Gone are the days of the milkman and chimney sweep, as technological advancements have sent a multitude of once-common jobs the way of the dodo. In their stead, however, are different jobs with shiny new titles like Chief Happiness Officer and Digital Overlord, names that would have baffled people just a few decades before.
These unusual new job names may simply describe a previously nonexistent position (Cloud Architect), or they may be a company’s way to stand out in a crowded field (Computational Wizard instead of Coder).
Some of these fancy new job titles also serve an important purpose in the recruitment/hiring process itself. In the world of online job applications where AI-written job postings meet AI-written resumes, it can be hard for real human beings to connect with one another. It’s a bot-eat-bot world out there, and one way to dodge filter traps and catch an actual human’s eye is through an innovative job title.
The Good
Some of these modern job titles are the stuff futurists’ dreams are made of – Driverless Car Engineer, Telemedicine Doctor, Genetic Counselor. Those represent the pinnacle of human progress into previously uncharted territories and simply have to be called what they are, as science fiction-y as that may be.
Other titles, like Social Media Curator, Corporate Podcast Host, and Engagement Expert are reflections of the marketing and advertising focus in our increasingly online world. Just twenty years ago, these positions would have been extremely niche, if existent, but they are now prominent positions (that command prominent salaries).
And other times, these new job names are nothing more than a bit of fun, a lighthearted approach to potentially tedious titles. The tech world is famous for this, with tongue-in-cheek titles like “Software Ninjaneer” or “Head Nerd.” These job descriptions are usually to elicit a smile or because they’re catchy and roll off the tongue so well – Code Commander, Social Media Maven, Chaos Coordinator.
The Bad
One issue with rebranding a job with a trendy millennial or Gen-Z job title is that the shelf life of names like these is usually pretty short. Telling people your job title is “Slay Queen of Human Resources” or “Cringe Defender” may have gotten a polite chuckle a few years ago, but it gets increasingly awkward as the months roll on. Off-the-wall job titles can also leave employees in a lurch when interviewing for their next job. “You’re a ‘Social Magician?’ Uh, we don’t have those here.”
In other cases, these quirky titles can be nothing more than publicity grabs for corporate attention, a marketing move that may leave employees embarrassed by their new “promotions.” The fast food restaurant Subway famously came under fire for renaming its deli counter employees “Sandwich Artists.” Some employees feel mocked by titles like Food Champion (Taco Bell employee) or Mixologist (bartender), and the workers themselves usually don’t have much of a say in the matter.
The Ugly
If a job title sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Modern titles like “Work-from-Home Millionaire” likely involve applicants paying for a course or “opportunity” rather than actually earning any money. In particular, mid-level marketing scams and Ponzi schemes are known for using extravagant job titles as a way to prey on stay-at-home moms. Job listings with titles like “Boss Babe,” “Mama CEO” and “Sales Diva” are usually sparkly red flags. Men are not excluded from the shenanigans either, with some companies looking for “Brotrepreneurs.” Using flowery language to dress up what most would consider a normal job can also be a warning sign regarding the job itself. “We only hire rockstars” often translates into “We will overwork you for low pay.”
Final Thoughts
The evolving landscape of creative job titles reflects not only our world’s marvelous technological advancements, but also an attempt to break through the increasing monotony of work and online job applications. There is a fine line, however, between a bit of good fun and potential worker exploitation, or worse, a total scam/robbery. What will job titles look like in 30 years? Even AI can’t answer that.
