhat incorrect Senior Copywriter. Within a month I had two job offers and now I'm back where I belong*.
Yes, a fancy title is impressive, but it can have a negative side. Whatever you pick, make sure it communicates both the extent and the limitations of your job role (or at least be prepared to modify it to read that way if you leave).
*Ironically, I took a job as a "Consultant" at a small firm and got promoted to "Vice President" in a month. But should I find myself looking for work again, my résumé will read the lesser title, believe me.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 1:19 PM on April 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
I had a job in advertising at a small company. Since I was basically solely responsible for the creative work (there were only three employees and the owner), my title was "Creative Director". It was very apt, because I really did direct all the creative work. And we had one client that was a huge national chain, so I did TV, radio, print, a bit of web, event marketing, just about everything you could imagine. It was a title I deserved, from a certain perspective.
When we were hit by the economic downturn the company virtually went under, and I started shopping my résumé around. Not a single ad agency would talk to me. If they had a junior position available, my title made me overqualified. If they had a senior position available, I didn't have the typical, large-scale supervisory experience that others with the same title at larger firms had. If there was a position in between, they figured I'd only be with them for a short term while I kept looking for a more senior position.
For almost three years this went on, and meanwhile my résumé started filling up with holdover jobs to keep the bills paid but did nothing to advance my chances to return to my area of expertise. I contacted a friend/mentor in the industry for advice, and he told me to drop my title down to the less impressive and somewhat incorrect Senior Copywriter. Within a month I had two job offers and now I'm back where I belong*.
Yes, a fancy title is impressive, but it can have a negative side. Whatever you pick, make sure it communicates both the extent and the limitations of your job role (or at least be prepared to modify it to read that way if you leave).
*Ironically, I took a job as a "Consultant" at a small firm and got promoted to "Vice President" in a month. But should I find myself looking for work again, my résumé will read the lesser title, believe me.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 1:19 PM on April 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
The Architect
posted by ShutterBun at 12:57 AM on April 6, 2013
posted by ShutterBun at 12:57 AM on April 6, 2013
« Older Politely parenting my kid's playdates? | Zillions Magazine equivalents for Kids These Days? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Oktober at 10:59 AM on April 5, 2013 [1 favorite]