Today I look at title inflation (to match degree inflation and real inflation ;) - or how companies are trying to attract and retain talent through fancy titles that make jobs (and employees) sound more important than they really are.
When we consider Generation Z employees expects to be promoted every 18 months (who can afford that? who deserves that?) perhaps this is no surprise.
Speaking from experience though - as someone who was once young, vain and optimistic enough to think that a promotion without a pay raise would improve my career - premature title inflation just makes you more unemployable and disqualifies you from great jobs that might actually advance your career. (Being over qualified on paper and under experienced in practice is a trap that is very, very hard to get out of).
Likewise, as with all inflation - credential, capital and titular, it is a hard cycle to break out of, as expectations ever adjust upwards.
Why do we care so much about names and titles? (And how do we move past the ego?)
Have you ever been "promoted" with a new business card but without a raise?
Would you rather have an inflated title or an inflated pay cheque?
How do you manage expectations, realistically regards to career progression? (When everyone is a VP, the title VP is meaningless)
Does a rose by any other name smell as sweet?
Read more:
Title inflation