General Discussions

**idesignstudios** · 03:57 PM

Hi,

I am hoping for some suggesions on the most appropriate job title for me. I work full time for a web/graphic design company. My boss wants to update my title and we're trying to find the most accurate (but still professional sounding one).

Here's a link to my resume - http://www.selenedesign.com (this job is the 2nd one listed, with the title of 'Senior Designer' - you can see my capabilities in the skills at the top of the page anyway, though)

I basically call myself a Web Designer / Front-End Web Developer on my personal resume site. I use the title Owner / Web Designer for my own business (but can probably come up with something better?)

My old title was Senior Designer, but I'm more of a web person than a graphic person, so the boss wants a more appropriate title.

Would you think Webmaster? Web Designer/Developer? (my boss thinks front-end web developer sounds strange).

TIA for your suggestions!!!

**Learning Newbie** · 06-15-2007, 04:42 PM

Webmaster is so 1990s. Forget that one.

Maybe instead of front-end say user interface?

**idesignstudios** · 06:33 PM

Thank You! lol, That's how I feel about it, too, but it's the title my boss likes the best.

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but when I hear Webmaster as a title, I think of when I first started in the mid-90's... I think of a 1 man show sort of thing - as in 'just' a webmaster of either someone's own site, or wembaster of one company's web site. I need to get a good count, but I've worked on at least a hundred sites (whether it's standard design, just development (no design), domain/hosting/email/etc. setup, ecommerce setup, the list goes on.....)

And while it is accurate as in it's sort of a jack of all web trades, it just sounds outdated to me.

The problem is, the term webmaster covers all of it - there is just soooo much that I do at my job - more than a web designer (I think?).

I don't mind using Webmaster at my job itself (signature file for ex) BUT when I think about the bigger picture, I really don't want my official title to be Webmaster on my resume, kwim? I mean, I'm going from 'Senior Designer' to Webmaster? I kind of want something more prestigious.

Anyway, User Interface Developer sounds good, but I do so much more than just that, too.

This should be easier

**francesca_luise** · 06-16-2007, 08:42 AM

When you say front end it is just the site itself meaning you can only program within that site but you cant develop connecting it on a database which is called as back end

**idesignstudios** · 06-16-2007, 10:05 AM

Yes, for front-end, I can design the site, code the html (or xhtml, css, etc.), or create a site entirely in flash. I can install and configure a number of diff shopping carts, etc.Basically all front end stuff.

I don't do any programming work (we outsource that). I can do some limited things, like while installing a cart, you have to connect to the MySQL, etc. I can go into some php code and make minor edits, etc. But I can't actually write php or any other programming, etc. I consider this all back-end work.

I know in general, when someone referrs to a developer, they are more referring to programming and other back-end work, so that's why front-end developer would be more appropriate for me.

I dunno, my boss thinks 'front-end developer' sounds weird. It's the main thing that I do, although I do a lot of other stuff, too.

**francesca_luise** · 06-18-2007, 05:23 AM

Are you saying that your site had no database? How can there be a interactions between the user and your site.. It should have back end Like MS SQL, My Sql etc connecting on your front end example PHP, Vb.net etc

**idesignstudios** · 06-18-2007, 04:22 PM

It depends on the site (I've worked on well over a hundred sites in the 9+ years I've been doing this). A few have MySQL databases - the databases were created and linked to the site by a programmer. My work was on the front-end for these. The others are static sites - regular HTML/XHTML with a cgi script used as a contact form (on sites that have a form - some don't have anything like that, and just list an email address). Again, all front-end work on my part.

**ADAM Web Design** · 06-18-2007, 05:33 PM

"Front-end developer" does sound weird, and it's so corporate-whorish. I wouldn't use that.

Technically, you'd be a web designer. I don't believe in Senior or Junior or Intermediate or whatever...if you design web pages, you're a web designer. Period.

You can always do what I do when people ask me what I do..."I'm a GEEK." They laugh and never have followup questions.

**idesignstudios** · 06-18-2007, 06:14 PM

Thanks Adam. I like web designer, too (think I'm probably trying to get too technical w/ front-end web developer, lol).

Do you agree that webmaster also doesn't sound right (as in sounds like an older term?) I'm trying to see if my perception of that title is the same as everyone else's?

Oh, and LOL at GEEK! I like that

**francesca_luise** · 06-20-2007, 05:09 AM

Make no mistake of calling your self as front end developer because you are saying it means the site has no database just a front end. I prefer, web developer

**EGS** · 06-22-2007, 01:11 AM

Web Designer or Senior Web Designer would be the best title...they are the most accurate.

**ksmglobal** · 06-22-2007, 10:13 AM

I think that Web Designer is also correct.

As you state that you do not do or know programming then I do not really think that you should use Developer. Please correct me if I am wrong but is a developer not the same as a programmer..

I employ both web designers and web developers. Designers create the look of the site and the developers create the functionality of the site.

**jamestl2** · 06-22-2007, 01:33 PM

I like to refer to my self as "webmaster", because on my site I have complete control and make all the decisions.