What's your job title?

For any of my classes who have studied the role of the Human Resources Department, they know the importance that the job title plays in the job description to attract possible new employees. People want and expect their job title to reflect their level of seniority or responsibility.

With the current economic doom and gloom having a negative effect on salaries, could the lure of a fancy job title be they way of keeping staff motivated? Examples from the Plain English Campaign, a campaigning group against jargon and misleading public information, include the following:

• Ambient Replenishment Controller = Shelf stacker
• Regional Head of Services, Infrastructure and Procurement = Caretaker
• Revenue Protection Officers = Ticket inspectors
• Waste Removal Engineer = Binman
• Education Centre Nourishment Production Assistant = Dinner lady
• Vision Clearance Engineer = Window cleaner

However, a director at thinktank Policy Exchange thinks the pressure on public finances could signal the end for bizarre job titles as people will be more focussed on what people do and their titles. Both the private and public sector will have to focus on their core business. However, it does seem that the days of the self-evident career - the butcher, baker etc. - are all but gone.

P.S. I am not a teacher anymore, I am a knowledge navigator!