What's Your Title?

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What's Your Title?

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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November 17, 2011 at 9:21 pm

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Comments posted to this topic are about the item What's Your Title?

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craigB-921010 SSC Rookie Points: 48 More actions · Answer 1

Someone asked me what work I was doing for them this week and I said that I'd come to 'polish some turds'. 😉

that probably wont help me get my contract extended....oops!

nigel. SSChampion Points: 11636 More actions · Answer 2

craigB-921010 (11/18/2011)
Someone asked me what work I was doing for them this week and I said that I'd come to 'polish some turds'. 😉

Ha, excellent! 😛

Do you have a power tool for that? Or is it done by hand?

Nigel
How to post questions

craigB-921010 SSC Rookie Points: 48 More actions · Answer 3

hoping redgate will make a tool for it at some point!

in the end, if you can't polish it, then roll it in glitter 😀

steven.girard Valued Member Points: 52 More actions · Answer 4

It all depends who is asking.

Technical person (mostly information sector): ETL Developer

Semi-technical (people in the business): BI Guy

Outside World: Programmer

If I have questions regarding whats a programmer, "I work with computers".

Thomas Abraham SSChampion Points: 10761 More actions · Answer 5

steven.girard (11/18/2011)
It all depends who is asking.
Technical person (mostly information sector): ETL Developer
Semi-technical (people in the business): BI Guy
Outside World: Programmer
If I have questions regarding whats a programmer, "I work with computers".

Same kind of thing here. My actual title is "Sales and Production Analyst", yet I develop VB forms, write T-SQL queries and procedures, design and implement tables/indexes/triggers, write spreadsheet macros, and train staff to use the system. I also do ad hoc analysis of data (mining, if you will), and process all NAFTA certificates, and a host of other assorted tasks.

When asked, technical people get "database programmer" as an answer.

Just about everyone else gets "I work in IT" - usually followed with an explanation of "IT", as a surprising number of people still don't know what "IT" is.

Some other titles I've had for IT work include: "Senior Data Analyst", "Manage Methods Analyst", and "Business Process Analyst". My experience is that job titles (and job descriptions!) frequently don't match actual jobs. But, at least IT is better than banking. When I worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, I remember running into a lot of people with the title of "Fourth Assistant Vice President". Imagine some kid going to school and saying, "My Dad's better than your dad. He's a Third-and-a-half Assistant Associate Vice President!":hehe:

[font="Verdana"]Please don't go. The drones need you. They look up to you.[/font]
Connect to me on LinkedIn

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398679 More actions · Answer 6

My title is Product Evangelist, but my job is Booth Babe.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

Dizzy Desi Ten Centuries Points: 1031 More actions · Answer 7

Like Steve, I keep my answers more generic, such as "computer programmer" or "database administrator" when talking to others.

I would have no clue what to put on a resume at this point - I have a specific title listed somewhere with our HR department, but to look any of us up in the employee directory, it simply shows "Staff" or "Manager" titles - can't get much more generic than that! :hehe:

Ian Massi SSCertifiable Points: 5931 More actions · Answer 8

My title is "SQL Server Database Administrator/Data Warehouse Specialist".

I like it and it describes very accurately what I do. This doesn't fit too well on business cards but I don't require them for work so that's not an issue there. Sadly, this precludes me from putting business cards into fishbowls at restaurants to win free lunches. So the next time my girlfriend is ordering some for work, I'll get her to make some for me with title "Lunch Draw Winner".

calvo SSChampion Points: 12930 More actions · Answer 9

Like everyone else, when I am asked the question about my job title from someone outside "the know" I usually respond with "IT". I'm a "Consultant" with my company and labeled a "Database Administrator" while on the job (don't ask). My resume goes with the Database Administrator title.

When asked the same question from people in "the know" I like to be a little more creative and go with "Master Databaser" or "Senior Databasing Executive".

Here's a discussion we had on how to describe what we do to other non-IT folk, the next step in labeling your professional self.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
Forum posting etiquette.[/url] Get your answers faster.

Lowell SSC Guru Points: 323504 More actions · Answer 10

maybe it's just me, but if i tell someone from "The Outside World" that I'm a programmer, or that i work with computers, way to often I get asked if I can look at their computer because of a virus/program not working/do you have a copy of software [x]/Can you help me build a web site/"I uninstalled something by mistake" and more;

I tend to simply say "aww I work in an office" instead.

Lowell

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Irish Hall of Fame Points: 3958 More actions · Answer 11

I'm more of a data janitor, to use Steve's idea.

I tend to clean up stuff after has gotten bad. That can be data recovery or improving performance. However, I am not primarily a DBA in a general sense. I do Servers, Networks, Application Tuning, troubleshooting, workstation stuff, etc.

I work in a 3rd tier (last line of defense before Engineering) support role that requires I spend a good deal of time evangelizing our products as well as writing up why our customers need to spend time managing their databases so that I don't have to "save the day".

When asked what I do, it is hard to explain so I tend to tell people that I work with computers. If they are more technical I'm a Server and Database Analyst. Sadly, most people have no idea what a network is so I have to explain it to them using a telephone system analogy.

I enjoy the turd polishing comments. Never thought to roll them in glitter! 😀

Regards, Irish

Joe Johnson-482549 SSC Eights! Points: 916 More actions · Answer 12

craigB-921010 (11/18/2011)
hoping redgate will make a tool for it at some point!
in the end, if you can't polish it, then roll it in glitter 😀

I've heard of polishing and done a lot of it; never heard of rolling it in glitter. 😀 I'll have to add that to my repertoire.

Joe Johnson-482549 SSC Eights! Points: 916 More actions · Answer 13

I usually use the generic "I work with computers", but this can get you in trouble. I especially make sure that I don't use that around family as they expect me to fix their IE issues. 🙂

Current title is Productivity and Process Excellence IS Leader -- geez. I'm a glorified program/project manager. If you tell someone you're a project manager, they don't automatically want you planning their wedding, so I may start using "I'm a project leader."

Irish Hall of Fame Points: 3958 More actions · Answer 14

Joe Johnson-482549 (11/18/2011)
Current title is Productivity and Process Excellence IS Leader

Holy cow! Did they give you a fez to wear in the office? 😀

Regards, Irish