Letters after your name

[Richie N]

Mine's MREC CertRP - which does help in recruitment as its the REC Exam Certificate and is recognised that you have a certain amount of experience in Recruitment.

 

[Lisette]

I use a compromise. I do not put on my letterhead or business cards. BUT for my consulting business I do put the full string of letters and memberships on my professional profile which I use when submitting proposals etc. This sort of covers the pedigree angle without filling up the card or being overly pretentious.

 

[Arhiann]

I always fancied A.R.S.E after my name, but don't think it would do me any favours. Unless you watch Father Ted that is.

Seriously though. If it's pertinent to the dialogue then yes, if not then no. In general if they're not relevant then don't quote them. In the past when applying for jobs, I've often not quoted all my qualifications.

My wife works at a library, and the "under" manager quoted all of her qualifications on every single email. In the end she was ridiculed for doing so a little unkindly, but if you put yourself up on a pedestal...

 

[Miskellaneous]

I'm a designer with a degree in graphic design but would never put Sarah Miskelly BA hons on my business cards. I think it does sound pretentious, and in the design world I reckon your success is measured on talent not on letters after your name. Just my opinion!

 

[telemax]

Hi

I worked hard to get my degree and do put the letters after my name on business cards etc.

Jonathan

 

[Arhiann]

Hi

I worked hard to get my degree and do put the letters after my name on business cards etc.

Jonathan

What was your degree in?

 

[amo crafts]

Letters after a professional's (lawyer/accountant/architect/medical practitioner etc) name carry weight for me, or if the individual works in higher education. Otherwise, the letters may as well be a rubber stamp of no experience and I'd stay well away. Also I think for some people it's something for them to hide behind because they have no confidence in what they say.

I have a degree (computer science), and have no intention of ever using those letters. I didn't find it difficult, and almost everyone at university crams for exams and cheats in various ways to get through the course. Every graduate I've had to work with has had so much to learn and the first task has always been the arduous task of making them realise their degree means squat. They need to make degrees higher quality rather than worrying about how many of the population have one.

As for those who don't work in the medical field but use the Dr title, I've yet to meet any which aren't pompous and arrogant and wouldn't want to work again with any. And about half of them again rely upon their title and aren't particularly well educated. Not one of them comes across any more educated as another with a degree in the same field.

I think as more and more people get a degree, using the letters after the name when one isn't in a professional field is becoming more and more damaging.

 

[Cornish Steve]

almost everyone at university crams for exams and cheats in various ways to get through the course.

Speak for yourself. I worked really hard for mine.

As for those who don't work in the medical field but use the Dr title, I've yet to meet any which aren't pompous and arrogant and wouldn't want to work again with any. And about half of them again rely upon their title and aren't particularly well educated.

While I don't often use my Dr. title (although colleagues use it when introducing me to executives in Latin America), I think it's a stretch to say that half of us aren't particularly well educated. It's at least six years of real commitment to get a doctorate degree.

Pompous and arrogant? Moi?

 

[amo crafts]

Hehe, wondered if I should qualify that. I didn't cheat once, but felt cheated when I finished the degree and could only think "Was that it?" Granted I studied for a few hours every night which many don't bother doing, but I wouldn't call that hard work. One of the exams I walked out of after (literally) ten minutes as it was so easy. Everyone else stayed in the room until the end. I me tthe lecturer a few days later and he told me that he thought I had walked out because I couldn't do it, so he checked my paper and felt I would probably get 100%. That was supposed to be the hardest course of the degree.

It probably sounds like it but I'm not blowing my trumpet, I'm not. I walked the degree only because I spent at least three hours a night studying and understanding (except for during exam time, when I was the only one not studying). I don't think that's working hard, and anyone who did the same thing could have walked the degree too. In my opinion it means there is a lot of latitude to make our degrees far more difficult and worthwhile.

Okay, okay, the pompous and arrogant (non-medical) doctors is only in my experience and not true for everyone! I'm sure you're not and perhaps I've just had bad luck. I should have treaded more carefully lol. But still...

 

[Arcadian]

I can see that the subject of the degree is relevant but it's too long for a card. The employer will know more details from her CV anyway presumably.

Joining in the rest of the thread ....I use mine where relevant and on my Horswills letterheads. Putting LL.B TEP after my name is handy when writing to the Probate office about an alarming number of elderly relatives.

 

[Cornish Steve]

...the pompous and arrogant (non-medical) doctors is only in my experience and not true for everyone! I'm sure you're not

You were too quick to back off. My wife would probably agree with your initial assessment.

 

[amo crafts]

You call it backing off, I call it tact!

 

[BDBynetworks]

Having letters after your name depends upon your business need.

