[Closed] Letters after your name – do you?

Never have done, neither have any of my (very well qualified) friends either

Dr anagallis_arvensis BSc(hons), MRes, PhD agrees with you

Some people at my work do... they are generally regarded as being not very good at their job.

One has even added after their MBA "(Oxf)"... but declined to add Brookes.

Dobbo CSE Art(B) says no.

For bell-ends only IMO

Cynic-al, BSc (Hons), LLB, Dip. Legal Practice

Al - I thought you had your EFBL?

One has even added after their MBA "(Oxf)"... but declined to add Brookes

that's particularly cockish.

I have some letters after my name, but it's to indicate that I have to operate under professionally defined guidelines even though I dont do a commonplace activity for my profession. it's also to give the indication that I carry PI cover which is mandatory for my profession.

There's an industry standard qualification that most people who have it, use it. I do too, on bus. cards and email sigs, but don't bother with the BSc (Hons)

Nah, pointless, unless you find t.w.u.n.t an interesting addition to your surname.
(I expect a ban for that)

No never do. I find it embarrassing when people do it. I'm far more interested in what people say than what they studied 10 years ago.

Yossarian, space ranger, shark wrestler & keyboard warrior.

Bronze Swimming certificate.

Actually touch wood i'll be a Dr soon (my viva is at the end of September), and i'll be using that whether people think it makes me look a c0ck or not.

When I come across people who use letters after their name I start to add CPT (I achieved it so I'm allowed to use the letters after all) to my email signature when I reply. Usually takes them a little while for them to ask what it stands for and when they are told they soon stop using their own annoying habit.

cheers for the replies, we were discussing it earlier, the whole psychology of it fascinates one guy in here, hes about to retire and he says it's all to do with technology...

Yip. Do it in professional/work related circumstances only (emails, business cards etc).

In my line employer's generally insist on it so as to maintain a professional image, give clients' confidence in what they are paying for and show that I have the right academic and professional qualification to do my job. Guess others will be different.

Nope, looks ****y. but I do know of places that insist their staff do this!

GrahamS, [i]BSc(Hons) Swimming(100m)[/i]

No. It makes you look like a try-hard.

Dr Mattie_H, BA, PhD, FRHistS

Point made.

I put mine BEng (Hons) on my business cards as it is a company standard, but then I can't remember the last time I handed one out. They also aren't much use I'm normally located in a client office so the phone number and e-mail address are wrong.

Job title and contact details only in the e-mail signature.

I never use mine, but I can understand that in some circumstances it is appropriate.

Or if you have one of the qualifications from Imperial college (I forget which) that entitles you to write LImp Dic after your name, then it would be churlish not to 🙂

i think it's crass and pointless.

I'm far more proud of the numerous attractive women i've charmed/coerced into bed over the years, perhaps I should put little pics of them after my name instead? 😆

MrGrim ECDL agrees.

I had a guy working in IT who's email signature was:

Joe Bloggs
BA (Hons) History

Bad enough adding letters. Worse if it's nothing to do with your profession.

here in germany it is the norm.

the GF had professors at her uni that insisted on being referred to as Dr. Fritz as opposed to Herr Fritz or simply Norman.

you'll see for example: Dr. Dr. Fritz Dpl. Ing. PhD. BsC. on someones letter box.

people here love having letters after thier name and they are carried as some sort of status symbol and show other that they have an "education", whatever that means....

Depends on your line of work / employer.

I currently do, but at various times in the past, haven't.

If you have professional quals like C.Eng then it is generally advantageous to use them

funnily enough just had an email...

NAME HERE [b]Beng(Hons) DIS AMIMechE[/b]

When I come across people who use letters after their name I start to add CPT (I achieved it so I'm allowed to use the letters after all) to my email signature when I reply. Usually takes them a little while for them to ask what it stands for and when they are told they soon stop using their own annoying habit.

Go on then, what does it mean?

On business cards only, not on emails. Looks a bit weird though as I have a very short name and quite a lot of letters
TimP
BEng(hons) CEng MIStructE

I'd say no but mine is only a BEng (Hons) and not overly relevant to my field. Looking to change roles and go for CEng, not sure I'd use it then. As for DR, are you thinking of just being Dr Onzadog or (Phd) on the end?

Did have some correspondance with a guy late last year who had over 20 letters after his name. I tried calling him and got his answer phone which was in english and I think, esperanto!

I have to say, I was guilty of prejudging that individual!

