Inflated job titles pose potential pitfalls for employers: Experts

They may lead to sense of inequity, role mismatch and legal issues

- Tay Hong Yi

A fresh university graduate can be an "assistant director" in one public agency, but it requires at least five years' experience to earn that title in another.

Job title aside, the role that requires more experience appears to offer more pay and entail a wider job scope that includes managing a team.

For example, a search on professional networking platform LinkedIn on March 18 found that the Ministry of Trade and Industry listed 20 openings for assistant directors.

Most of these listings did not stipulate the minimum number of years of experience candidates should have, but The Straits Times understands the ministry has hired fresh university graduates as assistant directors before.

Meanwhile, several job listings for assistant directors by the Ministry of Manpower and National Population and Talent Division sought at least five years' experience.

Human resources experts said that in some cases, the need to project prestige for employees dealing with external parties and to motivate talent makes pinning down the right title challenging.

This adds to the risk of inflated job titles, which can occur in both the private and public sectors.

Mr Monty Sujanani, country manager of recruitment firm Robert Walters Singapore, said employers may put weightier titles to outward-facing roles in a bid to seem more credible to their customers and partners.

"By promising a 'nice business card', organisations think they become more attractive to candidates. In doing so, they create the expectation of challenging responsibilities and stimulating projects," he added.

The firm flagged job title inflation, and its potential pitfalls, in a statement earlier in March.