Explaining job titles in applications?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

I hope I can pose a neurotic and basically trivial question. I'm a junior academic in the UK whose official job title is 'lecturer' but it is a permanent position. Is it wise or appropriate to explain on my CV or website that the position is equivalent to what is called 'assistant professor', which it is what it is called at some other UK institutions and the closest thing to the position in most of the rest of the anglophone world?

I think that virtually everyone on a hiring committee knows what a Lecturer is in the UK, so although I could be wrong, I don't think that warrants explanation in a job application. However, I am curious about job titles in other countries--for example, I know someone who was a Research Fellow in Australia, but I don't know exactly what that means, and I know that in some European countries, recent PhDs often have to complete Habilitations and hold Privatdozent positions, which sort of sound like postdocs and non-tenure track positions, but again, I'm not exactly sure! What do readers think? When (if ever) should job applicants explain their job titles in their application materials? For what kinds of positions, and why?

Comments

[Eric]

You could just briefly explain any ambiguities in your cover letter. Or you could ask someone from that institution to explain it in their letter of recommendation.

[Juan S Pineros Glasscock]

I'm sure I've seen on many websites of well respected académica (as well as official job ads) something like "lecturer at University of X [equivalent to assistant professor]." I think that's completely fine to have on your website. Not sure I'd put it in a CV, but I wouldn't fault someone for so doing. If you're applying for a job, as Marcus took it, the place I would put it is in the app letter.