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Original poster

What do you count as a 'professional' job?

284 replies

Llamapalma · 30/09/2022 23:39

My DSis and I have been arguing this tonight.

What in your opinion counts as a 'professional' job?

Certain wage? Anyone who works in an office? Anyone who has to dress smart? Certain job titles?

OP posts:
Stichintime · 30/09/2022 23:41

A job that you have to be qualified to do? Not sure if thats the correct definition though!

ClintonHill · 30/09/2022 23:41

I thought it meant a job you need to be specifically educated for so accountant, lawyer, doctor, dentist etc.

LittleBearPad · 30/09/2022 23:43

A member of a professional institution ie Law Society, ICAEW etc

skippy67 · 30/09/2022 23:43

As above. A job that you need a formal qualification for. So doctor, lawyer, dentist etc

Redlocks30 · 30/09/2022 23:43

Interesting-I would say it’s about having professional qualifications, but others may disagree.

My sister in law talks a lot about her reasons for going into her profession as a TA (love of the children, wanting to help etc) but I’m not sure that is a profession? She has O levels, but no higher qualifications. She may be professional in her everyday role, but does that make you a professional?

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/09/2022 23:44

Oh god I hate these sort of questions.

Verytirednow · 30/09/2022 23:47

Anyone who has to pay a registration and prove ongoing study with paperwork .

EveSix · 30/09/2022 23:51

Err... working in one of the professions? Clue in the name.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 30/09/2022 23:55

To me, a profession is a lawyer, doctor, surveyor, accountant etc.

Office based and people who have traditionally had to be registered in order to practice.

Teacher is not office based but might just scrape in. (I should point out that I am one). However, in my opinion, a TA wouldn’t make the cut. Teachers did not need to be registered in the past and are classroom based, not office based.

Nurses - controversial - I don’t really see them as a ‘profession’ either. A bit like my rationale for teachers, traditionally ward based not office based.

I do wonder how much of this is because of my own knowledge of the historical professions and how much is just historical bias against traditionally female jobs.

Redlocks30 · 30/09/2022 23:56

EveSix · 30/09/2022 23:51

Err... working in one of the professions? Clue in the name.

What jobs do you think are professions Which are not professions?

Aside medicine, dentistry, law…

Nursing? Teaching? Allied health roles?

ErrolTheDragon · 30/09/2022 23:58

Not necessarily 'office based' - surely chartered engineers are professionals by objective definitions?

Redlocks30 · 30/09/2022 23:58

DifficultBloodyWoman · 30/09/2022 23:55

To me, a profession is a lawyer, doctor, surveyor, accountant etc.

Office based and people who have traditionally had to be registered in order to practice.

Teacher is not office based but might just scrape in. (I should point out that I am one). However, in my opinion, a TA wouldn’t make the cut. Teachers did not need to be registered in the past and are classroom based, not office based.

Nurses - controversial - I don’t really see them as a ‘profession’ either. A bit like my rationale for teachers, traditionally ward based not office based.

I do wonder how much of this is because of my own knowledge of the historical professions and how much is just historical bias against traditionally female jobs.

What about a dentist? They are based in a surgery or a hospital.

So is a doctor.

So is a nurse.

I’m not sure that ‘office based’ is that helpful here.

FromageRouge · 30/09/2022 23:59

A role that requires a degree or equivalent and professional registration with a professional body.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 01/10/2022 00:01

Being a member of a professional body (usually requiring some kind of entry qualification - a degree, diploma etc) and some kind of oversight on Continued Professional Development I.e. further training. Not the same as having a "job" and working your way up (not that there is anything wrong with that). It is not about money.

ElectedOnThursday · 01/10/2022 00:02

A profession is different to a job. A profession is something you have whether or not you are employed. For example, by profession he is an architect but currently working in retail.

mondaytosunday · 01/10/2022 00:04

I think it's an outdated term.
Electricians and plumbers need qualifications and certifications. They are skilled jobs. Do they count?
Doctors don't work in offices.
Journalists? They do work in offices but don't necessarily require formal education.
Is it a matter of working with your head as opposed to your hands?
Athletes can turn professional too.

ErrolTheDragon · 01/10/2022 00:04

EveSix · 30/09/2022 23:51

Err... working in one of the professions? Clue in the name.

No. 'The professions' tend to mean specifically roles such as doctors, teacher, lawyers etc which aren't in business or industry. But it's wrong to suppose that business and industry don't employ 'professionals'!

DifficultBloodyWoman · 01/10/2022 00:04

I definitely agree that my office based definition is subjective.

And I think that is what the OP is getting at - we do have subjective ideas about this rather than just dictionary definitions.

A dentist, yes a profession. They, like doctors, have consulting rooms.

But nurses don’t. Seeing a nurse is quite a modern thing (to my mind at least). Historically, they did not practice independently of a doctor. Perhaps an degree of autonomy is also part of my definition? Or, perhaps they didn’t practice independently because registration didn’t exist to allow it but things have changed and my definition of professions hasn’t.

Bumptious22 · 01/10/2022 00:05

Professional or amateur.

Professional = qualified for the job.

Amateur = doing the job without qualifications.

Can be paid for both

DifficultBloodyWoman · 01/10/2022 00:07

mondaytosunday · 01/10/2022 00:04

I think it's an outdated term.
Electricians and plumbers need qualifications and certifications. They are skilled jobs. Do they count?
Doctors don't work in offices.
Journalists? They do work in offices but don't necessarily require formal education.
Is it a matter of working with your head as opposed to your hands?
Athletes can turn professional too.

‘Professions’ and ‘professionals’ are different.

I’d argue that ‘professions’ and ‘the professions’ are different too.

Interesting point about registration for blue collar workers such as electricians and plumbers. This is why I used ‘office based’ in my own definition. (I deliberately didn’t want to say white collar originally).

vodkaredbullgirl · 01/10/2022 00:11

What's your thought OP?

Kiitos · 01/10/2022 00:15

I’m not sure but would probably say any job involving being registered to practice, and with a risk of being ‘struck off’ for malpractice/negligence etc

Blowthemandown · 01/10/2022 00:37

@Llamapalma usually Dr, Teacher, Accountant, solicitor; that is what it used to be. Think it can now be a Director or Company Sec as well. For a rough idea, have a look on .gov and see who can sign your photo for a passport!

olddustbag · 01/10/2022 00:42

FromageRouge · 30/09/2022 23:59

A role that requires a degree or equivalent and professional registration with a professional body.

Agree

And it can be removed.

To clarify above- being a teacher and having QTS is an awarded status and not a qualification and it can be removed. It is a profession.

MangyInseam · 01/10/2022 00:46

Yes, professional qualification, probably some kind of professional association, but not a trade.