Your job title is meaningless. And that is a good thing!

Hello!

It’s Thursday, 6^th February 2025. Welcome to Bold Efforts! If you’ve ever looked at a job title and thought, What does that even mean anymore? — you’re not alone. The world of work is changing so fast that job descriptions can barely keep up. "Marketing" doesn’t just mean marketing. "Product management" can mean anything from strategy to customer support.

Roles are blurring, and careers are starting to look more like a game of "Skill Tetris" — where the most valuable players aren’t the ones who fit neatly into boxes but those who can combine unexpected abilities to create something new.

Let’s dive into how job titles are losing meaning and why that might not be such a bad thing. First time reading? Join over 300 intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.

As always, send me feedback at [email protected].

Key Idea: The Identity Crisis of Job Titles

Once upon a time, job titles were straightforward. If you were a journalist, you wrote news. If you were a marketer, you promoted products. If you were an engineer, you built things. But today? Job titles are becoming vague, bloated, or downright misleading. A "Community Manager" could mean anything from social media moderation to high-level brand strategy. A "Chief Evangelist" — what exactly are they evangelizing? Even "Software Engineer" can range from writing complex algorithms to fixing bugs in an old legacy system.

Take marketing, for example. It used to be about advertising, branding, and campaigns. Now? A "Growth Marketer" is practically a data scientist, an "SEO specialist" is half an engineer, and a "Brand Strategist" might be closer to a psychologist than anything else. In tech, product managers don’t always manage products — they coordinate teams, set roadmaps, and sometimes even handle customer support. The line between functions is blurring, and roles are evolving into hybrids of multiple disciplines.

So how did we get here?

Technology, remote work, and hybrid teams have reshaped how businesses function. Smaller teams mean people wear multiple hats. Startups set the tone by hiring flexible generalists, and now even large corporations are following suit. The pandemic accelerated this shift, forcing employees to adapt overnight. The rise of AI has further disrupted traditional roles — copywriters now use ChatGPT, designers work with AI-assisted tools, and recruiters rely on automation.

Social media and personal branding have also contributed to this shift. People are crafting their own job titles to stand out. "Freelance consultant" has become "Fractional CMO". Instead of "HR executive" we now see "People & Culture Architect". These changes make roles sound more dynamic — but also more confusing. I am myself guilty of using some of these!

The "Skill Tetris" Era is upon us.

Think of your career as a game of Tetris. Some people follow the traditional path — stacking skills neatly, moving up in a linear fashion. Others collect odd-shaped skills that don’t seem to fit — until suddenly, everything clicks. The most valuable professionals today are those who can connect dots across disciplines.

Consider the rise of "creator-operators" — people who build personal brands while running businesses. Or engineers who double as storytellers, explaining complex tech on LinkedIn and turning that into a career advantage. The best growth leaders today aren’t just marketers; they’re data analysts, psychologists, and storytellers rolled into one.

You don’t need a title to lead. The most impactful people in companies often don’t fit into neat categories. They’re the ones who adapt, blend skills, and solve problems no one else can. That’s where work is heading.

So, what now?

If job titles are losing meaning, what should you focus on? Skills. The ability to learn quickly. The ability to communicate effectively. The ability to solve problems creatively. Companies and employers (including myself) aren’t just looking for a "Marketing Manager" — they’re looking for someone who can drive growth, regardless of what the title says.

Instead of chasing a specific title, think about what unique skill combinations you can bring. Maybe you’re a finance expert who understands coding. Or a designer who can write compelling copy. The best opportunities will come to those who can mix and match their abilities in ways others can’t.

The future belongs to those who don’t fit neatly into boxes. So embrace the chaos. Stack your skills. And build a career that defies definition! Thank you for reading.

Until next week,
Kartik

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Who am I?
I’m Kartik, founder of Polynomial Studio, a holding company and product studio building AI-driven businesses for the future of work. The way we work and live is being rewritten. AI, remote work, and shifting economic forces are reshaping careers, businesses, and entire industries. The big question is where it’s all heading.

For the past eight years, I’ve been at the forefront of these shifts, working across real estate, technology, startups, and corporate strategy. I’ve helped businesses navigate change and stay ahead of what’s next, always focused on understanding the forces shaping our future and how we can use them to build something better. Click here to know more about me.

Why Bold Efforts?
I started Bold Efforts because I believe work should fit into life, not the other way around. Too many people are stuck in outdated systems that don’t serve them. This newsletter is about challenging the status quo and making the effort to design work around life. It brings together bold ideas and actionable insights to help you build a healthier, more balanced relationship with work, leading to greater purpose and fulfillment. If you’re looking for fresh perspectives on how to work and live better, you’re in the right place.

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