Another related question: do you put your formal job title on your business card?

Brian

 

[Chris H]

My employers won't allow anything after your name on any communications, aside from your job title.

Thankfully.

 

[amo crafts]

The only time I used my job title (unless asked of course) was when I was "Developer One" because it sounded so cool!

 

[coultog]

I have a number of PHD friends who don't like talking about their PHD. They find "normal" people treat them differently.

I use my title "Project Manager" in my day job, so people know what I do and I also give my project title - this often helps people understand why I may be asking questions... For my business, I don't use my title "Director", as "General Dogs Body" would be more accurate

 

[in8websitedesign]

I hadnt even considered adding the letters I have after my name - maybe I should have done!

You are right though, i guess quite a large percentage have degrees these days. But having said that, I cant remember that last time I saw it on a business card or letterhead.

Anna

 

I find letters after a persons name a bit pretentious so I keep mine simple and just sign,

The Earl of Lewis

or if addressing the internet community Earl ( G.O.D )

 

[RedEvo]

Okay, okay, the pompous and arrogant (non-medical) doctors is only in my experience and not true for everyone! I'm sure you're not and perhaps I've just had bad luck. I should have treaded more carefully lol. But still...

For info medical graduates are given the honorary title of Dr.

d

 

[.Spiralling.]

I never use mine (another with a BA (Hons) and PGCE), but when I've got my ST qualification I will - because very few sound therapists actually have a worthwhile qualification, so I DO want to stand out.

It'll be a bit of a mouthful though: Cert ST (BAST) MBRCP(Sound).

 

[Stephen Berry]

At one point I had 2 sets of businss cards - a 'with' and a 'without'. For customers / contacts / meetings with the people who used them - e.g. the big accountacy firms, lawyers etc, they got the 'with' (it's just like playing a 'trump card'), and most ordinary people got the without.
I now do the 'without' and only use the letters as credibility builders on the rare occasions that is required - e.g. on the biog page of a proposal or the 'who is this author anyway?' page / site.

Wouldn't mind adding a few more - I was very proud of passing my cycling proficiency test, and I wore my 50m (or was it yards then) swimming badge with pride

Stephen LODL (lots of dull letters) CycPfof, 50mSwim, CMM (class milk monitor in 4G), and why am I writing this when there is football on TV?

 

[miketombs]

I use letters on my business card, but only put them after my name when signing letters if it's 'appropriate' - most times it isn't.

 

[RedEvo]

I think in any business context it's OK to use professional post nominals. Degrees and things I'm less sure about.

d

 

[snackspot]

I work in an Engineering Consultancy business as my day job and i have to put in my BEng MSC MIHT CEng on my cards. It might make me look better than the competition when at tender stage, but I only give out business cards to people who do not know me.

When I work with clients that know me I do not have to give the hard sell. The company rewarded me for getting MSC and CEng so I cannot avoid putting them on my cv/business card.

 

[RayB]

My opinion is

If you are profession where the qualification is a prerequisite for the job them use them (surveyor, accountant, dentist etc)

If not - dont - many more will think you are being "flash" than those that will be impressed

Ray B - PRAT

(Professor of Retail And Trade enterprises)

 

[stugster]

What?!

The only reason I'm still at Uni is to put BEng (Hons) at the end of my name! What's wrong with being an arrogant pompous pretentious prat?!



Dr. stugster BEng (Hons)
(Computer Networks and Distributed Systems)
(110001001110110101001000011010101011001111010101011101001011011010101001101010010110110111011110110010)

 

[miketombs]

Absolutely nothing Doc. But if it's Dr Stugster, why not MD or PHD or whatever?

 

[RedEvo]

I think in general the UK is very confused about titles, as demonstrated in this thread. Apparently the guy who comes to fix my washing machine is an 'engineer' and so is the guy who fixes my car.



d

 

[Artisan]

I have them on my work (for someone else) business cards as well as my own company cards.
I wouldn't put them on emails, written letters or other business documents though.
A business card is different though, it's attempting to convey as much as possible about how amazing you are on a small piece of card, so every little helps.

 

[downsouth]

bit of an old thread but one that caught me eye as its annoys me loads

other than if the qualification is relevant to the industry you are in, i would say no.

So many people 'attend' uni's these days that BA Hons means next to nowt, other than 4 years of debt for most

I do agree that professional qualifications should be added tho, certainly in the IT world, I do know the diff between some quals and what they mean

CISA, CISM, CISSP etc and the same for Accountancy quals

sorts the boys form the men and something i defo look out for if

 

[Real World Hypnotherapy]

I sometimes put some letters after my name, especially if it is for the hypnosis side of things. The thing is that I have so many letters now that it looks kind of daft, and to be fair people care more about what you can actually do for them in terms of results rather than letters that they don't understand.

