Job titles are a central point of focus for many professionals. They’re referenced to determine job status and career progress, but they also have other functions for both employers and employees. Check out the meaning behind a job title, below.

Companies

Within a Company

Job titles allow you as an employer to classify your staff as well as illustrate employee’s responsibilities within the company. Job titles also support the hierarchy structure which helps decipher who reports to who, i.e, if a company has an Account Associate, they report to the Account Manager, Account Supervisor, etc. Lastly, job titles allow you to plan out compensation and promotions as well.

Companies Looking to Hire

Consider how much experience you would like your new candidates to have when creating a job posting. Your job titles will have an impact on the job applicants you receive. Because of this, be conscious of salary expectations. If you are hiring for a Senior Accountant, be sure to do research on what that position generally offers in that area and try to align the job title with the industry-relevant salary. To determine this, you can ask employees who are in that same (or similar) position, “What terms would you use to search for a job like this?” so that you can be as relevant and accurate as possible.

Candidates

During Your Job Search

When conducting your job search as a candidate, research by the relevant industry and field in which you are interested, first. Then evaluate the job responsibilities that position lists. The title of the role may not fully reflect the job responsibilities, so be sure to take time to review the description and job specifications.

Choosing Your Title for Your Search

When listing your job title for your LinkedIn or job applications, be concise with your wording. Avoid using modernized terms that don’t clearly depict your experience. Your title should directly reflect the majority of your work. When companies are looking to hire – you want them to have the ability to briefly determine whether you would be a good fit for the role, as well as be considered for the proper positions.

Don’t Overthink It

Job titles play a large role in personal branding for any professional. How you are regarded by your current organization plays a large part in raises, promotions, and resume consideration. Having a strong job title may help you achieve the next step in your career. However, it’s important that you find satisfaction in your work, not your title. If you are job searching based on the title by what may sound the best and not what is aligned with your interests, you’re more likely to be dissatisfied with your position. So be conscious of this too when job seeking.

 

 

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