Job title advice needed

[Jonboy_t]

I was taken on in my current role about 2 years ago as an 'I' band when the position should have been a 'H' band - I have the 'Manager' title, but the 'Clerk' role band effectively (old manager mistake, never been an issue to me as I get 'acting up allowance' to compensate). Recently, HR had an alignment of all of the job titles and all 'I' bands had their titles changed to 'Financial Operations Clerk' and all of the 'H' bands to 'Financial Operations Manager', so mine was changed to the former instead of the latter.

I've now had another job offer outside of the company and am rather nervous about the reference that they will get - obviously I've explained what role I do now etc and it's going to look like I'm BS'd my way through the interview when they get the professional reference with 'Clerk' plastered all over it instead of 'Manager'.

My boss and I don't see eye to eye at all, I don't trust her in the slightest, in fact, I think she is downright dangerous to have in the position that she is, but that's another story. Because of our disagreements in the past, she is now reluctant (not quite disagreeing, but dragging her heels) to do anything to change my title on the HR systems or to even follow it through with HR.

I've spoken with the recruitment company that I got the new role through and explained the situation. They seem to be indifferent about it and have said that the new company's HR team probably won't even go for a professional reference anyway, they are more inclined to go for personal ones, which I know will be glowing (as the proffesional one would be too, albeit incorrectly titled). I just really don't want to chance it as if I don't get this one, I'll be made redundant within a couple of months here (hence why I was looking externally to begin with).

Am I being overly cautious here? I do know I run a risk of appearing unreliable to the new company and clearly don't want to be. Also, any advice on how I could handle this internally would be welcomed - should I be kicking arse or just accept it as an administrative feck up?

[rog007]

Forget job titles, think competencies. Any company worth it's salt is interested in what you can offer them, not what you were called in your last appointment. It's not an issue, honestly. Good luck!

[don4l]

How many people report to you?

Don
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[Jonboy_t]

Currently, the reporting structure is me - my boss - Head of dept - CFO.

I feel that I've demonstrated competencies pretty well in the interview (well, I got the job anyway!) so I'm intending on showing what I can do when I get through the door in the new place, I am just concerned that after interviewing me as a Manager and they get a reference that alludes to me being a Clerk, they may feel like I've BS'd my way into the job and I'm perhaps not as trustworthy as first appeared, which is absolutely not the case.

It's probably just me worrying about nothing, but I'm 'at risk' of redundancy at the moment and need to be 100% sure that I'm not out of work, and this would be a really stty way of that happening!

[rog007]

Why not tell them what you are telling us? Be honest and up front with them then you can sleep easy. I'd be flabbergasted if they reacted negatively. If they do, then you'd have to ask if they were an outfit you would wish to be part of.

[edc]

What does "manager" actually mean in this context? I have been a department and team manager with and without having the title. I am currently managing nobody but my official title has manager in it. The job title is relatively meaningless as employers will look at a combination of current salary, responsibility, actual duties and achievements, where you fit into the org and as already mentioned make an assessment of your competency.

[Jonboy_t]

edc said:

What does "manager" actually mean in this context? I have been a department and team manager with and without having the title. I am currently managing nobody but my official title has manager in it. The job title is relatively meaningless as employers will look at a combination of current salary, responsibility, actual duties and achievements, where you fit into the org and as already mentioned make an assessment of your competency.

You're quite right. The title itself really doesn't bother me, I manage a team of 12 people and have managed almost twice that in my current role, so I know I am capable of doing it and doing a good job of it. I don't question my ability for a second and would certainly not be pedantic about not being called a 'manager' if I was staying in the role i'm in, but my concern is that I'll be labelled as a liar before I set foot through the door in the new place.

I've spoken with the recruitment company that I got the role through and they are going to be sending me contact details for the hiring manager at the new place (I've met her for the interview, but all contact is through this recruiter). I'm going to explain the situation once I can get contact details so that she is fully aware of the situation as it stands.