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[onlyanne]

What do you look for in the title of a job talk? 

-Specifics that indicate exactly what research the candidate has already done?

-Something more general that indicates what a candidate wants to do in the future?

Which is worse: wordiness or jargon?

[notranslation]

First, I think both wordiness *and* jargon are bad. There is nothing worse than having an inexplicable title or something that could run the risk of sounding pretentious to those outside your discipline. Stick to the basics. Keep the title jargon-free. Also, don't try to be too "cute" but choose a title that not only accurately sums up the paper but draws attention to the aspect you are highlighting. Having a good title is important as a "pre-reading" device, especially if they advertise your talk in the department or on campus. If it's intriguing enough, it can draw more people into your audience.