What is a Title? Differentiating Titles and Positions

In a professional work environment, the two terms "title" and "position" are often used, but not everyone fully understands the difference between them. Clearly distinguishing these two concepts not only helps individuals correctly define their roles but also supports organizations in effectively managing and developing human resources.

What is a job title?

Titleis a title, position, or role recognized by a legitimate organization or collective, reflecting an individual's expertise, competence, or status in a specific field. It is a recognition of academic rank, degree, professional ability, or individual qualification. A title is often associated with each individual throughout their career, regardless of whether they change job positions.

Examples of titles include:

• Doctor:This title reflects medical expertise and the ability to diagnose and treat diseases. A doctor who has been granted a medical practice certificate will hold this title whether they work at Bach Mai Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, or a small private clinic.
• Engineer:This title recognizes the ability to apply scientific and technological knowledge to practice. An IT engineer can work for FPT Software as a programmer, or switch to Viettel as a product development specialist, but the engineer title still follows them.
• Dr.:This is the highest degree in the higher education system, demonstrating extensive research and specialized knowledge. A person with a doctorate can be a lecturer at Hanoi National University, or work as a research specialist at a scientific institute.
• Professor, Associate Professor:These scientific titles represent outstanding professional qualifications, teaching, and research experience, often recognized by the State Professorship Council.
• Counsel:This title acknowledges the ability to practice law, represent clients in court or provide legal advice.

Distinguishing between title and position

To better understandWhat is a title, it needs to be compared with position. These are two related but fundamentally different concepts:

Title

• Nature:It is the recognition of academic rank, degree, professional competence, or individual qualifications.
• Properties:Often permanent or very long-term, tied to the individual. It expresses the level and professional ability that the individual achieves through learning, training, and experience.
• Example:Doctor, Engineer, Doctor (PhD), Master (Thạc sĩ), Architect, Chief Accountant (if recognized as a professional title), Teacher, Lecturer. A person with the title "Master" (Thạc sĩ) will retain that title even if they do not work in a related field or change jobs.

Position

• Nature:It is the specific role, authority, and responsibility that an individual undertakes within an organization at a given time.
• Properties:Can be changed, rotated, or promoted within the organizational structure. The title is associated with a position in the organizational chart of a business or agency.
• Example:President, CEO, Department Head, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Team Leader, Vice President, Sales Representative, Secretary. A person might be a "Marketing Department Head" at Company A, but when moving to Company B, they might take on the role of "Marketing Specialist" or "Marketing Director" depending on the new organizational structure.

Real-world example

To make it easier to visualize, consider the following cases:

• A titled person"Doctor"and currently holds the position"Head of Internal Medicine"at Military Hospital 108. If this person transferred to Hanoi Medical University Hospital, they would still hold the title of "Doctor" but could assume the positions of "Deputy Head of the Outpatient Department" or "Attending Physician."
• An individual holding a title"Software Engineer"and holds the position of"Product Development Team Lead"at VNG Company. When they moved to work for VinGroup conglomerate, they were still "Software Engineers" but could be appointed to the position of "Senior Specialist" or "Project Manager".
• An official"Doctor of Economics"and is holding the position of"Chief Executive Officer"at Asia Commercial Bank (ACB). After a period, this individual may be appointed to the position of"Chairman of the Board of Directors", but their title "Doctor of Economics" does not change.

Meaning of job title

UnderstandingWhat is a job titleand its role brings many important implications for both individuals and organizations.

For employees

• Enhance personal value and reputation:A recognized title such as "Doctor," "Level II Specialist Doctor," or "Chief Engineer" not only reflects academic qualifications but also affirms professional competence and experience accumulated over many years of work. This helps individuals build trust and credibility in their field.
• Creating motivation and guiding development:When achieving a high-level title, employees are further motivated to maintain and develop their capabilities. A title also helps them have a clearer career progression path, for example, from "Engineer" to "Senior Engineer" or "Lead Engineer".
• Consolidate professional responsibility:Titles come with expectations of ethical and professional standards. A "Professor" has a high responsibility in knowledge dissemination and scientific research, similar to how a "Lawyer" must strictly adhere to professional conduct rules.
• Expand career opportunities:Professional titles or advanced academic degrees are often important factors for applying to positions requiring specialized expertise, or participating in national or international projects. For example, an "Associate Professor" can easily be invited to speak at international scientific conferences.

For Businesses and Organizations

• Clearly define capabilities and qualifications:Job titles help businesses accurately assess the professional competency of candidates or current employees, thereby placing them in suitable positions. For example, a pharmaceutical company will prioritize hiring candidates with the titles "Pharmacist" or "Doctor" for research and product development positions.
• Basis for recruitment and human resource management:Titles are one of the important criteria in the recruitment process, helping businesses screen applications and select talent. They also serve as a basis for building appropriate training, development, and compensation policies for each level of expertise. For example, large banks like Vietcombank often have specialized title frameworks for finance-related positions, which helps standardize the promotion process.
• Enhance reputation and brand image:A business with a highly qualified team (e.g., many "PhD holders", "Masters", "Chief Engineers") will build a professional and trustworthy image in the eyes of partners and customers.
• Attracting quality talent:Talented candidates often seek a work environment with opportunities for professional development and recognition through clear titles. This helps businesses attract and retain talent.

To our customers and community

• Build trust and peace of mind:When interacting with individuals holding high professional titles, customers often feel more secure and confident in the quality of the service or product. For example, customers will feel more at ease when examined by a "Specialist Doctor I" or receiving legal advice from an experienced "Lawyer".
• Ensure effective communication:Correctly identifying a person's title helps avoid confusion and ensures respect in communication. Someone addressed by their correct title (e.g., "Professor" instead of just "Mr./Ms.") will feel respected and valued.

UnderstoodWhat is a title?and how to differentiate it from a position is an important part of building a professional and effective work environment. It not only helps each individual define themselves but also serves as the foundation for the solid development of every organization.