Help me decide which title to pick!
As most of you know, a little over a month ago I got the promotion I was expecting. But here’s a bit of a bugaboo about it:
My promotion hasn’t been announced to anyone yet.
One of the issues has to do with a peer negotiating his raise, but another has to do with what my new job title will be. Since I’m relatively new to the commercial Internet development world, I’d like your help.
The two titles that are in play are Development Manager and Senior Web Producer.
(For comparison: I was hired as — and, as far as most others know, still am — a “Web Producer II.”)
Development Manager was my inclination, but the head of the department (my boss’ boss) suggested that Senior Web Producer would be a better choice (as in better for me).
Personally, I think the DM (no D&D puns intended or invited) title carries with it a bit more prestige or cachet than SWP.
Would those of you with tech hiring experience, whether on the West Coast or East, weigh in and let me know which title would look more impressive/distinguished on a future resume?
Development Manager is better for the resume, but probably not what you actually do - it implies people under you and a high level of programming skill and understanding.
From what you tell me of your job, you are a webproducer - Senior Web Producer is great.
Depends on where you want to go from here. If you want to Dilbert your way into middle management, go with the DM. If you want to get stuff done, go with SWP.
That’s just the thing, though: The promotion will entail me having more responsibilities and Big Picture decision-making. That, and when the new person [eventually] gets hired on, I’ll be responsible for supervising them and their work.
And I’ve actually demonstrated far more programming expertise than anyone they’ve ever had on staff.
Thus my DM-leanings.
I guess, too, the “Web Producer” part of the title has always struck me as having “web flunky” sorts of connotations, that it was the sort of role for someone who didn’t know how to do all the advanced stuff I do.
Dude, just make sure you don’t get Senior VP for BizDev! That smacks of dot-bomb loserdom.
This may sound like I’m being dramatic, but this choice can have serious effects on your future job hunts. If you are lured by the call of middle management, then you will definitely want to go the route of Development Manager for your title. It’s not important HOW MANY people you are responsible for, it’s that you have done it. Senior Web Producer is a great title — as long as you want to do web content development for the rest of eternity.
My $0.02, discarding is highly recommended.