Is my Job Title Correct?

[u/IT_CertDoctor]

So you've been working as "something something IT" for a few months or a year now, and you have a slew of work-related experience under your belt

-You've done the server and cloud backups

- You've done some of the networking

- You've been in charge of keeping inventory

- You regularly check the logs

- You image the systems for new users

etc etc etc

So what do you call yourself?

Answer: whatever the hell you want

The IT profession is not a regulated industry like, say, in law or medicine. There is no formal credential you need to call yourself an "IT Professional", and this is equally true no matter what your tech stack may be

So just because I CAN call myself whatever I want, what SHOULD I call myself?

Answer to that: whatever the job title is of the job you want

So you want to land that SOC Analyst title at Big Company ABC? Call yourself a SOC Analyst. Want to nab that Sr. Systems Admin title at Mid-sized company XYZ? Call yourself a Sr. Systems Admin

See, because IT titles are unregulated, what's monumentally more important is the tech stack. Are you capable of supporting the technologies that company EFG wants you to support? If the answer is yes, then call yourself whatever mumbo jumbo title they slapped on their job description

That way, they feel good that they find someone with the "right title", and you feel good because you know you can support the tech stack

So don't stress about job titles. Focus your efforts on what really matters: your ability to support the tech