I need a title
January 21, 2006 3:24 AM Subscribe
I need to come up with a title for my current job to put on my resume
I work for a small company where there aren't any titles. I am going to be moving soon, so I need to get my resume together and therefore need a title. I can't think of anything decent because I do so many things.
Here's a basic list of what I do:
develop custom web applications for internal use
maintain the company's computer infrastructure (computers, servers, printers, network, etc.) at 2 separate locations
technical support for everything
make decisions about technology purchases
setup and administer 3 linux servers (mail server, web server, file server)
maintain a few websites (that I designed)
manage one other person
various other techy things
I am on the young side so I don't want to sound too over the top like CTO, which is what they (jokingly) call me at work.
P.S. If someone in the Boston area needs someone like this, let me know, as I'll be moving there soon.
I work for a small company where there aren't any titles. I am going to be moving soon, so I need to get my resume together and therefore need a title. I can't think of anything decent because I do so many things.
Here's a basic list of what I do:
develop custom web applications for internal use
maintain the company's computer infrastructure (computers, servers, printers, network, etc.) at 2 separate locations
technical support for everything
make decisions about technology purchases
setup and administer 3 linux servers (mail server, web server, file server)
maintain a few websites (that I designed)
manage one other person
various other techy things
I am on the young side so I don't want to sound too over the top like CTO, which is what they (jokingly) call me at work.
P.S. If someone in the Boston area needs someone like this, let me know, as I'll be moving there soon.
Pwner of the Internets
Mr. Fix I.T.
Custom WebDev IT Specialist
posted by vanoakenfold at 4:15 AM on January 21, 2006
Mr. Fix I.T.
Custom WebDev IT Specialist
posted by vanoakenfold at 4:15 AM on January 21, 2006
If you don't want to sound too over the top with CTO, why not go with Junior-TO or Senior-TO or something to that effect?
posted by signal at 4:26 AM on January 21, 2006
posted by signal at 4:26 AM on January 21, 2006
Information Technology Manager
posted by elisabeth r at 5:15 AM on January 21, 2006
posted by elisabeth r at 5:15 AM on January 21, 2006
I performed the same tasks at a former job, and my official titles (yes, two) were Webmaster and Information Technology Manager.
posted by Danelope at 7:07 AM on January 21, 2006
posted by Danelope at 7:07 AM on January 21, 2006
P.S. If someone in the Boston area needs someone like this, let me know, as I'll be moving there soon.
Drop me a line; email is in my profile...
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 7:10 AM on January 21, 2006
Drop me a line; email is in my profile...
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 7:10 AM on January 21, 2006
I like IT Manager too. It's generic enough that you won't have to explain the meaning of the title to an interviewer who may not know the intricacies of your type of work.
You may want to talk to your boss about whatever title you do pick. While there are no titles in your office, you don't want them to get a surprise when someone calls them for a reference asking if you were the "insert title here".
They may call you the CTO jokingly, but when they get the call for that reference, they may think that your role was really a "insert lower title here" in spite of the fact that you did all of the things that the title you chose would do. This would be especially true if you were hired on to do only a few of those things to start and more responsibilities got added to your job without a change in (non-existent) title or pay. This happens to a lot of workers, especially young ones, who want to prove themselves.
You may also want to talk to your boss about what capabiilties/responsibilities you want him or her to highlight when they get that reference call. You don't want him/her to rave about your ability to do X on your list when you hate doing X and you really want to do Y as a main focus in your job.
Of course, I'm assuming the worst and I don't know your entire situation. Best of luck in finding the right title, your move and job search!
posted by melissa at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2006
You may want to talk to your boss about whatever title you do pick. While there are no titles in your office, you don't want them to get a surprise when someone calls them for a reference asking if you were the "insert title here".
They may call you the CTO jokingly, but when they get the call for that reference, they may think that your role was really a "insert lower title here" in spite of the fact that you did all of the things that the title you chose would do. This would be especially true if you were hired on to do only a few of those things to start and more responsibilities got added to your job without a change in (non-existent) title or pay. This happens to a lot of workers, especially young ones, who want to prove themselves.
You may also want to talk to your boss about what capabiilties/responsibilities you want him or her to highlight when they get that reference call. You don't want him/her to rave about your ability to do X on your list when you hate doing X and you really want to do Y as a main focus in your job.
