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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 Brookesthat'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 🙂
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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.
i could use the following letters after my name:
My name BA(Hons) BTP MRTPI MCIHT MPIA
but i dont as it is silly...like a few others on here i'm in planning and architecture and there is no industry standard saying what you should do. With 20 years experience in this sector, it is assumed that you know what you doing and dont need to include your quali's on business cards, email sign off etc.
On a related note, i also dropped my title and group (Associate Director, Planning and Advisory) at work off my email sign and business card. I can now talk to potential clients at functions etc without them having a preconceived idea of my background or title - i prefer it this way.
I am afraid to say, that there is an element of British inverse snobbery / playing down achievement in our societal attitudes to academic and professional qualifications 🙁
At one extreme, many of us have expressed horror at the riots, the level (utter absence) of responsibility being shown to others, with subsequent moral hand wringing about parenting, poor education and opportunity and the general ills of society.
But then we have this British attitude which does not celebrate academic and / or professional achievement - where the role models put up are over-paid footballers, rappers or whatever. Where my son has had to be pulled up because him and his primary school peers regard anyone with a degree / professional job as posh or toffs (it's ok, he's been straightened out on that one now 😉
Calling someone an "engineer" for collecting the bins or repairing the fridge dismisses the value of calling someone an Engineer for designing and building our vital new infrastructure, or pioneering new and inventive technologies... 😡
When I have worked in Europe there has been considerable RESPECT given and received for a person's qualifications and abilities.
Outside of the UK, qualifications like C Eng / C Geol (or PE and PG equivalents in N America) count for an awful lot, not just in career progression, but also in terms of ability to secure contracts and to secure Professional Indemnity insurance.
Rantette over 😀
I stick my qualifications after my name on my business card and on my work email signature purely because I work in an industry where that sort of thing is expected. Besides, a lot of effort and money went into achieving them so why be coy?
[i] use my 'Dr.' prefix for services, utilities and other situations where a bit of respect comes in handy.[/i]
Second that. A friend (also with a PhD) claimed it brought her car insurance premium down, but I'm not sure I buy that one!
I never book flights as a Dr, for fear of some life threatening situation resulting in me having to explain to the cabin crew that it may well say I'm a Dr on the passenger list, but some protein structures interpreting at 30000 ft, I'm probably not much use to them.
I stick my qualifications after my name on my business card and on my work email signature purely because I work in an industry where that sort of thing is expected
And that's the key thing - normal practice. I don't ever use the letters because it'd not be normal and it makes you look like a muppet.
rkk01 makes some good points though it's not something that we're going to change quickly and adding letters after your name isn't going to be the driver for it 🙂
Job title only in work correspondence. When it's to do with the Mental Health Act I will add the RN(MH) bit because in those cases the specific part of the nursing register I am on is required by the law.
I have a BA too which most people I work with or have met in the last 10 years don't even know about, completely pointless me shoehorning in a reference to my impressive knowledge of French cinema and absurdist theatre let alone putting another 2 letters after my name. (never did the 'hons', opted to have more fun in 3rd and 4th year 😀 )
One of my friends is a Clinical Psychologist and although he could be if he wanted, he is never ever 'Dr A' for anything at work (too many 'real' doctors work with him for a start!), but he uses it for car insurance purposes too. I laughed.
No one ever asks to see qualifications after your 1st couple of jobs, just make up what you like, I've always upped a few grades on CV's. 😛
RN(MH) here too 🙂 only ever on MHA stuff and managerial type letters.
Outside of the UK, qualifications like C Eng / C Geol (or PE and PG equivalents in N America) count for an awful lot, not just in career progression, but also in terms of ability to secure contracts and to secure Professional Indemnity insurance.
My experience is UK, Aus and NZ - Aus and NZ do not seem overly fussed about quoting qualifications - you need to show evidence of them for immigration purposes and employers have asked to see them but in my collection of 2-300 business cards, not many include quali's.