Reorg has 'downgraded' my job title, what to do on LinkedIn?

[Cloo]

So I have survived redundancy - however, they are cutting down on 'layers' in the organisation, which means I lose my 'senior editor' title, as there now can only be the manager and everyone below her in my team (I keep my higher pay, though). I guess this will become effective next month when the entire consultation is finished and I'm wondering what I should do on my LinkedIn profile, because I don't want to look like I got actively 'demoted' from being senior, but it's a shame to lose the senior bit as that shows that I was recognised and made some progress in the org during this job. I think I'm probably just going to have to leave it out and ignore the senior title, unless anyone has any better suggestions? I don't think I can change it to 'Editor But I Wasn't Demoted, We Just Had a Reorg, OK?!'

 

[killer b]

Do you need to bother updating it?

 

[Saul Goodman]

Or do nothing, and explain if asked.

 

[strung out]

How long have you had the senior editor job title? I would just add it as a separate role and explain it in the role description, or call it a secondment into that role for however long you officially had it for. It happens plenty when people cover more senior roles on a fixed term basis, e.g. maternity cover etc. and you can explain the circumstances if you are ever required to.

 

[Pickman's model]

If you have to change it why not put 'editor, senior editor'
After all you're not changing
And if it gives the impression you were promoted well never mind

 

[Supine]

Leave linkedin as is and say you rarely use it if asked

 

[platinumsage]

just make the S lower case.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

Senior editor/editor

Who cares about the sequence, it’s not like the day to day job will change much. You will be one of the senior editors there if they’ve not employed people with greater experience in the meantime. Don’t worry about it too much about LinkedIn, put it down to creative ambiguity.

 

[Cloo]

Thanks pseudonarcissus - that might be the best solution!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

alternatively, would work let you keep the old job title even if the role has changed a bit? i've known this happen at some places after reorganisations / mergers and so on

 

[Cloo]

I've got a meeting to discuss the fallout of everything tomorrow, so maybe I'll bring up then

 

[Spymaster]

Leave the LinkedIn profile as it is. If anyone brings it up just say you didn't consider it and decide what to do with it then. You'll probably find that no one else cares.

 

[RubyToogood]

I've got a meeting to discuss the fallout of everything tomorrow, so maybe I'll bring up then

I think you should push back, personally. Why would you accept a lesser job title?

 

[moochedit]

So I have survived redundancy - however, they are cutting down on 'layers' in the organisation, which means I lose my 'senior editor' title, as there now can only be the manager and everyone below her in my team (I keep my higher pay, though). I guess this will become effective next month when the entire consultation is finished and I'm wondering what I should do on my LinkedIn profile, because I don't want to look like I got actively 'demoted' from being senior, but it's a shame to lose the senior bit as that shows that I was recognised and made some progress in the org during this job. I think I'm probably just going to have to leave it out and ignore the senior title, unless anyone has any better suggestions? I don't think I can change it to 'Editor But I Wasn't Demoted, We Just Had a Reorg, OK?!'

There is a sales person at my work that describes themself as "Sales Director" on linkedin despite not being a director of the company (which the boss confirmed to us when we asked him). So i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[nogojones]

Leave the LinkedIn profile as it is. If anyone brings it up just say you didn't consider it and decide what to do with it then. You'll probably find that no one else cares.

I think she should double down and say she's now the Super Senior Editor

 

[Puddy_Tat]

it's the linkedin bit that has made it awkward.

it occurs to me that some years ago, i got 'downgraded' in job title, the grade i was in got split in to a higher level with the same job title and a lower level with a new job title - since i'd only moved up to that level, i ended up in the lower grade (although i kept the same pay band and everything) so i just use the second job title on the CV and nobody's any the wiser.

is it going to do anyone any harm if you have your job title 'protected'?

 

[Spymaster]

I think she should double down and say she's now the Super Senior Editor

I’ve found a few times that people who’ve left us have given themselves promotions on Linked In or even completely different jobs. The first thing I do when I get reference requests is ring the former employee up and ask them what they want me to write.

 

[maomao]

I knew someone who was sacked for, among other things, claiming to be a director of the company that he worked as a telephonist for on Linkedin. I doubt that leaving 'senior' in your job title would even be noticed let alone commented on.

