To ask when you use the letters after your name and in what order...

[TroublesomeEx]

I have a degree, a pgce and I'm just completing a diploma through the OU. I'll be starting an MA in the next couple of years.

I've never put the letters after my name. Does anyone else?

I'm only really asking because I'm just starting up working freelance and my qualifications are relevant to what I do, but I also think that it might look a bit stuffy if I have them after my name (given that I work with parents and young children and sometimes vulnerable young parents and children). I do want people to know what my quals are, but not as though I wear them as a badge, or in a way that it might present a barrier. IYSWIM.

What do other people do?

Oh and do you put them in hierarchical or chronological order?

Thanks

I think if you don't put the P, H and D in the right order then it is probably a bad blunder :o

I have no idea. i've got two degrees but wouldn't know when or where i was meant to put them other than on my CV

I think in brackets, smaller print, underneath your name on a business card for business purposes is perfectly acceptable, but I am NOT going to start refering to you as Folkgirl GCSE, A level, BA(?), PGCE, Dip, MA... k?

If you are working in a professional capacity and the qualifications are relevant to that then yes - I would use them (and do). How you use them is a different matter - perhaps on a business card or letterheading or web site, not for general correspondence etc.
They go in hierarchical order - undergrad first.

My grandad has about 4 different 'letters'. He only uses them when he is filling in an official form, like signing someones passport forms for them. He puts them in the order he got them.

I don't use any of mine because none of them are relevant to my current role. Personally, it makes me feel it's a bit pretentious to use them just because I can, but I understand that others may be understandably proud of what they've achieved and so want to use them even if irrelevant to their current role. I've never thought "so-and-so must be completely up themselves" if I see someone using them in correspondence, etc.

If they are relevant to your job, I think it's quite normal to use them.

I never use mine.

I've not really used mine except for on court reports. I have two degrees and a professional qualification as well as a post grad diploma. I put them on my tv licence application once as I was sad I did all that work and never used my letters, but the licence came back sans qualifications. When I do use them I put them in chronological order.

Mine just sit on my CV under my name on the front sheet, I never ever use them and feel a bit silly tbh if I do I start with my first degree and put them in order to my Masters

IMO you use them on your office door when you work at a uni or research papers or you CV and thats it

I have quite a few but don't use them as they're not relevant to my current role as SAHM.

Maybe I could put those letters after my name instead?!

So I would write 'Mos Eisley SAHM'...

nah.

I never use them. We are not allowed to list our degrees on our email signature or business cards at work anyway - there was a ban on it as it got silly (lots of people I work with have ridiculous levels of degrees, I am usually the least qualified person in the room with my poxy BEng and MEng).

Thanks all.

This is the thing, I've only ever put mine on CVs/application forms.

I just sort of feel I should because if someone only has a business card to go on then they have no way of knowing if I have qualifications to back up what I'm saying I can do.

So people seem to put them both hierarchically and chronologically. I'll just see which I prefer!

aldiwhore - I'm sure I got a City and Guilds once too. Don't forget that!

I would only ever use them if they were relevant/required for the job I was doing or applying for tbh, can't see the point otherwise.

I've only ever used mine once - when I got a very, very, very condescending e-mail from someone and she had put her degree after her name. Since I had considerably more letters to add than she had I replied sweetly and added the lot. Communication was very civil after that!

In my opinion listing should always hierarchical.

Only on a CV where you have to put educ qualifications. Not on business card.

I've had to order a new name badge for work as I insist on having all my letters after my name at all times. It is my right to do so.

I certainly don't put mine after my name. I have a degree which has no relevance to anything at all, and a professional qualification which is very relevant.

Although I do confirm that I've got it if asked, and include that I've got it on my website/LinkedIn profile etc, I definitely wouldn't put the letters after my name. It feels a bit poncy to me.

As most people worth their salt in my profession have the same qualification as me it would feel silly making a big thing of it putting it after my name. It would feel as though I was making a far bigger deal of it than is appropriate or necessary. Even more so with a BA. I used to raise a serious eyebrow at CVs that came in with 'Jane Smith BA' at the top. Details of the BA are in the CV itself, no need to parade it.

I think if it's relevant to your work, especially if you are starting up by yourself, then do it. You've worked for it, so why shouldn't you tell people, especially potential clients/customers!?

My DH set up his own practice half a year ago, and on his business card it does say his qualifications/membership of professional associations - tbh, he has to, otherwise he won't look 'qualified'!! (plus if he's paid for the membership, he might as well put it on).

I don't on my business card. It's just prefixed with a Dr, so that's sufficient I think.

You put your letters on your name badge??? I was going to have a rant about those who put '(Oxon)' after Bsc but suddenly those people people don't come across as particularly being show offs or insecure. Dunno why :o

I never use mine

yes. it's about a foot long. and gold.

I work in the City and apart from the lawyers and accountants nobody puts letters on their business cards. And we are talking about guys with Masters from major international universities.

I have never used mine. I'd only use your job title where it was necessary. I think your qualifications probably belong on your CV.

Rather than asking us, why don't you just look at what other people in your field do. I expect in some fields it's the done thing, and in others it'd make you look like a knob.

DON'T put them after your name on a CV - it just looks arsey.
You can explain what qualifications you have on a CV in the qualifications section. Honestly, the human resources manager will think you a tit if you head your CV as John Smith Dip.Ed MA PhD.

You only use the letters after your name either on a business card (or as part of business correspondance) or if you are a University lecturer.

In the OPs case, I would use them on a business card so people know that you are a professional and not just some lackey off the street, but not on a name badge as it can appear intimidating.
Generally speaking - use them professionally but never socially.

I've never used mine in writing but if someone gets arsey with me and calls me 'Miss Waiting' I reply 'actually it's Dr Waiting.'

My beautician uses her qualifications on her business card which I think makes sense as while people would assume rightly that she plucks eyebrows, she's also a Reiki master and it's a good extra to offer.