Titles

Went to a fun-filled Fiesta event on Friday night.(for those of you who don't know, Fiesta is a big-ass, 2-week long party in San Antonio)  While there, I started noticing workers wearing various t-shirts.  There was "Vendor" which I'm assuming are the people that work the booths.  There was the one that said "Clean-up Crew", which I kinda figured out was the people that clean up, but my personal favorite was the one that read "Trash Engineer".  Apparantly a "Trash Engineer" is a step above a lowly "Clean-up Crew" member.  I'm assuming they went to some special schooling somewhere to learn the in-depth ins & outs of carrying around those black plastic bags.(I have a BS from Rubbish University)  I'm guessing they don't have to do any of the mundane tasks like sweep or mop.(reserved for the clean-up crew)  They are more of a technical breed.  They demand excellence.  

So why the title?  When I was in high-school a few years back, one of my cousins got a summer job as an "Irrigation Engineer".  Turns out he worked in a rice field, and his job was to use a hoe (the kind you chop with, not the kind you have, well you know...) to cut a gap in the dyke and let the water flood into the next field.  But he had a title.   

You can't call somebody a Secretary now, has to be Administrative Assistant.  How about a cashier at the local fast food place?  Now they are a Customer Service Specialist.  Somebody that works in the maintenance department at your apartment building?  Not a Maintenance Man.  Not a Maintenance Person.  But a Maintenance Engineer. 

When did titles become so important?  I've personally always held the belief that I don't care what you call me as long as the check doesn't bounce.  I have seen it happen where if somebody gets a promotion in a department, other people get a title!  Now that's just down-right silly!  Kinda goes back to the whole concept of not keeping score in Little League games.  The kids know who wins!  Don't want Hector to get offended that Luis got a raise and a promotion, so we'll give Hector a title to make him feel better.  How bout using this instead; "Hector, we appreciate all you continue to do for us, but Luis has just outperformed you in all aspects of your job.  My advice to you is to work harder and smarter, and maybe you can get a raise and a promotion".

It used to be that titles meant something.  An engineer was somebody that went to school for a long time, passed a big, hard test, and then worked for a while to gain knowledge.(or the guy who drove the train)  A "specialist" was somebody that had studied (either in school or on the job) for a long time and was the best in that field.  A title, in some ways described you.  I think the whole "title of the month" idea is for the birds.  It has kind of diminished things for those that do have a fancy title.  Like me.  I'm known as the "Crap-Catcher".  Actually says that on my business cards.  Makes me feel special!