Job title is different to the role..
Discussion
I raised this with my manager today and he couldn't really give me an answer. I have a title that suggests I manage clients and their services. What I really do is manage a support team, except I kind of don't, as they're all busy working on projects for the project manager, who effectively is managing them by proxy. The PM also manages the client. I just do the admin stuff it seems lol (approve leave etc).
Not sure what my point is to be honest, it just seemed interesting, especially when I was told that my title was made up by one of the directors to be different to just "support manager".
Anyone else been in this position? did you manage to do anything about it? Did you just accept it for what it is? Did you leave your position to go elsewhere?
Not sure what my point is to be honest, it just seemed interesting, especially when I was told that my title was made up by one of the directors to be different to just "support manager".
Anyone else been in this position? did you manage to do anything about it? Did you just accept it for what it is? Did you leave your position to go elsewhere?
Putting aside the job title, which is often nebulous or in some company / industry speak - are you enjoying the role?
How long ago did you start there?
I'd not be revolting just because being a client service manager didn't mean I was managing client service, especially if the job description painted the picture more clearly.
How long ago did you start there?
I'd not be revolting just because being a client service manager didn't mean I was managing client service, especially if the job description painted the picture more clearly.
krisdelta said:
Putting aside the job title, which is often nebulous or in some company / industry speak - are you enjoying the role?
How long ago did you start there?
I'd not be revolting just because being a client service manager didn't mean I was managing client service, especially if the job description painted the picture more clearly.
Am I enjoying it? Not massively. I started here 2 and a half years ago.How long ago did you start there?
I'd not be revolting just because being a client service manager didn't mean I was managing client service, especially if the job description painted the picture more clearly.
I'm not revolting, just interested in other peoples experiences
. The job description describes a job that I do not do.Well it's fair to say that's a credible period of time in a role to start looking for something new if you're not enjoying it - the comment about "how long" was really aimed at if you'd recently started in the role, as the first 3 months can bear no resemblance to the "on paper" role.
Life is way too short to get up every day for something not quite right if you have the ability to change it.
Life is way too short to get up every day for something not quite right if you have the ability to change it.
I'm not one for making too much of job titles. They tend to be overblown and a lot don't really match to the actual job at hand. It can make things interesting when you try to get another job and they ask you what your title is to match. I used to be an "IT Service Manager". Our global organisation had adopted ITIL principles and wanted IT Service Manager's in each of the regions. It became apparent that I was actually what used to be called a good old fashioned "IT Manager". I was responsible for managing the 2nd line support team including reviews, holiday sign off, budgets, all UK IT projects, infrastructure as well as services, vendor management, etc. More of a head of type of role.
I went for an interview at the DWP. The money was terrible but at the time I desperately wanted out and the pension was a big draw. They have IT Service Managers. When I explained my job they were not interested at all. They just wanted someone to look after a few IT Services and thought it was odd that someone of my level was applying. No people or project management skills were needed at all.
It also became frustrating for other regional "IT Service Managers". They had similar problems with what the title says to what people expect. The Belgium manager was not really a manager at all. He built servers and helped with support. They just gave him the title so when he went looking for other work, they expected him to have more relevant experience.
I went for an interview at the DWP. The money was terrible but at the time I desperately wanted out and the pension was a big draw. They have IT Service Managers. When I explained my job they were not interested at all. They just wanted someone to look after a few IT Services and thought it was odd that someone of my level was applying. No people or project management skills were needed at all.
It also became frustrating for other regional "IT Service Managers". They had similar problems with what the title says to what people expect. The Belgium manager was not really a manager at all. He built servers and helped with support. They just gave him the title so when he went looking for other work, they expected him to have more relevant experience.
Easiest guys I had to manage were the ones who obsessed about job titles.
"Okay, we're tight on budget this year but I'm pleased with your performance so I'd like to make you a Senior X/Y Manager/Blah Director. When the new budgets come through we can talk about a pay bump"
I can't remember the last time I actually knew what my job title was - it varied with the wind. I used to have to listen really carefully to the guys I was with whether they introduced me as "Head of X" or "X Director" or something else entirely. Eventually I figured out who called me what.
"Okay, we're tight on budget this year but I'm pleased with your performance so I'd like to make you a Senior X/Y Manager/Blah Director. When the new budgets come through we can talk about a pay bump"
I can't remember the last time I actually knew what my job title was - it varied with the wind. I used to have to listen really carefully to the guys I was with whether they introduced me as "Head of X" or "X Director" or something else entirely. Eventually I figured out who called me what.
At our place they’re structured so
1, You get an idea of how senior somebody is/what pay grade they’re on.
