“Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third...” I’m sure you probably recognize these words from the classic comedy routine made famous by American comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. If you don’t know this routine, it’s well worth the watch. In fact, even if you’ve heard it a dozen times before, it’s still a fun listen (go ahead, watch the clip...you know you want to)! ;-)
In the sketch, Abbott says to Costello: “Strange as it may seem, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names.” The same can certainly be said of position titles. Though not all of them are necessarily peculiar, there are definitely some creative titles being used in the professional world today.
Personally, I prefer more functional titles that reflect the true nature of a role. As a ‘talent acquisition specialist’, however, I understand and appreciate why many companies choose non-traditional titles. Imaginative titles can be used to convey a company’s culture, attract a specific talent pool, or simply help the company stand out from others in the market. But, what happens when the novelty of the title fades away?
It’s interesting to note that the “Who’s on First?” routine was first performed by Abbott and Costello in 1938. It’s hard to believe this skit is nearly 80 years old and still has an impact on audiences today. I wonder if some of today’s more ‘fashionable’ titles could stand the same test of time!
In the sketch, Abbott says to Costello: “Strange as it may seem, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names.” The same can certainly be said of position titles. Though not all of them are necessarily peculiar, there are definitely some creative titles being used in the professional world today.
- Sales & Marketing: Sales Ninja, Chief Evangelist, Director of Storytelling
- Human Resources: Chief People Officer, Head of Talent & Culture, People Ambassador
- Engineering: Robot Whisperer, Wizard of DevOps, AI Guru
- Project Management: Master of Projects, Transformation Artist
- Support: Service Champion, Customer Coach, Support Warrior
Personally, I prefer more functional titles that reflect the true nature of a role. As a ‘talent acquisition specialist’, however, I understand and appreciate why many companies choose non-traditional titles. Imaginative titles can be used to convey a company’s culture, attract a specific talent pool, or simply help the company stand out from others in the market. But, what happens when the novelty of the title fades away?
It’s interesting to note that the “Who’s on First?” routine was first performed by Abbott and Costello in 1938. It’s hard to believe this skit is nearly 80 years old and still has an impact on audiences today. I wonder if some of today’s more ‘fashionable’ titles could stand the same test of time!
