Photo source: Freepik
What is in a name? Does a memorable name truly shape first impressions? It’s all a matter of perspective. Some believe that a name itself does not hold intrinsic value or define the essence of a person. But can the same be said about job titles?
For a long time, job titles have been a defining factor in a person’s professional identity and career growth. They are often the first thing we learn about someone’s role within an organization, and they carry with them a set of expectations, responsibilities, and even prestige.
Today, however, job titles are evolving, or even losing their relevance due to changes in workplace culture, organizational design, and recruiting methods.
As organizations begin to embrace skill-based hiring rather than seniority and inflated portfolios, flexible work structures, and dynamic career paths, the importance of job titles is being debated. While some feel they represent your skills and expertise, others think that they are irrelevant, and it’s your accomplishments that define your role.
In today’s evolving workplace, the question arises: Do job titles still matter? To gain insight into this, we examine the viewpoints of HR professionals, hiring managers, and job candidates.
HR’s Perspective on Job Titles
Many HR professionals believe that job titles do matter as they provide necessary clarity within the organization, help define expectations for employees, and serve as a guide for salary structures.
Maureen Okoro, Head of Human Resources at AA&R Investment Group, says job titles are necessary for employees to know what they are supposed to be doing.
“Without the titles, how will you know your responsibilities? Your job title determines your job description. When the job titles are not clear, people may begin to create their idea of what they should be doing.”
Job titles do matter, according to Nwosu Obiageli, HR Administrator at Librod Energy Services. She did note, though, that job titles can be misleading as organizations sometimes inflate them, suggesting the role may not reflect what the employee does.
“Yes, job titles still matter, for structure, perception, and professional identity, but they aren’t everything. Performance, compensation, growth potential, and the value of the work itself increasingly trump superficial labels, especially as the way of work continues to evolve.
“But we must acknowledge that titles are not always accurate reflections of actual duties. Some companies inflate titles without the corresponding scope or compensation, while others offer modest titles for highly strategic roles. Some organizations also place value on titles rather than skill, hence, those titles would give you access.
“Given the flexible and dynamic career landscape, people are redefining success on their terms. Sometimes, that means trading a fancier title for a fatter paycheck, and that’s okay.”
In recent times, we have seen cases where some titles are misused. For instance, some people throw the title manager around, which could mean anything from managing processes or overseeing complex systems to supervising two people at a small kiosk. Sometimes, these titles do not even match the job role.
Victor Ogunleye, Talent Engagement Manager, touched on this, highlighting how folks like to be called important-sounding titles.
“Yes, it matters more now to people than even the pay nowadays, and even the role. People just want to be called big names even when the role they are doing is nothing to write home about.
“Head of this, Manager of that. Even when they work for one very small company.”
Hiring Managers’ Perspective
From some hiring managers’ perspective, job titles are a first step, but real hiring decisions hinge on skills. Hiring managers are beginning to prioritize skills, experience, and cultural fit over a candidate’s previous job titles. Most recruiters these days are more interested in what experience you have developed in each role and the achievements you have gained, rather than your job title.
“Recruiters and HR don’t judge a CV based on job titles. What they are looking out for is what value you bring to the table with your experiences. Your title is the bait, but your experience and results are the hook,” says Glory Johnson, a hiring manager.
Glory suggested that there are tons of incompetent people with titles.
“Having a title does not mean that you are capable of doing the work. The work is more important than the title,” she added.
Job Candidates, Employees’ Perspective
For numerous candidates and employees, job titles still matter significantly, especially regarding pay and moving up the career ladder.
Some candidates try to get creative with their titles. Some others inflate these titles and end up not getting the job, as recruiters aren’t dumb. A candidate who had VP of Marketing on his CV applied for the same role at a big firm. It turned out he had only been a VP at a startup, managing four interns. He didn’t get the job as the company needed someone who had handled a real team.
Abisola Alawode, Multimedia Lead/Supervising Producer at Big Cabal Media, argues that while job titles matter, entry into roles should not be based on irrelevant criteria like age and discipline.
“Oh yes, job titles matter. For one, it helps with structure, to know who is responsible for what, etc.
“It also helps with how one is addressed, referred to, or regarded.
“What I think doesn’t matter as much is the requirements to get into roles. You know all those “candidates must study this” before they can get roles, especially in our field as journalists. If the person has proven that they can do the job, employ them and train them to your standard,” he stated.
It has been said that when it comes to showing progression within a company, job titles can play an important part.
According to Patience Emmanuel, a senior accounts officer, many professionals take pride in their job designation as a reflection of their expertise and status. She added that senior roles often come with bigger pay, and if there are no titles, one might be shortchanged, getting paid peanuts.
“Let’s be real, a senior accounts officer role would usually come with a different pay bracket than a junior accountant just starting. A clear title helps recruiters understand my career trajectory, and they won’t be offering me peanuts as salary,” Patience said.
Will the Future of Work Have No Job Titles?
As the debate continues, some organizations are already tilting towards relinquishing job titles altogether. These organizations are creating a workplace that recognizes the worth of employees’ skills, capabilities, and experiences.
While the future of work may not eliminate job titles, skills are becoming far more valuable. Though necessary for organizational structure and acknowledging roles, job titles should not be the sole measure of an individual’s value or capabilities.
Think of job titles as the catchy headline of a book. It might grab your attention, but it’s the content within that determines its true value.
So, do job titles still matter? Yes, but their significance is evolving. They are no longer the sole yardstick for evaluating competence or value.
