[jasonlotito]

People are optimizing for what the businesses value. If you make these titles attractive, why wouldn't you expect people to optimize for them? It's not the people's fault; it's the company leadership. Couple that with companies that don't care about the employees, of course, titles will matter. Say what you want, but someone with only a history of Junior Engineer on their CV will get looked at differently when they have to find a new job.

[JumpCrisscross]

> If you make these titles attractive, why wouldn't you expect people to optimize for them?

There is a cultural component to it, and it travels. People coming from a corporate culture attach value to these titles in a way we traditionally did not in Silicon Valley. The interesting thing is seeing how they then breathe power into those words; I remember one senior-ish person who proceeded to attempt pulling rank on her peers on the back of the new title. In most cases, it didn't work. But in some cases, it did, including with people who were otherwise insensitive to titles.

My broad takeaway is trading titles for money is a deal with the devil. Eventually, the thing you're giving away gains animation.

[jasonlotito]

I agree. But the mentality of SV is essentially winner take all. People talk a good game, but everyone is really out for themselves. You see this all the time here on HN, this mentality. Everyone is happy to deal with the devil.

[zeroCalories]

I don't think that's the case. I think there is an aspect of shame if you don't get increasingly senior roles as you advance in a career. The pay is secondary for these people.