The Name Game. Why Words Matter More Than You Think

Uncategorized Nov 10, 2025

🧠 Do Names Mess With Our Minds?

Do you react differently to people based on their names? Be honest.
I think we all do.

Somehow, “Bradley” sounds like he should own a boat, while “Chad” might be teaching spin classes at 6 a.m. It’s not fair, but it’s human.

We label. We sort. We box. It’s how our brains make sense of the world.
(Although, personally, I’m not usually one of those boxy types. Chaos and I are sympatico. 😎)

💼 So Many Titles, So Little Clarity

In the career development world, we’re blessed — or maybe cursed — with a buffet of titles:

Career Practitioner
Career Coach
Career Counsellor
Career Facilitator
Career Mentor
Employment Counsellor
Job Skills Coach
Employment Specialist

…and the list keeps growing like a confused woodpecker in a virtual forest...

Each title sparks a different reaction.

👉 Does “Employment Specialist” sound different to you than “Job Skills Coach?"
👉 What about “Career Practitioner” versus “Career Counsellor?"

You probably have a gut reaction to each one — shaped by your own experiences, filters, or whatever happened at your last staff meeting.

😕 If We’re Confused… Imagine Our Clients

If you’re not 100% clear on what your own title means, how do you think your clients feel?

Your title might actually be confusing them.
They’re out there wondering if you’re going to help them land a job… or unpack their childhood trauma.

That’s not their fault. That’s a branding problem.

🎯 Example Time: The “Employment Specialist”

What does that title say to you?
To me, it screams “I help people find work.”
Résumés, interviews, networking, you know the drill.

But… what if that same practitioner also helps clients with leadership development, career planning, or education pathways?

Then the title might not fit anymore — like trying to squeeze into my jeans from 2009. 🫣

🛋️ “Coach” vs. “Counsellor” — The Great Divide

Now this one’s interesting.

“Coach” feels action-oriented — like someone cheering from the sidelines yelling, “You got this!”
“Counsellor” can feel more introspective… and, for some, a little heavy.

Not everyone who calls themselves a “counsellor” is actually trained as one — and not every client has good memories associated with the word.

(If you’ve ever been forced into counselling as a teen, you know what I mean.)

🪞 So… What’s a Practitioner To Do?

1️⃣ Take Inventory

Write down what you actually do — not just what your title says you do.
If the two don’t match, advocate for a title that fits.
Yes, that might mean having a brave conversation with your boss. You can do it. Promise.

2️⃣ Explain Yourself

At the start of every client relationship, be super clear about:

✅ What you do
🚫 What you don’t do

This clears up confusion, builds trust, and saves you from explaining later why you’re not rewriting their entire résumé for them.

3️⃣ Push for Industry Clarity

Maybe it’s time we stop swimming in title soup and agree on some standards.
Imagine a world where everyone knows what a “Career Practitioner” actually does.
Ahh, the dream!

💬 Bottom Line

Names matter.
Titles matter.
Perceptions matter.

Clients react to your title based on their experience of it — not yours.

So ask yourself:

“Does my title truly reflect what I do?”

If the answer is “not really,” maybe it’s time for a rebrand.

Because in this field…

✨ Words matter! A LOT. ✨