CPT - Cone Penetrometer Test

i.e. how far you can insert a cone into something with a known amount of effort 😯

It's those that put letters in the middle of their names to that make me think 'pretentious prat'

We had one [who actually was a pretentious prat]

Phillip C. Rolfe Abc123 (Hons) kIsMy arS

Or something like that

rkk01 BSc MSc CGeol FGS CEng IoM3 SiLC

Could add an MCSM in there as well, but don't...

I'd go for plain ol' Dr finbar not Dr finbar (PhD). I've probably jinxed it now and will fail.

Would have gone for a PhD if they'd been running the course, would have quite liked to be a Doctor of Motorcycle engineering 😀

Looks a bit weird though as I have a very short name and quite a lot of letters

Even more so if you happen to be called Beng Hons

Putting letters after their name is useful for telling the rest of us who the c0cks are

Do you not think it hugely depends on the your situation, work environment etc? I wouldn't bother, firstly a I "only" have a BA Hons, firstly everyone has once, secondly I have used my field since I graduated so would no longer have much of a clue if someone asked me and three its' completely pointless as it was Psycholinguistics degree and being old bill that's silly!
To be fair though Mr MC has a PhD I use Dr on official paperwork for him, it's amazing how differently you get treated when there is "Dr" on your bank statemetns, wrong I know but he worked his butt off for that so I will take advantage of the tiny bonuses it gives us.

Putting letters after their name is useful for telling the rest of us who the c0cks are

joao3v16

what, like putting numbers in your login id is useful for telling the rest of us who the c0cks are?

I did when I first got them. Now I don't.

i dont - our design engineers have a thing for it ..... as well as middle initials - it seems to be a competition over there in that side of the office - how many pointless things can i add to my email signature ....

I put RIBA after my name for business stuff, for broadly the same reasons as stoner.

yep, RIBA and RICS very similar in their professional rigour.

God no, how pretentious

Degree qualifications No

professional qualifications Yes.

i worked bloody hard to get them and I am damn well gonna advertise them

Organic CEng MCIBSE MSoPHE

Go on then, what does it mean?

That'll be Cycling Proficiency Test, pretty much the only qualificiation that I've achieved I'm proud of.

I could use FCII after my name if I was willing to pay an annual sub but since it's not relevant to my role I don't see the point.

G

I know of a local doctor who puts:
Name MRCP(part 1) after their name. The MRCP is a valid qualification. Passing the first (of 3) parts of it only [b]ISN'T![/b]. Plus, that part is only valid for 2 years!

Oh how I laugh!

Dr "DrP" P. L1FE.SaV3R...

Never have, never will.

nah, I don't see the point, yes i worked hard for them, but my work speaks for itself i hope.

My name is quite long enough without them tacked on the end.

One has even added after their MBA "(Oxf)"... but declined to add Brookes

that's particularly cockish.

It's even more cockish because the real way to do it would be "Oxon."

I never use any of mine - but MrsHelios' work all have to put theirs on e-mails as company policy - it makes me chuckle the extent to which some people go to try and look clever - I won't even be suprised on the day I finally see a signature with cub scout badges...

I sign work emails/letters with Dr, simply because I correspond with a lot of very busy hospital consultants, and like it or not they are more likely to respond to another doctor than a plain old mister when you email them out of the blue. They're not to know that I'm not an MD, but have a PhD in enzyme kinetics instead....

I doubt many of my friends even know I'm a Dr. And I never use PhD.

all the damn time.. its the only way i get any respect around here!

Dr Consequence VCR DVD STI ROFLMAO LOL BLU-RAY

.... I correspond with a lot of very busy hospital consultants, and like it or not they are more likely to respond to another doctor than a plain old mister...

Unless of course they're surgeons 😉

It's all about the letters before your name, surely?

My neighbour puts 'Major' on everything - even on her planning application. She used to organise summer balls and brave stuff like that! Other notable Majors being Major Charles Ingram, Major James Hewitt.

Its an inverse proportion - the more qualified you actually become the less you have to try and convince other people of your value and competence with your own propsganda - so no list of letters after name and a very short CV.

Ever noticed that all the contestants on Apprentice sem to be 'Senior International Executive this' or 'Executive Vice-President that' - even though they are only 19....

(Mr MC)

Being a police officer with a PhD used in my previous career I have always been irritated by people who when asked their name say doctor, professor. If I was less professional I'd comment that their parents had a sense of humour christening them that.
The only time I use it now is to introduce it in such situations to confound expectations and shake their pedestal. Working in Oxford this is a regular occurrence 🙂

[img] [/img]
Mr Munqe-chick pictured earlier today

I never use them except in letters to other quacks. And then only one qualification

MA, MB BS, DA, MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, FPcert is what I could use, but who would care?

