Inflated Job Titles

BBC Readers sent in a rich response to last week’s Magazine piece about inflated job titles.

Here, they share some of their most important-sounding, obscure and sometimes downright bizarre titles, past and present.

• My job title is director of life enrichment. It sounds:

• ambiguous
• overwhelming
• unbelievable and also
• impressive

Quite a responsibility – endeavouring to enrich the lives of an unknown population of an undisclosed number. And it’s never an option when you have to pick from a list of occupations in the survey. I am not a social worker, a local government worker, a social-care provider or a teacher, although all of those could be considered with the job title. In reality I am responsible for planning, organising and implementing a programme of therapeutic activities and events for senior adults ranging in age from 73-101 and with a huge variety of interests, skills, abilities and functioning levels. Amy Laughlin, South Carolina, US

• Back in the 80s the father of a college friend rejoiced in the title general manager, eastern hemisphere for a major multinational. Alison Wheeler, London, UK

• I work at a law firm and one morning the receptionist had stepped away from her desk. Placed on the ledge was a sign that read “The director of first impressions has stepped away and shall return shortly.” At first I thought, “who?” and then realised the sign referred to the receptionist. Justine Kaye, New York, US

• I was impressed when a friend told me her husband was an environmental maintenance officer. I could have sworn I’d seen him emptying the bins on our street. Mrs C, Paris, France

• I once saw an ad in the paper for a job entitled anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, working for the police. A very important and worthwhile job aiding the community I’m sure, but it does make you sound a bit like someone who actually organises the anti-social behaviour rather than someone who works to reduce it. Paul, Bristol, UK

• I’m a freelance graphic designer and for the last few months have been working on an e-commerce website in the unenviable role of back-end manager. Until the company involved comes up with a more high-falutin title, I intend to keep quiet about it. Adam Linley, Bury UK

• One friend was appointed director of operational excellence. But the biscuit was taken by an ex-colleague recently, whose new job title is technical evangelist. That’s certainly one way to describe him. Sam, Reading, UK

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via BBC News – 25 of readers’ inflated job titles.