Just listening to a programme about Delia Derbyshire - the electronic music pioneer probably best known for the original Doctor Who theme music.
I know a little about her so thought...google is my friend; for a few moths she worked as assistant to Head of Plenipotentiary and General Administrative Radio Conferences, International Telecommunication Union
What a job title that is!
How big was his business card to fit all of that on?
temporary part-time libraries north-west inter-library loan business unit administration assistant
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/feb/11/britishidentity.martinwainwright
His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular
I think we can discount Amin as he didn't apply for that position.
temporary part-time libraries north-west inter-library loan business unit administration assistant
Tautology and irrelevance removed; still a mouthful for basic clerical role.
I think we can discount Amin as he didn’t apply for that position.
It was a highly competitive selection process.
I've always thought His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings and Elect of God had a certain ring to it.
As academics we generally set our own job titles when we are promoted.
They do seem to have become more ridiculous over the years. Everyone appears to be head of something or other. When I am The Reverend Funkmaster P of the Second Church of the Sixth Axis of the Mothership of Funk I will restrict all job title to three words only.
His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular
Also King of Scotland?
I frequently look at internal jobs on tne Civil Service job site. So many acronyms and management bollocks i doubt I'd recognise my own role.
A friend of mine had, back in the day, a job title that was simply "Physicist". He was really proud of that, it was all he had ever wanted to be.
Mine is currently "Specialist". One day, if I am really good, I might get to add "Senior" to the front of that.
A friend of mine used to run his own business with a few friends, making software. The job title on his business card was 'Software Prostitute".
For a while my job title was 'Senior Scientific Investigator, PET Analysis'. My wife decided that investigator is the same as detective, so I must be Ace Ventura.
One of my colleagues is simply "Expert".
I worked on the Astute submarine programme and saw a draft organisation chart with the job titles “Aft Penetrations Team Leader” and “Forward Penetrations Team Leader”. Sadly, those job titles never came to pass, probably because they couldn’t decide on the selection criteria without falling foul of discrimination legislation.
I once knew someone who was "Head of health and happiness".
Which was either the best job in the world or a hiding to nothing...
And one of my team left to become "Dragon project officer, Scotland".
The first MrsIHN once asked for a pay rise, and was told that she couldn't have one, but she could choose her own job title. She left.
2nd Assistant to the Deputy Sub Janitor (Seconded)
Skywalker.
Follow on from above the project leaders who were our customers were referred to by the "vehicle" in their project.
So. Merlin, Lynx, Apache etc
I've a meeting with Merlin, always sounded more exciting than it turned out. Although he used to surf and did like a beer.
Recently got a new job title
Retired
I have two job titles at the moment, since I'm in a cross-organisational role (between NHS and Local Authority) where neither organisation will recognise the other's titling convention so I have to have different titles to correspond with the two structures.
To the NHS I'm 'IT Manager', despite the fact I have no formal background in IT and don't manage anyone
To the LA I'm 'Principal Engineer', despite the fact I have no formal background in engineering and don't have any principles.
I generally refer to myself as 'Senior Dogsbody and All-Round Nuisance'
Major corporates are awash with Vice Presidents these days, which as far as I can determine used to be something middle management such as Team Leader.
A former employer once flirted with allowing people to choose their own job titles. In a building full of geeks it went about as well as literally everyone bar upper management could have predicted. I think it lasted about two days, which was a shame because I quite enjoyed working for Batman. I don't recall what I came up with now, maybe Technomancer.
Major corporates are awash with Vice Presidents these days, which as far as I can determine used to be something middle management such as Team Leader.
There was a thread about this not so long ago. At my old place there seems to be an arms race going on to come up with ever more grandiose-sounding titles. "Verticals Director" - so, what, either you're a salesperson or a fire exit. Every time I think it can't get anymore daft another non-job hire pops up on LinkedIn.
@IHN- "The first MrsIHN once asked for a pay rise, and was told that she couldn’t have one, but she could choose her own job title. She left."
Were you her boss? Is that why she went?
A colleague was, very briefly Assistant Head of Lower School
AHoLS
Title was changed pretty quickly once noticed. Before anyone asks if nominative determinism came into play- no it didn't. He's a sound bloke.
Mishap Engineer, aka breakdown supervisor.
Precision Test Officer (I fix faults!)
Pope , job comes we a selection of fancy robes and hats .
A colleague was, very briefly Assistant Head of Lower School
AHoLS
I can share this now as the company is defunct. I once worked for IT Services in Daniel Contractors Ltd.
Yes, DCLITS.
Maven
I quite liked one of my earliest job titles "Casual Student"
Doesn't sound great? On the pay slips it was abbreviated so when the pretty pay department lady used to can out the payslips calling out your name and role I always got a round of applause and she shouted out "Nick, Casual Stud!"
Last but one place had a Head of Organised Crime.
Currently my internal Slack profile lists me as: Sneaked into the shallow end of the typing pool while the lifeguard wasn't looking.
Quite snappy, that.
I used to work as the strategic link between the Divisional Policing Commander and the Local Authority. That meant attending many partnership meetings, with all the organisations that were brought together to form the Crime and Disorder partnership. I used to write down some of the titles used in the introductions, as there really were some stupendous examples. My mostest favourite was Breastfeeding Champion Kirklees.
