Negotiating Job Title before Accepting Job Offer:

Anonymous

August 26,2022 at 12:27PM UTC

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Negotiating Job Title before Accepting Job Offer:

Hi - looking for some advice, I recently was sent a job offer and during the congratulatory call the company informed me the job title I originally applied for had changed from a lead to an associate - the work duties are exactly the same, but as a professional in customer success for many years, associate is more often associated with entry-level positions. I'd like to accept the position but would like to request a change in job title to reflect my more senior experience and also considering the role is the first on the path to build out a larger CS team. Any advice would be great, thanks all!

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AyianAugust 26,2022 at 12:43PM UTC
Job title will also determine advancement opportunity and raises. Present this and what you have said in a reply to the offer. If they refuse, reconsider the worth of this job and this company in your life. Having a more entry level job title will limit your success.
AnonymousAugust 26,2022 at 1:26PM UTC
Thanks, that was my feeling as well, that in the future if/when I leave the company, my resume would look as though I stepped down in level of positions vs. moved laterally/advanced.
Debra SesholtzAugust 26,2022 at 1:12PM UTC
Did they say why they changed the job title? Your explanation of why you want the change in job title is a fair one. I would call the hiring manager and present this to them and see what they have to say. Hopefully, they will understand your position and negotiate this with you. Good luck!
AnonymousAugust 26,2022 at 1:25PM UTC
They stated that the lead job title, because this role was an individual contributor and not manager seemed mismatched - which I can understand but I feel a title of Senior CSM is more appropriate to match a senior level IC role.
AnonymousAugust 26,2022 at 1:39PM UTC
It will not hurt to ask about the job title as it did change. Make sure the salary matches your expected title as well and that they are not trying to save a buck for the lower title. Add in the justification of your experience to support your stance. It is expected during the offer period that negotiations will occur, and you never know until you ask!
Good Luck!!
Gretchen SkalkaAugust 26,2022 at 1:57PM UTC
You need to have a firm understanding of why that title changed before you accept.
Often titles are tied to compensation. Companies like Mercer and others do exhaustive studies to help companies align their compensation packages to title.
That's why you may often see tiers (I, II , III) on roles as this is tied to compensation, which is tied to career pathing, etc.
Understanding why it changed will also give you visibility into how such decisions are made - which you'll appreciate come annual review time and beyond.
AnonymousAugust 26,2022 at 2:02PM UTC
Speaking as a devil's advocate, if you ask them about salary and its the same, consider taking the lower title. I did this on purpose because I knew it meant that when I invariably got promoted, I would show growth and have a better salary at the next level. It definitely pushed me back a year career wise but financially I came out better off. In the grand scheme of things, a year or two isn't much but the salary level makes a difference for potentially your whole career. Just some food for thought!
AnonymousAugust 26,2022 at 2:05PM UTC
Yes, I see how this could work, but it would appear as though from my current job to this job I have gone down job title, an associate title would be lower than my current job title, so getting promoted from an associate would just look as though I was back at the level I should have been at
AnonymousAugust 26,2022 at 6:38PM UTC
That does sound not good. I thought it was at the same level as your current. Big difference. It sounds like they just want to shortchange you.
JJAugust 27,2022 at 3:50PM UTC
Do it!