I have been in my current job for 18 months. I very much enjoy it, work with great people and have been supported in further study. I have received an above average pay rise, and I work with multiple departments. However, I would like a better job title. The title is why I nearly didn’t apply for the job. How can I approach my boss about changing it?

Titles definitely cause a lot of angst. So much of our sense of self – professional and personal – can be tied up in how we present ourselves to the world. We often believe nothing says more about us in a professional setting than our title. But titles come with a lot of ego, too. I have also seen excellent people tie themselves up in knots about their title and soon find themselves considered difficult by others.

It sounds like you are well respected and doing a fantastic job in your current role, so you do not want to do anything to jeopardise this. My advice, if you really want the title changed, is to find reasons why the current title is not fully representative of what you do for those who matter, such as customers or clients. For example, do key stakeholders in your industry expect to speak to someone called “director” and not “manager”? It is sufficient to ask to change it just because you would like it to sound more impressive or important. And if your boss says no, I would leave it alone. Wait until you apply for your next role or promotion, and then you can make sure you negotiate the title that works best before you start.

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