November 17, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What's Your Title?
November 18, 2011 at 2:19 am
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!
November 18, 2011 at 3:18 am
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?
November 18, 2011 at 3:30 am
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 😀
November 18, 2011 at 5:20 am
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".
November 18, 2011 at 5:43 am
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
November 18, 2011 at 5:56 am
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
November 18, 2011 at 6:06 am
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:
November 18, 2011 at 6:13 am
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".
November 18, 2011 at 6:14 am
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.
November 18, 2011 at 6:28 am
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
November 18, 2011 at 6:30 am
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
November 18, 2011 at 6:44 am
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.
November 18, 2011 at 6:51 am
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."
November 18, 2011 at 6:56 am
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
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