What's the better title?

multiband8303

Senior member
Aug 8, 2005
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I just started with a new company that is a small-medium sized business IT consulting firm.

I have been hired as there basically, expert of everything. From Cisco, to Citrix, to Microsoft, (my specialty is Terminal Services/Citrix) and everything else in between.

They have been trying to recruit me for years, and now I am finally here. They said "pick your title"

I will be leading some of the other engineers/techs here as well and be a project manager of sorts too.

I could be plain jane and simple and go back to "Network Engineer/Analyst" or "IT Consultant"

I'm open to suggestions, shoot them out here guys.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
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IT Consultant doesn't mean anything. That's a bad title.

Network Engineer is good, though Systems Engineer is more typical. You could throw in a Senior, Lead, Chief or something else in front if you want to convey a higher level of responsibility.

I don't think any other title would work given your job responsibilities.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
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"Grand Poobah"

Actually, pick a title that will make you look good to potential future employers. "IT Consultant" is pretty damned generic.
 
Feb 6, 2007
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Chief Information Officer or Chief Technology Officer. If you get to pick your own title, it's hard to beat C_O.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
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Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Chief Information Officer or Chief Technology Officer. If you get to pick your own title, it's hard to beat C_O.

Except that it will be plainly obvious that his title was artificially inflated. That quickly diminishes any value you might otherwise gain from a C-level title.
 
Feb 6, 2007
16,432
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Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Chief Information Officer or Chief Technology Officer. If you get to pick your own title, it's hard to beat C_O.

Except that it will be plainly obvious that his title was artificially inflated. That quickly diminishes any value you might otherwise gain from a C-level title.

Why would it be plainly obvious if he doesn't tell future companies that he picked it himself? Not his fault the company called him a CTO or CIO.

But in that case, try Vice President of Sex. I'm just curious to see what happens.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
Chief Information Officer or Chief Technology Officer. If you get to pick your own title, it's hard to beat C_O.

Except that it will be plainly obvious that his title was artificially inflated. That quickly diminishes any value you might otherwise gain from a C-level title.

Why would it be plainly obvious if he doesn't tell future companies that he picked it himself? Not his fault the company called him a CTO or CIO.

But in that case, try Vice President of Sex. I'm just curious to see what happens.

multiband8303
CTO, Some Company

Responsibilities include:

Adding users to Citrix MetaFrame

That's an exaggeration, but you get the idea. If the responsibilities don't agree with the title, it's always suspect.

 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Originally posted by: Descartes
IT Consultant doesn't mean anything. That's a bad title.

Network Engineer is good, though Systems Engineer is more typical. You could throw in a Senior, Lead, Chief or something else in front if you want to convey a higher level of responsibility.

I don't think any other title would work given your job responsibilities.

Senior Network and Systems Engineer? :p
 

udneekgnim

Senior member
Jun 27, 2008
247
0
0
Originally posted by: multiband8303
I just started with a new company that is a small-medium sized business IT consulting firm.

I have been hired as there basically, expert of everything. From Cisco, to Citrix, to Microsoft, (my specialty is Terminal Services/Citrix) and everything else in between.

They have been trying to recruit me for years, and now I am finally here. They said "pick your title"

I will be leading some of the other engineers/techs here as well and be a project manager of sorts too.

I could be plain jane and simple and go back to "Network Engineer/Analyst" or "IT Consultant"

I'm open to suggestions, shoot them out here guys.

executive network engineer analyst technical consulting specialist manager