Of course, I'm assuming the worst and I don't know your entire situation. Best of luck in finding the right title, your move and job search!
posted by melissa at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2006
"IT Manager" is a pretty common term for "The Computer Guy" in a small company. Also "IT Specialist." Other titles I've had when I was in my 20s were "Senior Computing Specialist," and "IT Analyst."
posted by jimfl at 8:20 AM on January 21, 2006
posted by jimfl at 8:20 AM on January 21, 2006
Technology Wrangler, Information Technology Specialist, IT Guru, IT Director, Ubergeek, BOFH.
I recommend IT Director, which is more puffed up than Manager, not as much as CTO, and explain in your cover letter that the company is small, and you have been successfully meeting all of their IT needs. I'd probably use the term technology wrangler, or something similar, in the cover letter. I'd hate to have an employer without some sense of fun.
DRAFT
IT Director, Widgets-R-Us 1/2000 - present
- Develop/maintain custom web applications for internal use
- Maintain the company's computer infrastructure (n pcs, n Windows 2003 servers, n printers, MS Windows network, etc.) at 2 locations n miles apart
- support for everything technical
- research, recommendations, decisions for all technology purchases
- setup and administer 3 linux servers (mail server, web server, file server)
- design and maintain n websites, www.sometopic.com, www.picturesofmydog.com. Don't mention them unless you're willing to have your potential employer see them. I wouldn't add a personal blog unless you're certain you'd never discuss your employer, job, boss, cow-orkers, etc.
- supervise one employee
- all other technical activities, large and small, at Widgets-R-Us
posted by theora55 at 8:22 AM on January 21, 2006
I recommend IT Director, which is more puffed up than Manager, not as much as CTO, and explain in your cover letter that the company is small, and you have been successfully meeting all of their IT needs. I'd probably use the term technology wrangler, or something similar, in the cover letter. I'd hate to have an employer without some sense of fun.
DRAFT
IT Director, Widgets-R-Us 1/2000 - present
- Develop/maintain custom web applications for internal use
- Maintain the company's computer infrastructure (n pcs, n Windows 2003 servers, n printers, MS Windows network, etc.) at 2 locations n miles apart
- support for everything technical
- research, recommendations, decisions for all technology purchases
- setup and administer 3 linux servers (mail server, web server, file server)
- design and maintain n websites, www.sometopic.com, www.picturesofmydog.com. Don't mention them unless you're willing to have your potential employer see them. I wouldn't add a personal blog unless you're certain you'd never discuss your employer, job, boss, cow-orkers, etc.
- supervise one employee
- all other technical activities, large and small, at Widgets-R-Us
posted by theora55 at 8:22 AM on January 21, 2006
In my law firm, where I'm the top IT dog over one full-time and one part time person, keeping the network and workstations running for 85 users, I chose the title "Systems Administrator," which seems to work fine among others in my local peer group. I thing the final "s" in "systems" is important, since I'm really in charge of all of the firm's computer systems.
posted by lhauser at 9:00 AM on January 21, 2006
posted by lhauser at 9:00 AM on January 21, 2006
I would try and base your title on what you're trying to get a job doing. If you want to focus on the Network stuff, then network administrator is the way to go. Server stuff, then server administrator. Jack of all trades, then IT manager, Web development, then Web Developer. Then list your job responsibilities that only apply to that job. If they want a web designer, they're not going to care about your ability to troubleshoot someone's printer.
FWIW, I started a new job with similar responisibilities, and my title is Technology and New Media Specialist. Its kind of retardedly vague, but they WANTED to call me the "admin assistant" because I was being hired to help the Network Administrator, and I slapped that shit down faster than you could say "lacky". I agree with the above poster that said to make sure your company isn't going to call you something else if a potential employer calls.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 9:06 AM on January 21, 2006
FWIW, I started a new job with similar responisibilities, and my title is Technology and New Media Specialist. Its kind of retardedly vague, but they WANTED to call me the "admin assistant" because I was being hired to help the Network Administrator, and I slapped that shit down faster than you could say "lacky". I agree with the above poster that said to make sure your company isn't going to call you something else if a potential employer calls.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 9:06 AM on January 21, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by armoured-ant at 3:33 AM on January 21, 2006