2. You get an idea of which area of the business they work in.
They go something along the lines of
Exec Director
Deputy / Assistant Director
Head of XYZ (usually manages a Department, or a specialist team)
XYZ Manager (aka team leader)
1, You get an idea of how senior somebody is/what pay grade they’re on.
2. You get an idea of which area of the business they work in.
They go something along the lines of
Exec Director
Deputy / Assistant Director
Head of XYZ (usually manages a Department, or a specialist team)
XYZ Manager (aka team leader)
My job title in no way reflects my work anymore - moved from development team to run the infrastructure team, but job title never changed.
I'm currently covering the equivalent role for our US office as that person left... Because they wouldn't give him the job title he wanted. He turned down a pay increase and quit.
I'm currently covering the equivalent role for our US office as that person left... Because they wouldn't give him the job title he wanted. He turned down a pay increase and quit.
Echoing some comments above my job title has pretty much been the same for the past 15 years. Although I have remained within the same discipline I have worked for circa 5 employers. My responsibility and salary has increased. The job title on the CV is just one element. The responsibility, complexity, achievement mix is more important.
When I worked offshore , my job title was 'Offshore Planner'.
The only thing I planned was when i might squeeze a lunch break in.
My actual role was 'Project Administrator' .I was an assistant to the OPM (offshore project Manager) and did all the clerical stuff that he could justify getting me to do so that he could spend more time shopping on ebay and organising his holidays.
This was OK 90% of the time. I was treated like the admin guy but once in a while someone would ask me about stuff i had no clue about and then get all indignant that i should be aware of all aspects of the project as I was 'The Planner'!
Eventually i think one of the clients complained about it to the office (i had mentioned it but they didn't care) and the job title was revised.
The only thing I planned was when i might squeeze a lunch break in.
My actual role was 'Project Administrator' .I was an assistant to the OPM (offshore project Manager) and did all the clerical stuff that he could justify getting me to do so that he could spend more time shopping on ebay and organising his holidays.
This was OK 90% of the time. I was treated like the admin guy but once in a while someone would ask me about stuff i had no clue about and then get all indignant that i should be aware of all aspects of the project as I was 'The Planner'!
Eventually i think one of the clients complained about it to the office (i had mentioned it but they didn't care) and the job title was revised.
TheAngryDog said:
I raised this with my manager today and he couldn't really give me an answer. I have a title that suggests I manage clients and their services. What I really do is manage a support team, except I kind of don't, as they're all busy working on projects for the project manager, who effectively is managing them by proxy. The PM also manages the client. I just do the admin stuff it seems lol (approve leave etc).
Not sure what my point is to be honest, it just seemed interesting, especially when I was told that my title was made up by one of the directors to be different to just "support manager".
Anyone else been in this position? did you manage to do anything about it? Did you just accept it for what it is? Did you leave your position to go elsewhere?
It sounds like you should at least be line managing the support team while the project managers operationally manage them? Who is responsible for their appraisals? Setting objectives? Career development? Training? Overseeing workloads? etc etcNot sure what my point is to be honest, it just seemed interesting, especially when I was told that my title was made up by one of the directors to be different to just "support manager".
Anyone else been in this position? did you manage to do anything about it? Did you just accept it for what it is? Did you leave your position to go elsewhere?
wiggy001 said:
TheAngryDog said:
I raised this with my manager today and he couldn't really give me an answer. I have a title that suggests I manage clients and their services. What I really do is manage a support team, except I kind of don't, as they're all busy working on projects for the project manager, who effectively is managing them by proxy. The PM also manages the client. I just do the admin stuff it seems lol (approve leave etc).
Not sure what my point is to be honest, it just seemed interesting, especially when I was told that my title was made up by one of the directors to be different to just "support manager".
Anyone else been in this position? did you manage to do anything about it? Did you just accept it for what it is? Did you leave your position to go elsewhere?
It sounds like you should at least be line managing the support team while the project managers operationally manage them? Who is responsible for their appraisals? Setting objectives? Career development? Training? Overseeing workloads? etc etcNot sure what my point is to be honest, it just seemed interesting, especially when I was told that my title was made up by one of the directors to be different to just "support manager".
Anyone else been in this position? did you manage to do anything about it? Did you just accept it for what it is? Did you leave your position to go elsewhere?
The Project Engineer has left my team today and is now being managed by a PM.
TheAngryDog said:
That's the thing re my description, I don't feel like my actual role matches the description either.
I'm still not clear what the crux of the issue is. Do you want to do the role as as it is or the role as it is painted in the job description? How are your objectives being set if not in reference to the job description? If there is no relevance then you should use that as a segway to discuss a JD redraft to reflect what you do or some new or stretch objectives to ensure you do some of this activities.
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