I dont use Dr for bookings/communications either if I can avoid it.

I only use my hereditary title for getting a table at the Ivy.

My wife always uses her title of 'Miss' at work as surgeon.

However if she used all her titles she would run out of space 2 Degrees, an MA, PHD, FRCS plus many more...she has now said she isnt going to study in depth for a while

I don't really use any of my academic or professional 'letters' but do like to make use of my 'Reverend' whenever I can 😀

Being a police officer with a PhD used in my previous career I have always been irritated by people who when asked their name say doctor, professor.

I had a mate who never ever use his "Dr" title, the only exception was if being arrested (he had an uncanny knack for getting arrested) He would argue and insist that the arresting officer referred to him as doctor, figuring that it would annoy and irritate them. Seems to me that he might have hit the button.

Nope. My qualifications are on the company website though

(Mr MC)

ernie, it annoyed me when I was a research scientist as much as it does now I'm a copper. Between careers I spent a year working for an events management company and ran a conference for US medical doctors in Cancun. Most were obsessed with status (Dr X would complain that Dr Y had a better sea view etc) and they treated all us event types with disdain. One friendly chap engaged me in conversation and it turned out he worked in Philly, where I had recently done a postdoc, so our common experiences obviously became part of the conversation. The change in his colleagues attitudes towards me was equal parts amusing and depressing, and gave me more respect for people who work in the service sector who must experience this treatment constantly.

Many of my colleagues have higher degrees, there were at least 3 of us in Oxford with PhDs and a couple of Oxbridge types, which are irrelevant but challenges some peoples preconceptions.

GrahamS no pic?

I've got mine on my business card, but I suppose that's relevant since I'm basically a degree salesman Don't think I've ever used it myself though.

(I did ask if they would put 2:2 on it for me just so's people don't think I'm some sort of swot. They did not laugh, nor did they do it)

I've gained up quite a few over the years, with varying degrees of effort, but only use the relevant ones on the business card and end of professional reports. One of my jobs is as a planning inspector, so I occasionally get letters addressed to Inspector SB. There might be times that would come in handy.

My old company wanted me to do it, I didn't. As they paid for the business cards they got their way. Only once did a [s]client[/s] customer comment positively, which was quite embarrassing. I've done it on my new cards in a more tongue in cheek way to see if I can get more of the same.

don simon O'level social science.

I once sent a letter to the education department of Napier University to ask if they would confer upon me an honorary degree in recognition of the fact that my name was contained within their web address (www.ed.napier.ac.uk). I offered to attend up to 3 formal dinners per year as part of the deal, but they didn't deign to respond.

The ****ers.

Don't worry mate, it's not a proper university anyway.

Don't think i've ever used mine. Might ask for an upgrade after this week!!

Rusty (teacher of 14-19 yr old lads)! 🙂

Didn't use to - but in Canada it is more of a legal requirement even for disciplines (like Geology) that in the UK have less professonal designations.

Have my degree on my business card, not that it is actually relevent. Otherwise don't bother.

It's attention seeking of the highest order. Like riding a fixie or sticking a big gear on your bike.

samuri Tech Eng CISSP OWSP

Buzz Lightyear BEng(hons) CEng

They were earned.

i reallt don't see the point outside a small range of professions where the qualification might indicate the person knows something.

Mrmo MA BSc(hons)

Seconded buzz-lightyear

Yes on my business cards as it is relevant and normal practice. Not on my email signature though.

Poopsies BEng CEng MICE

In my first ever shop job people would hand CVs in with letters after thier name for an advertised vacancy of 'shelf stacker - minimum wage' I realised then, that when I got letters myself not to use them. It's perfectly fine in a proffesional capacity, and it gives a sense of secuirty if you see your dentist has letters before he attempts to sort your troublesome teeth out. Just says cock if you use it as a status symbol.

I've got no letters after my name to use, but if I'd had the time / been clever enough to get to call myself doctor, then I would.

I have a friend who puts this mouthful on his emails

Grad IOSH. MIIRSM. AIEMA. MIIAI. DipNEBOSH. EnvDipNEBOSH

No idea why, to me it says someone is more interested in qualifications than work itself

Just says cock if you use it as a status symbol.

True, but I use my 'Dr.' prefix for services, utilities and other situations where a bit of respect comes in handy.

I find that it is often others who will use the letters and I can't control it.

don simon AW(es) O.M.E.

NIce one Don!

Sammie-Louise x T.S.Y

Academics are the worst for it. They fight over who sits in what chair too. We chuckle a lot.