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Re: Are Colorful Job Descriptions Appropriate?

2 Replies Last post: Aug 12, 2009 3:48 PM by Susan Hall  
Patrick Avery   50 posts since
Oct 3, 2008
Reply

Dec 16, 2009 1:41 PM

Are Colorful Job Descriptions Appropriate?

Does the language of a job title and job description really matter? Is it important to the employer and the potential employee to have credible job titles or colorful job titles?

 

IT Business Edge blogger Ann All critques two specific job titles and descriptions in a recent blog post.

Loraine Lawson   9 posts since
Oct 3, 2008

I think it's fun and fine if you're promoted into these job descriptions - although I suspect they're often a substitute for a real career advancement or pay raise. What I think is ridiculous is when companies actually advertise for these things.

 

I also think HR should spend more time actually discussing real needs with IT before it writes want ads. Some of them ask for so many qualifications that you'd just never find in a real person - and if you did, that person certainly wouldn't be interested in your $35,000 a year job in Podunk, USA. I suspect the HR department just lists every IT acronym in its database for every job, without regard to whether or not your net admin actually needs to be able to program in .Net.

Susan Hall   8 posts since
Oct 3, 2008

Though the ones in Ann's post are a bit over the top, colorful job titles tell you something about the company culture. If you're a very casual company, they can help you find employees who will work well in that culture. They also can alert more traditional job candidates that they might not be a good fit for that environment.

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