# Do you put your degrees on your business card? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269 "2016-06-02T00:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/21 "2016-06-02T13:44:32Z")
No, but my degrees are only BSEE and MBA. I’ve seen people put MBA after their name and I don’t like it. If I had a PhD I’d probably put it on there. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/22 "2016-06-02T13:54:14Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Yes, even though it’s only a master’s degree (in library science). I had wondered about your name. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/23 "2016-06-02T14:17:09Z")
My business card has contact information and job title ( Sr. Earth Scientist ). I got a box of 500 cards and have given perhaps 30 of them away. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/24 "2016-06-02T15:33:54Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > No, but my degrees are only BSEE and MBA. I’ve seen people put MBA after their name and I don’t like it. If I had a PhD I’d probably put it on there. I hate that as well. In fact, I hate whenever someone puts an alphabet soup of degrees and certifications after their name. M.D., P.E. or esq. is fine because that’s standard practice, if not a requirement, for those professions. Maybe CPA or CFA if your job requires it. But once you start getting into stuff like PMP or various vender certifications, that’s a bit much. Your resume should tell me you are an effective project manager, not some letters that indicate your ability to pass a 200 multiple choice question test. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/25 "2016-06-02T16:06:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I had wondered about your name. 🙂 Also a [Star Trek](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Atoz) reference! Multiple geeky interests rolled up in one! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/26 "2016-06-02T16:41:12Z")
Just my MD. I skip the other alphabet soup I’ve accumulated before and since that one. (BA, FAAFP, DABFM, and a few even more screwball ones) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/27 "2016-06-02T16:46:13Z")
I don’t even have business cards. Thirty years on and managed to never get them. From the other side, in my field, if I got a card that said MS, PhD whatever after the person’s name, I’d figure they were trying too hard. Like they have low self esteem and are buoying it with the letter salad. This isn’t a blanket putdown or anything of others who have their degrees; it only is my opinion of my workplace. I don’t work with dentists or lawyers, just a smattering of Phds. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/28 "2016-06-02T16:55:58Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Just my MD. I skip the other alphabet soup I’ve accumulated before and since that one. (BA, FAAFP, DABFM, and a few even more screwball ones) Well if I had a degree in faapping, I don’t know if I would advertise it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/29 "2016-06-02T17:33:55Z")
I have a B.S., an M.S. and a couple of engineering licenses (P.E.). I only put P.E. on my business card. I’m currently a technical writer so I think it’s important to highlight my technical/engineering qualifications, especially since I’m female. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/30 "2016-06-02T18:03:40Z")
I had cards made up once, and I ended up tossing most of them. But all they had was my name, organization, phone number, and job title. If I was a consultant with a string of fancy credentials, I’d list them, but I spent my career as an engineer, never in a leadership position, and I can’t think of any time having a card would have made a difference. When people would give me theirs, I’d usually lose them within a couple of days anyway. Not very professional, huh? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/31 "2016-06-02T18:28:16Z")
I have Ph.D on my card. My proud parents would probably kill me if I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/32 "2016-06-02T18:30:55Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Well if I had a degree in faapping, I don’t know if I would advertise it. 😉 That certification gives me a 15% salary bump. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/33 "2016-06-02T18:43:15Z")
Happy Lendervedder, _BA in Eng with a minor in Psych_ I’m very proud of my six years at the University of Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/34 "2016-06-02T18:52:31Z")
Not putting your alphabet on your card – good. Putting your alphabet on your card – good. Putting someone else’s alphabet on your card – not so good. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/35 "2016-06-02T18:53:35Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > That certification gives me a 15% salary bump. 😛 A faap and a hump? I must be in the wrong profession. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/36 "2016-06-02T19:05:50Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > [QUOTE=Muffin] > > Well if I had a degree in faapping, I don’t know if I would advertise it. That certification gives me a 15% salary bump. 😛 [/QUOTE] I don’t want to know, I don’t want to know, I don’t want to know… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/37 "2016-06-02T19:34:56Z")
Is it even legal to put that on one’s business card? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/38 "2016-06-02T20:03:46Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Sorta related to the honorifics thread: do you put your degrees on your business card? > > What about professional qualifications? > > Mine says I’m a lawyer, but no degrees. Being a lawyer is the key point for me. > > Plus there’s enough crammed in there already: place of work, street address, telephone, fax, e-mail. And French version of everything on the flip side of the card. Same here; as a lawyer, I have to have degrees; but at this point they aren’t important to any clients I may have. I mean. they know I graduated from law school, or either (1) I’m much older than I look, or (2) there is something really wrong. [I think at one point you could pass the bar without graduating from a law school, but that was a long, long tome ago …] ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/39 "2016-06-02T20:54:23Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > [I think at one point you could pass the bar without graduating from a law school, but that was a long, long tome ago …] I don’t know about Sask, but [in Ont a law school professor can get called to the bar without having a law degree](http://www.lsuc.on.ca/CalltoBar/#Certificate), and there is no requirement for law school professors to have a law degree (although I can’t think of any full time profs who did not get a degree in law), so in theory it is still possible for a person to become a lawyer in Ontario without having a law degree. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269/40 "2016-06-03T13:34:23Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > I don’t know about Sask, but [in Ont a law school professor can get called to the bar without having a law degree](http://www.lsuc.on.ca/CalltoBar/#Certificate), and there is no requirement for law school professors to have a law degree (although I can’t think of any full time profs who did not get a degree in law), so in theory it is still possible for a person to become a lawyer in Ontario without having a law degree. I actually had a law professor who had no degree - but he was ancient (he taught trusts). That was decades ago, I don’t think he could still be alive, or if he is, he’d be very elderly. These days, I suspect the possibility is more theoretical than real … law professors are usually recruited from either those who have practiced law, or who have an impressive academic career. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-put-your-degrees-on-your-business-card/756269.md?page=3)