 

[Johnny Doe]

Change your title to 'Dictator perpetuo' and if anyone questions it, threaten to have them disappeared

 

[A380]

I knew someone who was sacked for, among other things, claiming to be a director of the company that he worked as a telephonist for on Linkedin. I doubt that leaving 'senior' in your job title would even be noticed let alone commented on.

Director is a legal position though in ltd companies. Claiming to be one when you weren’t is a bit more serious than normal tittle inflation.

Personally I’d go for oberfuhrer editor ( Tempory)

 

[nogojones]

Director is a legal position though in ltd companies. Claiming to be one when you weren’t is a bit more serious than normal tittle inflation.

Personally I’d go for oberfuhrer editor ( Tempory)

One of my job titles (and not just one I made up for the lulz) had director in it and I was totally legally irresponsible, so I reckon you can wing it with the correct puncutation

 

[nogojones]

I’ve found a few times that people who’ve left us have given themselves promotions on Linked In or even completely different jobs. The first thing I do when I get reference requests is ring the former employee up and ask them what they want me to write.

This is pretty much how I write references for old employees - tell them to write it themselves, I'll just spell check it, make sure it's not TOO out there, sometimes even big them up a bit more - because most people downplay their abilities and skills and sign it off

 

[DaveCinzano]

Amend to

Asskicker/Bubblegumchewer (Senior)

 

[equationgirl]

Director is a legal position though in ltd companies. Claiming to be one when you weren’t is a bit more serious than normal tittle inflation.

Personally I’d go for oberfuhrer editor ( Tempory)

People call themselves directors all the time. There's a difference between 'Engineering director, Widgets zlimited' and 'Director of Widgets Limited'.

Director is used all the time, I work for a number of directors, some of whom are company directors but many aren't. Academics leading a particular research unit or centre will often also use the title of director rather than Head of Widgets Research.

 

[Spymaster]

People call themselves directors all the time. There's a difference between 'Engineering director, Widgets zlimited' and 'Director of Widgets Limited'.

Director is used all the time, I work for a number of directors, some of whom are company directors but many aren't. Academics leading a particular research unit or centre will often also use the title of director rather than Head of Widgets Research.

In the UK, some Europeans, and US banking, as you suggest, they're just ranks. A VP earns less than a Director, and a Managing Director is top of the pops. None are executive/board level positions in the firm.

 

[Spymaster]

This is pretty much how I write references for old employees - tell them to write it themselves, I'll just spell check it, make sure it's not TOO out there, sometimes even big them up a bit more - because most people downplay their abilities and skills and sign it off

Yeah, you need to bit a bit careful because there can be legal repercussions but I've been known to write Tolkienesque bollocks on references.

So far so good

 

[nogojones]

Yeah, you need to bit a bit careful because there can be legal repercussions but I've been known to write Tolkienesque bollocks on references.

So far so good

I was lucky. Almost all the people who worked with us were great and really committed, The few that were useless and shouldn't have been working in the industry I'd point in the direction of HR who would just write them a factual reference stating job title, dates of service and all the mundane things that HR like to say.

I do recall writing one very carefully worded one once for a team leader who was corrupt, useless and spiteful - I couldn't say the truth because he'd have never got the job and we wanted shot of him quickly so gave him one that was good enough, but was quite economical with the truth.

 

[equationgirl]

Ah yes, the 'His unique contribution will be sadly mised' approach.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

In the UK, some Europeans, and US banking, as you suggest, they're just ranks. A VP earns less than a Director, and a Managing Director is top of the pops. None are executive/board level positions in the firm. I've been a VP at Paribas and a couple of others, and a Director at JPM/C at 2 more.

In banking they tend to have loads of VPs don't they, it's not like they have one president and one vice president, like in politics/countries.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

I'd say leave as is on LinkedIn for now. People tend to update their profiles if/when they're looking for a new job so it's not uncommon for profiles to be slightly out of date.

But I would raise it in the meeting, say you're concerned and would like to retain your job title, if possible, because otherwise it's going to look on your CV like you've been demoted when you haven't, and that wouldn't be accurate or fair. Ask your boss how they think you should get round it, get them to come up with a solution.