Robert, After reading your article, I am really confused as to what or who I am.  I've always considered myself to be a very good Title Searcher, however, according to you, no one should use my title search reports for title insurance.  So, you tell me what I am.

I began my first job in the industry about 30 years ago after working as a mapping coordinator for the County Assessors Office and working as a Tax Assessor.  I was then, hired by a title company as a "title searcher".  After training classes of First American, I moved on to work for a Title Search Company, again hired as "title searcher".  Later, hired by another title company as "title searcher".  10 years experience at this time working as a "title searcher".  The title company I worked for, closed down and I took a position as "lead title searcher' with a real estate firm, whom was later bought out by a corporate national company whom kept me on as their "Property Expert", in which I trained other "title searchers", examined their searches and wrote commitments.  I left that company to work for myself, as, you guessed it, a "title searcher".  I went in to business for my self (as a title searcher) before merging with a title company whom kept me on as their "title searcher".  Left that title company to take a position with a new company as a title officer (fancy name for a title searcher who examines and write his own commitments.   A few years later, I went back to the previous company as a "title searcher" who after a couple of years realized that I was more than just a"title searcher" and renamed my position "sr. title searcher". My last day with that company was last Friday.  I am currently pondering as to whether go in to business for myself or search for another job in the title industry.  So, in my 34th year searching, what title do you feel that I should put on my resume?  Title Searcher, perhaps?  Tim Brouillet

I cannot tell you which category you fall into merely from your list of prior job titles.  That is, in part, the problem here.  The terms are used interchangibly today.  The point of my post was to show that the terms have meanings that are being ignored by the industry.

Which category you fall into depends on your knowledge level and how you do the job.  What you call yourself, or what other have called you in the past, are not really relevant to the job you do.

Given the fact that the industry seems to consider this a distinction without a difference, it probably doesn't matter anymore.  But, I find that kind of sad.

Best,
Robert A. Franco
SOURCE OF TITLE