Sales Titles

I was speaking to a woman today and when I asked her if she was a sales person, she informed me that she was a Business Development Manager.

I’ve been in sales for over twenty years. In my first job, I had the following titles: Sales Representative, Senior Sales Representative, Sales Specialist and Retail Sales Representative. At the next company I worked for, I was a Consultant, a Data Specialist, an Account Manager and a Senior Account Executive slash Hunter. I’ve also been an Account Executive, a Sales Consultant, I’ve been in New Business Development and once I was a Senior Account Executive slash free.

My point is, during this whole time, I did one thing: Sell.

Why all the different titles?

Because somehow “sales” became a dirty word (probably after half the population made a bad car deal) and someone had the brilliant idea to re-title ourselves. Meanwhile, does anyone really care? I just looked through about a hundred different business cards I’ve collected from the networking events I’ve attended. “Business Development” seems to be the “Isabella” of trendy sales labels.

I was a little disturbed to discover that some of the less spectacular sales professionals I know have better titles than I do. This one guy I know, who’s in his twenties and doesn’t even wear dress pants, is going around calling himself Vice President of New Business Development. What gives?!

The best title story I have, doesn’t even involve a sales person. I was working with an individual at a local credit union. The first time I met with him, he was an I.T. Manager. A few meetings later, he was the Director of I.T. The next time we met, I noticed he was the Vice President of I.T. I felt pretty comfortable with him at that point and mentioned the title change and asked him if he received a raise. He said no.