‘A job title should tell people what your job is. If it needs an entire paragraph to translate it into plain English, then it has failed as a title’: Employee reflects on LinkedIn’s cryptic titles for completely normal jobs

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Olivia Arocena • Writer and Editor
Aug 31, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

At this point, we should create a LinkedIn dictionary

I've been saying this for the longest time: I think employers might have good intentions when titling their job offers like this, such as trying to make potential workers feel more important, but the problem is, nobody understands what they're applying for anymore, and everybody is losing an opportunity!

All jokes aside, I would love it if someone on LinkedIn could honestly create a dictionary to help job seekers find better positions. Most of the time, you are qualified, but titles sound so fancy you think the role is out of your league, and it's exhausting to read the long description and try to understand what the company is actually trying to say.

I don't think companies are really going to make the effort to be more transparent when they post their job vacancies; that's why I think workers should help each other learn how to decode them.

Anyways, do you agree with this employee, or do you think he just doesn't get it and is exaggerating? Are the titles unclear, or are they just specific? Maybe it's not that the titles are cryptic; it's that jobs themselves have become less straightforward.

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  • Let's be real

    Cheezburger Image 10659746304
    via Evangeline Shaw

    So what is the actual job description?

    Stock photography for depiction only

  • linkedIn titles are mostly cosplay

    Recently, our company posted two full-time openings: "Salesperson" and "Assistant HR Executive." We received plenty of applications, but I noticed something while reviewing them: many job
    via RedFlagAnalyst
  • titles no longer tell you what the person actually does. A salesperson is now a "Growth Strategist." A recruiter is a "Talent Acquisition Partner."
    via RedFlagAnalyst
  • I understand that some industries have legitimate titles that may sound inflated. However, many people seem to choose titles based on prestige. rather than the work they actually perform.
    via RedFlagAnalyst
  • A job title should tell people what your job is. If it needs an entire paragraph to translate it into plain English, then it has failed as a title.
    via RedFlagAnalyst

  • What are we applying for?

    ALL COLOR NOW HIRING
    via Nathan Sack

    Hiring for unclear roles

    Representative only

  • Honestly, straightforward titles sound more confident. Saying "I work in sales" is clearer and more genuine.
    via RedFlagAnalyst
  • Hakushakuu I actually never knew 'Growth Strategist' was sales. My job is academic in nature so my friends think it sounds dumb. is a fellow?????
    via RedFlagAnalyst
  • pr1aa A good rule of thumb in LinkedIn: if someone's title too long to fit their profile badge, they're probably full of sh
    via pr1aa
  • Victor Vanguard I recently did work with a customer and everyone's title was 'Assistant Director'. Meetings were totally baffling as they seemed so top heavy.
    via VictorVanguard

  • Can anyone decode them?

    Cheezburger Image 10659759616
    via LinkedIn Sales Solutions

    Employee reading cryptic job titles

    Not actual story subjects

  • Very few people can say ‘I only do this specific and concrete thing’, maybe only people who work in traditional fields, and that’s maybe why we’re resorting to more abstract definitions; I’m not sure.

  • This was posted under the subreddit /unpopular opinion, but I think we’re about to discover it's actually a really popular one; we just haven’t talked about it much because most of us assume everyone else understands, and we are the only ones who don’t.

    At least that was what was happening to me, and now I’m beginning to understand. Do you know any journalists, or even influencers, who have covered this topic?

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work workplace toxic-work-environment
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