Job description vs job title discrepancy

[marlon2006]

Thanks to my great GC wait - approximately 5 years - my title has remained as "systems administrator". Clearly I have been doing tasks which should be attributed at minimum as something like "senior systems engineer", "architect" or "project network lead" or something like that.

For that reason I fired resumes around listing my job title as "senior systems engineer" and I outlined my actual job tasks.

I've got the interview for an apparent top notch job next week. I am required to input my present "job title" there for the typical HR application form. My question is this, do you guys know whether the job title used on that HR application document, upon offer of employment, is going to be investigated and therefore could cause a potential conflict and damage my application?

What's your opinion on this? If I write "systems administrator" obviously the job title will not match the title I initially presented in my resume.

 

[nyc8300]

Very stupid question after being a pro at the GC process for the last 5 years....

Thanks to my great GC wait - approximately 5 years - my title has remained as "systems administrator". Clearly I have been doing tasks which should be attributed at minimum as something like "senior systems engineer", "architect" or "project network lead" or something like that.

For that reason I fired resumes around listing my job title as "senior systems engineer" and I outlined my actual job tasks.

I've got the interview for an apparent top notch job next week. I am required to input my present "job title" there for the typical HR application form. My question is this, do you guys know whether the job title used on that HR application document, upon offer of employment, is going to be investigated and therefore could cause a potential conflict and damage my application?

What's your opinion on this? If I write "systems administrator" obviously the job title will not match the title I initially presented in my resume.

 

[GC_TRAP]

I think you should be okay!

Marlon,

In all practicality, what matters most is the detail job description and the duties that you perform on a daily basis. If what you are doing daily or very frequently is more in line with the tasks and responsibilities of a senior systems engineer or similar position description, you should not worry about it, even if they tried to do some investigation.

Bottomline: Same job duties and responsibilities have different job titles in different companies. I know of companies who will not use a title of a system engineer (for eg), instead will use something like system analyst, or administrator or support. The logic is tied to internal company policy and remuneration decisions.

As long as you can prove to the new employer (only if they ask on this) that though your title was such-and-such, you were doing all (or most) things you have put on your resume, I think you have nothing to fear. Interviewers are not too stuck-up on titles, as much as what you know, and for how long etc.

Good luck with your new job search! And last but not least, you must be sympathetic to the limited IQ responses of my fellow posters, who, though must not be encouraged, however, must be ignored.

 

[another_fella]

I don't think it is that much of a big deal, so I would say focus on the job responsibilities in the application. Also in most places they consider Systems Engineer and Systems Administrator to be one and same. Since you were on that job for 5 years, it is very logical for someone to start as Systems Engineer and make forward progress and be a Lead/Senior Systems Engineer or Systems Architect. I know in some places they provide the option to fill the starting job title with/without salary, and what is the present title with/without salary.

The way I see it, the title in the resume is the outcome of current job responsibilities, and the beginning job title 5 years ago was Systems Engineer. So if you want to play it safe, see whether you can fill starting position and the current position.

In the interview if you can make a good impression, which I am sure you will, along with some good references who can back up your current responsibilities that should suffice.

Good luck!

Thanks to my great GC wait - approximately 5 years - my title has remained as "systems administrator". Clearly I have been doing tasks which should be attributed at minimum as something like "senior systems engineer", "architect" or "project network lead" or something like that.

For that reason I fired resumes around listing my job title as "senior systems engineer" and I outlined my actual job tasks.

I've got the interview for an apparent top notch job next week. I am required to input my present "job title" there for the typical HR application form. My question is this, do you guys know whether the job title used on that HR application document, upon offer of employment, is going to be investigated and therefore could cause a potential conflict and damage my application?

What's your opinion on this? If I write "systems administrator" obviously the job title will not match the title I initially presented in my resume.

 

[marlon2006]

Good thinking GC_Trap and all. Yes, I will ignore that poor soul.

Marlon,

In all practicality, what matters most is the detail job description and the duties that you perform on a daily basis. If what you are doing daily or very frequently is more in line with the tasks and responsibilities of a senior systems engineer or similar position description, you should not worry about it, even if they tried to do some investigation.

Bottomline: Same job duties and responsibilities have different job titles in different companies. I know of companies who will not use a title of a system engineer (for eg), instead will use something like system analyst, or administrator or support. The logic is tied to internal company policy and remuneration decisions.

As long as you can prove to the new employer (only if they ask on this) that though your title was such-and-such, you were doing all (or most) things you have put on your resume, I think you have nothing to fear. Interviewers are not too stuck-up on titles, as much as what you know, and for how long etc.

Good luck with your new job search! And last but not least, you must be sympathetic to the limited IQ responses of my fellow posters, who, though must not be encouraged, however, must be ignored.

 

[indian_gc_ocean]

I agree with GC_TRAP and others that description and duties matter more. There is no doubt that this would be enough at the time of interview but if and when your new company go through a employment verification agency before hiring you, salary and title would be investigated and it is upto the new company recruiters to oversee any discrepancy in the verification report.

 

[kp14]

I have been told it doesnt matter

My Labor was applied in July 2001 and my level was Senior Consultant and now it is Senior Manager. I asked this question multiple times to the law firms and our internal Attorney General Counsel who said it does not matter at all. The Job Description matters and that is generic for many levels.

My salary has also increased proportionally and that too is not a concern as per them as whatever you promise in the Labor Application is the minimum that needs to be provided at the time of the interview and not vice versa