What does your job title say about you?
By Parul L. Bhandari / October 27, 2025
Do titles really matter? Yes, and more than you might think.
My journey from big-company HR to startups and tech taught me one big lesson, we cannot rely on companies to get it right. Most often, they are piecing together “something” versus nothing. Titles and salaries are often areas where creativity leads, and people lose.
At face value, a title is just a few words on an org chart or email signature. But in reality, it signals a lot - how much scope you own, what kind of influence you have, and where you sit in your company’s hierarchy. And that is just internal impact.
Titles also shape how peers perceive your seniority, how leadership evaluates your impact, and even how recruiters assess your next opportunity.
Here’s the thing: Being intentional about titles isn’t about ego. It’s about equity.
While many of us don’t join a company for the title alone, ignoring it can quietly work against you. When titles are unclear, inconsistent, or inflated, it can muddy the waters, and lead to unbalanced roles and expectations.
A thoughtful, standardized approach to titling helps create a level playing field. It also gives people the language they need to advocate for themselves, build confidence, and take the next step.
Whenever I work with a new customer, join a new team, or coach a CSM, I am always focused on setting expectations with my teams first - what is the job, what are you expected to do in it and when can you say “no”. For CS teams, this last part is especially important and avoids our becoming a “catch-all” function.
Whether you’re building a Customer Success organization from scratch or maturing a team into a strategic growth engine, titles matter. They’re part of the system that supports (or stalls) career progression, pay equity, and leadership development.
The takeaway? Your title tells your story - not just where you are now, but where you’re headed next.
Is your team’s titling strategy helping or holding you back?
Want to learn about my practices for titling and choosing key job requirements?
Check out my webinar with Melo Associates where I talk about Titles for Customer Success (and how I got inspired to write my section).
Or, dive into setting your team up with the right expectations, by booking a time to chat further.
