Discussion of Web titles
There are so many different Web titles, it's amazing. I've seen everything from: Webmaster, Webmistress, Web Producer, Web Designer, Web Developer, Web Architect, Web Programmer, and many more. What is your Web job title? I have been a Web Setter, a Web Manager, and a Web Writer, as well as several of the titles listed above. Right now I call myself a Web Developer, Web Designer, or Web Writer, but that could change.
The reason there are so many different titles is because there are so many different definitions for even the more basic titles like Webmaster. Here are some of the more recent replies I've received to my ongoing question: What is a Webmaster? Do you agree with these definitions? Read all the customer suggestions on my site here: Readers Answer: What is a Webmaster
"I agree with James, a Webmaster has to be everything to the web site. It even includes putting programs on the client/server side and at times acting as a sysop for the server. Adding/deleting email accounts and such. " - Corky
"In our office no one is titled "webmaster" but I am the person who is fits James' description. The person here who fits Ink's words has is focused on the hardware and access functionality. They also have the greater knowledge about "behind-the-scene" codes. The work that really makes a site "sing and dance." I my roll I take care of the "Chrome" on the site. It's look. It's feel. It's flow. And the content which without would, of course, mean "there is no Web site!" This melding of responsibilit" - Janet
"To me a webmaster should be able to design a website that works from start to finish. He should be able to do the Layout, the coding, the writing,graphic,developing and publishing etc. He should possess all the necessary skills to manage and naintain a website. " - Paul
"The webmaster is responsible for the web site life cycle from conception, design, coding and through maintenance. If the webmaster is a one person operation, then they must know all the facets of web development. If part of a team, then the webmaster is the senior member. The content developers, web designers, graphic artists and web coders all report to and take direction from the webmaster. The larger the web team the more removed from actual web work with the webmaster assuming more admi" - Willard
"I believe a web master is in control of overseeing all details of web design and development." - Darth
Comments
Agreeing with Paul’s definition, the master “masters” something, in this case the Web, so he should be able to do everything, design the layout, do the coding part, and mantain. It is true though, that in an agency you shouldn’t have only one person doing everything, so you have the webdesigner, the web architect, and everything else that goes after web.
As someone who has moved from client to client over the past 20 odd years I’ve come to the conclusion that job titles of all ilks are irrelevant at best and misleading at worst. Two clients can use the same title to mean two very different things. Whether you’re called the CEO or the software engineer or the web whatever, it’s what you do that defines you not the arbitrary title given to you by your organization or by yourself on your resume.
I moved to Canada recently, and with the move came a new job, and a job title id not thought of myself as. Technical Designer. I think it sums up exactly what i do… CSS, (X)HTML with good design and graphic skills. I can sit perfectly between the guys who colour in all day and the guys who are shut in a dark room for days on end. (no offence to anyone)
I started using a research jobs site called Hound that I do not think anyone knows about because it is run by a small company that does not advertise. All Hound.com does is show you unadvertised job openings that are not publicly advertised. In my opinion, this makes your chances of getting jobs much better because the employers are not receiving many applications. I have gotten a ton of interviews through the site. If you are looking for a job I would highly recommend using it. Some of the listings had already been filled that I applied to but I still think it is a valuable resource.
I say “webmaster”, or my language’s equivalent of “web developer”.
In theory, I see the job as this:
There is a company, it DOESN’T do webpages. It does something else but has a great site.
The webmaster does everything the company didn’t do when they didn’t have the website, and does anything to the website they see fit. Anything else (that isn’t at the webmaster’s hands) should be defined. Any other jobs (designer, for example) too.
Why?
Because people expect the webmaster to be the “website person”.
I had too many conflicts at work when content people thought they knew UI better than me or design for the web better than our designer. That’s why my definition is so tough and covers so much.
The problem starts when the company is an Internet site company (say, Facebook). Then I think there shouldn’t be a “webmaster” job since it’s broken down into so many other jobs that compose most of the company.
Nay to “webmaster”.
First of all, you’re not the master of anything especially of all great things -the interwebs.
Secondly, it sounds a lot less humbling when somebody says they’re the master at anything.
Thirdly, the title “webmaster” sounds like a corny throwback to the 80’s.
Lastly, and this is the most important one… nobody cares. Oh and also, “webmistress” might just beat webmaster for being that much gayer.
In all seriousness though, the title “webmaster” should be done away with. It’s 2009 and the web has grown into a beast that needs to be tamed by numerous individuals that
specialize in different areas. If you create every single aspect of a website rather than using “Webmaster” try using “Web Developer” or “Web guy/person”