My letters are;

Matt Kendall, BSc, MBIH, Dip.Hyp, Dip.Adv Hyp, MDHP

And soon I will have H.I. Hyp as well and I think something else as I am been made a master hypnotherapist. I have more letters after my name than are actually in my name.

So as you can see, a lot of letters but doesn't actually mean that much. Looks good though

Matt

 

[bubblewrap]

If I put myself in the shoes of a customer; I'd say if it's in line with the your core business; then a definate plus; if it's not, I couldn't care less. Business cards are a networking tool, essential I should add, but shouldn't be taken as a status symbol (not that you would but can be mistaken as such if slightly out of context).

But then again; face to face communication means so much more than a business card. The first impression will not be made by what's written on your cards.

My 2p.

 

[Dogwalker]

As a professional dog walker, quite a lot of people want to know what knowledge /experience I have, and how I would deal with certain situations.
After all, they are entrusting their dogs into my care.
Having a diploma in dog psychology, I now list this on all correspondence, letter heads business cards etc. I have stopped using the actual "letters" after my name and just add "diploma in dog psychology"
That way prospective new clients know that I'm bona fide and not someone doing it just to earn a bit of pocket money.
But apart from "paper" qualifications, I do have extensive knowledge of dogs and their behavior patterns from personal experience (have owned dogs for 30 years) and of attending courses and reading many books.

But I would not put any letters after my name if it was for anything non dog related.

 

[Pelenna]

I find it depends - I use them on my engineering business cards, but no one buying patchwork fabric wants to know (or cares) if I'm a CEng!

I've always wondered, when people say 'I've got 20 letters after my name' or whatever, do you count each letter or each qualification?

 

[Alison Jones]

I think that if someone has worked for 3 or 4 years for their degree and it is the subject relevant to their business or job then they should use these letters if it increases customers that see their business card.

I am a bookkeeper and currently associate member of the Institute of Certified bookkeepers and can have AICB after my name which I am not bothering to do, but being associate member with practising certificate allows me to use the Institute logo which has increased contact from potential clients.

If I take ACCA or CIMA accountancy which I have been told takes the same sort of time as a degree I will definitely use any letters after my name that they allow.

Alison

 

[deniser]

As a solicitor by profession it had never occured to me to put anything other than "Solicitor" on my business card. To get to that stage it is implied that you must be educated to beyond degree level. And to be a good solicitor, the type of degree you got or further qualifications are totally irrelevant, it is your own character and experience that count so legal qualifications are a complete no-no.

The only fields that I can see where listing your qualifications is important are:

1. if you are an academic where qualifications are the only thing that count ie they define your ability to do the job or
2. if you are in a profession which anyone can join eg . estate agent (eg. if you have surveying qualifications that puts you at a different level to the rest) or if you are a music teacher then you need to differentiate between a highly qualified one or a non qualified one.

 

[.Spiralling.]

My letters are;

Matt Kendall, BSc, MBIH, Dip.Hyp, Dip.Adv Hyp, MDHP

And soon I will have H.I. Hyp as well and I think something else as I am been made a master hypnotherapist. I have more letters after my name than are actually in my name.

So as you can see, a lot of letters but doesn't actually mean that much. Looks good though

Matt

Qualifications after your name mean something if they are properly accredited courses - especially in your field where there are so many not properly qualified, or with qualifications not worth the paper they're written on.

Being made a Master Hypnotherapist? I thought you only just qualified recently?

 

[niagra]

I'm entitled to PGCE B.Eng (Hons) but as I'm an engineer and not a teacher anymore I don't use the PGCE part as I don't feel it's appropriate. I guy at my place also has PGCE and was told not to use it by the company.

If and when I do eventually start my own business I probably won't use the letters as I feel as though other people may be thinking: "He's got an engineering degree and he's selling this, that or the other?!"

Dario

 

[Philip Hoyle]

I only use the highest level qualification and only when it is relevant. I use the letters on my business cards and website. I hardly ever use them on letters as the letterhead paper shows the professional body so including them again on the signature is pointless. I don't think I've ever used them on any non-business correspondence. Once a qualification has been superceded by something better, I never use the designatory letters again even though I obviously still have the qualification - I think it's pointless - a professional qualification supercedes a degree (especially in a not related subject), and a higher prof qual supercedes an earlier one, so I just don't use anything I got earlier.

I think it looks a little silly/sad when people have a long string of letters or use them out of context, especially when there is no realistic expectation of others knowing what they are or what they mean.

 

If you are using qualifications and they are relevant then be prepared for people to check up on them. This is particularly true if you are pitching for high value work or offering health advice.