job titles on your business cards?

[swedstar]

Hi all,

What's your opinion on what job title to put on a business card as a contractor (I'm a system developer). I've got my own limited Company which means I'm also the managing director of the company. Is it appropriate to put Managing Director / System consultant as a job title? Maybe putting both titles on a business card look rather confusing and may even scare people off. Maybe I should get two sets of cards, one as a Managing Director and another one as a System developer.

Thanks
Swedstar

[Denny]

Hi all,

What's your opinion on what job title to put on a business card as a contractor (I'm a system developer). I've got my own limited Company which means I'm also the managing director of the company. Is it appropriate to put Managing Director / System consultant as a job title? Maybe putting both titles on a business card look rather confusing and may even scare people off. Maybe I should get two sets of cards, one as a Managing Director and another one as a System developer.

Thanks
Swedstar

How about 'Nerd' or 'Geek' Saves on the printing costs too.

Seriously, I would not put a job title as you are not in a job like a permie. Why not just put name, director, limited co name and put on the card what you actually do: system development.

[Cliphead]

Hi all,

What's your opinion on what job title to put on a business card as a contractor (I'm a system developer). I've got my own limited Company which means I'm also the managing director of the company. Is it appropriate to put Managing Director / System consultant as a job title? Maybe putting both titles on a business card look rather confusing and may even scare people off. Maybe I should get two sets of cards, one as a Managing Director and another one as a System developer.

Thanks
Swedstar

Banjo player. It earns more respect.

[thunderlizard]

I go for "Consultant" because it's vague enough to cover anything. If its your skills as a systems consultant that you're selling, use that title. Potential clients will be thinking "I want a systems consultant", not "I want a managing director".

[swedstar]

I think you're quite right thunderlizard. I shouldn't overcomplicate things by having two titles and since I'll be chasing work as a "consultant" (whatever that can be) it's definitely vague enough to cover all the aspects of work I'll carry out.

Cheers
Swedstar

[Ardesco]

I put Managing Director on mine, will always be true while my company is trading.

[Xenophon]

Consultant

[daviejones]

Banjo player. It earns more respect.

Yeah, but in a Deliverance kind of way!!

[Denny]

The problem with using the term 'consultant' is that you need to actually deliver consultancy services - go it, ascertain a problem, advise on the scope of the issues or work needed doing and write a report for senior management and exit from the company without actually doing the work needed. If you are doing the executing like an interim employed manager/engaged contractor would (actually doing the work that needs to be done to make it happen requiring you to be on site or working from your office - developing the system or programming etc.) then you are not strictly speaking a consultant.

Consultants earn big bucks, interim mgr/engaged contractors to do the hands on work, much less.

You need to be sure exactly what you are offering and where your expertise lies, otherwise your potential clients will not have a clue what your company is really about or what they should be prepared to pay. Being vague using a catch all 'title' is not the way to go.

[Jog On]

Director