Job titles are just labels. True. And sometimes labels help, facilitate, support achieve goals. Of course, they also please ego which shouldn’t be the main reason to negociate a change with your manager.
In an article published in Harvard Business Review, journalist Rebecca Knight highlights a few principles to keep in mind when you want to get the job title you think you deserve.
Do:
- Think about your individual circumstances and consider your reasons for wanting a new title. How will a new title help you do your job better?
- Leverage your social network and other online resources to identify possible job titles that reflect your skills, expertise, and status.
- Reflect on your boss’s motivations and challenges. Before you make the request, ask yourself: Why would my current or prospective boss say yes?
Don’t:
- Go overboard with a personalized title. If you’d like one and your employer agrees to it, make sure you have a traditional equivalent.
- Be myopic about negotiating for a better title. Everything — including your salary, job description, and benefits — should be on the table.
- Get discouraged if you don’t get what you want right away. Asking for a new title is an ongoing negotiation.
Source: hbr.org