To wonder about when people say they're in a "professional" job, what that actually means?

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I see it pop up a lot on threads, someone talks about their job, or their OH's job, and qualifies it as a "professional" job.

What does this actually mean? Is it solely a doctor, lawyer, or accountant? Or is it any old job you get paid for? Or do a few exams at some stage for?

Everyone seems to be a professional these days.

I would think it involves membership of a professional organisation, as opposed to, say, trades organisation.

I assumed it meant a job where a degree or equivalent qualification was required.

Typically it is used to describe someone who has been through university/further education and/or received specialist training and is a member of a governing body that allows you to operate (Law Society, GMC, Institute of Civil Engineers etc)

To me it means a job where you have to qualify in some way to do it, generally through a degree or some form of study that includes passing exams. Generally with a governing/professional body, like those listed above. When I see it on threads I imagine they mean lawyer, banker, trader, architect, something like that.

Don't you think that's too wide? 50% of people have a degree these days.

And loads of jobs have a governing body allowing them to operate. Train drivers, nurses, Corgi has fitting people...

I see things like "HR Professional" as job titles. Or "Health and Safety Professional"

"Don't you think that's too wide? 50% of people have a degree these days."

I think we are talking proper degrees from a red brick, not a BA in Klingon from Kiddiminster Uni

I'd say nurses, midwives, teachers, social workers are professionals as well as the more obviously "high flying" doctors, lawyers, architects etc. They are educated to degree level (or equivalent), plus require specific qualifications and have to be registered as part of a governing body to practice.

Interesting point about gas fitters, train drivers etc who are registered with a professional governing body but I suppose the difference is they don't have so many years training, or do they? They are skilled trades.

I think there's three types. Those that have 'professional' in their title (as in HR Professional) but who aren't actually qualified (but may have umpteen years of experience), those who have a profession (e.g. nurses, social workers) and those who use the term to describe what high fliers they are (barristers, surgeons and so on).

I think it means you have a professional qualification for which you have received specialist training.

A degree would not make you a professional, unless it involved professional training, like doctor/nurse etc. For example, a degree in maths would not make you a professional mathematician.

I agree its confusing though. If you had a PhD in maths, I guess you could become a lecturer. So is a lecturer a professional? Dont know.

Well I take it mean one for which specialist job specific training and exams were undertaken with the resultant acceptance into a professional body. I think to describe yourself as professional it should be training and exams beyond degree level.

But I would say that as I am an accountant!

Definition here
It's a combination of qualifications and subscribing to follow codes of conduct for higher ethical or moral standards.

Can I throw Planners into the mix....

Yes, I'd say specialist training - a specific qualification in your area. So teaching, accountancy, law, HR, librarianship, banking, all areas where you have to get a specific qualification in order to do that job.

I'd see it as separate from a skilled trade, like the examples you give, but I suppose 'professional' has a sort of connotation of someone who works in an office. Which is probably a bit off.

So it just means someone who's done some vocational training, rather than someone in a genuine knowledge industry?

For HR professionals, it generally means membership of the CIPD. Where I am, they require specific courses (ours is an undergrad degree course) and 3 years experience to qualify for membership and on-going continuous personal development in the area is required for continued membership. Membership of a professional body would generally be required to consider a job/qualification as professional. Membership of said body would require a specific level of training and would set out a code of conduct for its members so that there is regularity in the educational attainments and professional behaviour of its members.

The waters are muddied by the very frequent use of the word 'unprofessional' to describe anything from wearing slippers at the office to stealing from the petty cash. It appears you don't need to be in a profession to be accused of behaving unprofessionally. I suppose the opposite is 'amateur' or 'hopeless'.

I'd classify it as having an occupation which requires a specific qualification at degree level or above (usually postgraduate). Also there would be a professional governing body.

So doctors, vets, dentists, accountants, engineers, midwives, lawyers, architects, social workers, teachers, nurses, university professor, post doc scientist, senior civil servants.

Ones I'm not so sure about: journalists, bankers, politicians, senior police officers, physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, 'managers', tv/radio/film directors/producers/editors, book publishers, museum curators, auctioneers, firefighters, prison guards, hairdressers, health & safety inspector, tax inspector, charity CEOs.

These days it means 'white collar' office job, or a job thats not a manual or unskilled . It used to mean educated to uni standard but i am not so sure these days, as i think hairdressing or non degree jobs that involve a high level of skill and a recognised qualification at the end of it now qualify for 'professional' as well.

These days it seems to mean anyone who has to dress smart for work.

I wouldn't say HR was a profession

It's an interesting question because the main time I've come across it is when you have to get someone to countersign your passport, so I've just looked up the guidance and it's not longer simply a 'professional' but this - see description of "person of a similar standing":

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118585/countersignatories.pdf

So it comes down to those who have something to lose in terms of career/reputation, which makes sense for those professions like lawyers, teachers, doctors etc. but also a range of others. Not sure if this is helpful, but I found it enlightening.

Hedgehogs, that would mean including bank tellers and cosmetic counter staff.

A handyman in a small town almost certainly has more to lose in reputation than a post-doc scientist for example...

I think when people say they have a professional job, they're just trying to make you think they're better than other people, don't make any assumptions about what they do, and just hear "job".

I wouldn't say hairdressing was classed as 'professional' but a profession (ex stylist with stupid amounts of qualifications)
Also a qualified counsellor/psychotherapist which again I would call a 'profession' even though I have a degree and Msc.
My other job I would call 'professional' which is accounting.
So for me 'professional' I see as a non vocational profession.