WHAT’S IN A NAME?

What is your job title? Does it define you? Would your position be as valuable or more valuable with a different title?

In this economic climate, asking for a raise could be touchy. Companies are thinking about survival and are very budget conscious. Asking for a new title without the raise, might have a positive impact on your career and your working morale.

This is not the time to be humble and say, “Ohh, it’s just a title. The work is more important.” True on one level, but titles do matter. Look at your résumé. Which looks better to you: supervisor, manager or assistant vice president? Think about where you want to go with your career. Are you positioned for that next step? Or would a title change be a better position for you?

Some hiring managers don’t want to hire someone who hasn’t held that title before. This can particularly true for the upper levels or technical levels. Some companies will promote you to vice president. But, sadly, most want someone “seasoned” with the title (no matter the length of ownership) and so will do a recruitment.

A Rose by Any Other Name

Be sure to ask for a title that reflects what you do. Make sure you are one of the over-performing employees. Over-perform enough to justify the title change. Do that little bit more to catch your supervisor’s eye. Earn the title change.

When you go job hunting, this is not the time the practice revisionist history. Put down the title that your references will link to you. You may think that you were the “X” in all but title. You want the X job, so you just fudge the title. That is lying. When you submit your application or references to the employer, you are certifying that you are presenting true and correct information. If you fudge/change/exaggerate the title, you are lying.

Ultimately, an employer will look at your accomplishments. If you were X in all but title, your accomplishments will demonstrate that. You can explain it further during the interview. Remember too, one employer’s ‘manager’ is another’s ‘director’ is still another’s ‘supervisor.’

Consider this too, you are more than your title, no matter how exalted (or not) the title. Focus on your accomplishments. Focus on where you want to go next. Follow your career plan. That will give you career momentum.

This Just In

Unemployed Americans continue to be resilient in their job search. According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 51 % of workers who were laid off from full-time jobs in the last twelve months have found new full-time positions, up from 48% in June 2009. An additional 7% found part-time positions, up from 3%. Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder, says, “Nine in ten workers say they have not given up on their job search.” Things seem to be looking up finally!

A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream.

All things are possible,

Elisabeth

Elisabeth Adler-Lund

Executive and Life Coaching

Telephone: 916 • 803•1494

E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com