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What's in a job title? |
There is an ongiong debate in Scotland at the moment in light of the creation of Skills Development Scotland to replace Careers Scotland. Careers advisers have expressed concern at the prospect of new job titles which will not include the 'career' word: Skills Development Adviser is one suggestion. This seems to echo what happened in Connexions when even the name of the organisation didnt have 'Career' in it. Quite a number of views have been expressed in the past about the loss of the word that describes the focus of what career guidance practitioners do. Here are some comments:
Another part of the ICG's discussion forum contains a discussion around the loss of the job title in Connexions, concluding that this has meant the 'loss of professional identity'. Chris Evans himself, in the same forum, states: 'I think it would be beneficial to customers if the published job title described the function of the person ie careers adviser rather than generic personal adviser because it helps clarify things for the client'. (Discussion Topic: Career Guidance in General, Career Guidance in Connexions)
There's also some research into this: the OECD review of UK Career Guidance Policy, Bridging the Gap' (2003) states: 'the removal of the term 'career' from the title both of Connexions and those working within it might be unhelpful in relation to public recognition of career guidance ... career guidance for young people needs to retain a strong and visible identity'. Also, in CGT March 09 (Vol 17.1), Paul Greer's questionnaire to a sample of 50 personal advisers ('professionalism in career guidance') found, 'Connexions PAs considered their own status low, the loss of the word 'careers' from their job title rankling particularly'.
There's the opinion of another past president, Rachel Mulvey: writing about career guidance in England in the BJGC in Feb 06 (34, No 1), and specifically on Connexions, she states: 'It is no longer a specialist careers service, and the very word 'careers' has been conspicuous by its absence in the new culture ... those delivering the service are known as personal advisers with no immediate identification of those who have obtained a specialist qualification in career guidance'.
And finally there's the Scottish context: Tony Watts in Progress and Potential (2005), his review of Careers Scotland (3.5), states: 'The Highlands and Islands structure is potentially open to some of the risks noted by OECD in relation to Connexions in England, that the undifferentiated use of the term 'adviser' will make it harder for customers to discriminate between those qualified to offer intensive guidance and those not and that it might erode the specialised career guidance knowledge, qualifications and skills base'.
The title 'skills development adviser' is on the one hand too specific - skill ('so you don't deal with people who are looking for information and advice about university or college?'- but on the other too vague - 'skills development' like 'personal adviser' is non-specific. I'd be interested in hearing the views of others on this. |
| Posted: Fri May 29th, 2009 3:09 p.m. |
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Re: What's in a job title? |
I believe strongly that any guidance organisation should have the words careers or guidance in the job titles of qualified practitioners. We must be recognisable as a profession and this is particularly important for our clients.
SDS can have the title "Skills Development" in it's title as an organisation without necessarily trying to tailor job titles to it's preferred nomenclature!
Paul Greers article strikes a chord with me as I left a Careers Company in England just prior to Connexions inception. It seems very clear that many staff feel that the perceptions of becoming somewhat de professionalised clearly correlates to the acquisition of the less focussed more ambiguous title of Personal Adviser.
I have also heard some people say that clinging to the term Careers Adviser is just being precious!
I have heard the argument that Chartered Accountants for example are called Financial Managers or Directors and are comfortable with this. I bet they would not be as comfortable if they were termed book keepers! Skills development is part of guidance but not it's entirety. Skills Development Adviser describes an element of the role that we do but does not do it justice.
Partner agencies also understand the role and title of a Careers Adviser. Crucially so do clients. Perhaps some research could be carried out with partners and client groups to see whether a change in job titles is necessary or whether it will hinder access to our services as clients struggle to understand what a Skills Development Adviser as opposed to a Careres Adviser actually does! |
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| Tue Jun 9th, 2009 3:34 p.m. |
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Re: What's in a job title? |
Hi Graham,
A very short answer - everything and nothing!
A slightly more considered response:
1. Agree with last post that some client views/research would help.
2. There seems to be (and has been for a while) a trend just about everywhere for name/title changes.
3. Not having 'career' in the title does imply the job is more than a 'career' focus.
4. There are pros and cons (as with everything) - identifying who actually benefits/is expected to benefit is what matters.
5. Does the cost justify the outcome?
6. The quality, competence and outcome/s of the actual work matters most. |
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| Wed Jun 17th, 2009 1:22 a.m. |
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