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Opinions on job title with promotion:

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Caroline Appel

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Opinions on job title with promotion:

I work as a senior medical writer for a medical database that provides disease and drug information to doctors and am getting a promotion to medical editor as of January 1st 2025. I wanted to gather people’s thoughts about whether I should change my job title on LinkedIn. It seems like being an editor is not necessarily considered a step up from being a writer in some medical communications realms, though it is at my company. As an example, many types of editing are not considered as complex as writing (e.g. copy editing, and we also call various assistants that we have to help us publish content on our website “editors” - the names vary but include “content editors” and “associate editors” and they are on different, less technically/medically oriented career tracks than traditional medical writers/editors). The promotional pathway for a medical writer here starts at “medical writer”—> “senior medical writer” —> “medical editor” —> “senior medical editor” —> “principal medical editor”. The somewhat unfortunate thing is that these titles that are part of our company’s vernacular differ a little from the titles that HR uses, wherein a medical editor is given an HR title of “senior medical editor I” or “senior medical editor II” which differentiates us above the level of copy editors and various associate and content editors. I think I should not change my LinkedIn except to add /editor ( “senior medical writer/editor”) so as to retain the “senior” title, but I’d also like to show that I was promoted to a higher position - I just don’t know if it will be clear if I do that.

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  1. Anonymous

    Are you specifically looking for another job? If not, I would just list your title accurately in whatever way it would be confirmed through HR. By showing a new position at the same company, it's generally presumed that you were promoted. You can make the new job description clear on the duties and can also use your summary to show that you've been promoted from writer to editor. I wouldn't list anything that might be taken as misdirection, especially if someone from your current job looks at it.

  2. Anonymous

    As someone looking in from the outside, I always envisioned the [function] "Editor" (capital E) as opposed to a [copy or other lower function] editor(lower case e) as a higher and more comprehensive position than a writer. Copy editors typically correct grammatical and non-technical writing aspects. Editors (capital E) are in charge of a type of writing or a complete publication and look at the whole or section of the publication for continuity, integrity, and accuracy. Once your title change is official, I see no harm in changing the title on LinkedIn, especially if you are open to new opportunities and looking to keep stepping up. As one of the bullet points, you can put you were promoted to the position. You should state a reason and include your new and upgraded responsibilities. That way, there is no question that this is a higher position.

  3. Anonymous

    Yep, do just that, medical writer/editor as your title. Then in your profile, list the start date, January 1, 2025 - Present with your new title, then list the bits of duties (and since this is your wheelhouse, you will know the difference of the duties). Also, upload your resume into LinkedIn as well. I do this not so much to seek work as to explain to the world my background. Most misinterpret my title in the outside world as something different. Hope that helps and congrats to you!

  4. Anonymous

    Yes, change the title, but in the content of things be sure it illuminates that you continue to write content as well as edit for others.

  5. maria rose

    You are putting too much emphasis on the slightly different aspects of editing writing and editor. Every skill you have is not disappearing from your list of job skills but you are now assuming supervisor skills to review other people’s edits. That’s what you should be adding on to your Linkedln page. I am also assuming that your promotion included a raise otherwise you only got what is called a soft promotion of a title . Present it on the site to your advantage.

  6. AnsgarBachmann
    Ich würde die Beförderung als neue Station eintragen und im Beschreibungstext den internen Karriereweg erklären. So bleibt sichtbar, dass „Medical Editor“ bei euch über „Senior Medical Writer“ liegt, auch wenn Außenstehende den Titel anders lesen könnten. Wer danach noch eine kurze Online-Auszeit sucht, kann http://betlabel-casino.com.de mit einem vorher festgelegten Budget prüfen.

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