Help: specialisms or specialisations?

[Catslikehats]

Ok I should probably know this but I have worked myself up into a confused frenzy and now neither word "looks" right

I want to write that I qualified in a number of specialised areas so which is correct?

"despite originally qualifying in commercial and financial specialisms..."

or "despite originally qualifying in commercial and financial specialisations..."

or something else entirely?

I think it is confusing me because the point of the phrase is that depsite qualifying, I never practiced and therefore they were not my specialisations IYKWIM.

Anyway since my whole life a job that I quite fancy depends on this I would be v. grateful for thoughts.

I think the word you want is specialism.

However unless you are after a post with the OED I really don't think it matters that much!

I also think Specialisms. And I agree that both look weird, and also agree with Euph that unless it's the OED then your pedantry grammar is better than theirs

Both sound kind of wrong...

Hmm

speciality?? This would be used in medicine...
subspeciality?

You need to change the sentence around. It needs to read "despite originally specialising....."

You've made up the other words; they are awful.

I went with specialisms - and am relieved by your comments that it is unlikely anyone will notice

Hevian the problem is I have never "specialised" in those areas. I qualified in some particular areas but never practised in them. I now want a job in one of the areas in which I have qualified but have no practical experience. It would be misleading (I think) therefore to suggest I have specialised.

But regardless I can assure you the words aren't made up