Speaking as a grad student, when I finish, I fully intend to make everyone refer to me as Doctor Smeghead, PhD, even the schlub working the McDonald’s drive-through. If I’m in a hurry, I might leave off the “Esquire”. Actually, make that especially the poor schlub!
Smeghead, BS, CLSp(MB), BSC*, SSC**
*Bronze Swimming Certificate
**Silver Swimming Certificate
Honest and true: two jobs ago, I had a colleague who called the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Energy and demanded that they re-send a letter, THIS time properly addressed to DR. N.N. instead of merely “Mr.” N.N…
Never mind the fact that he never bothered to introduce or refer to me as “Dr. quilter” – his title was Important!
ETA: Riffing on what Chronos said: in that field, at that time, a PhD was assumed. Which, I freely admit, only added to my amusement.
As pretentious as it may be, she has earned the title, and she is free to request it anywhere she likes.
My degree is a B.J. (Bachelor of Journalism).
I find it best either to spell it out or not mention it at all.
I would think so. Uninformed people might get the wrong idea and set the wrong expectations.
I wouldn’t doubt this at all. I see it quite a bit. The older (predominantly white male) PhDs get “Dr.” and the younger (more often female, minority) PhDs get called by their first name. And then someone overhears this and next thing you know they’re asking her to get the coffee…Not much of an exaggeration.
So take a minute and think about how you would feel if the other, male project manager (is that your field? “work plans” made me think that) was typically addressed as Mr. and Sir and you got called Jill. Soon people would be assuming he was your boss.
Sadly, academia really is that kind of a peeing contest.
Well, it’s not as good as a BJ, but my strange undergad degree is a BSA (Bachelor of Science in Agriculture).
Like Monstro, I’ve found that the PhD title does come in handy when you need quick credentialing. For most things, I don’t include it.
Despite my objections, my husband told the our bank and insurance company that my title is Dr. I cringe every time they refer to me as Dr., and I’ve corrected it back to Mrs. several times without any long term success.
I think BSc is also commonly used in Canadian universities as well. At least, it was the abbreviation used when I was at university, lo these many years ago.
true, she can request it, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to toe the line. Does the OP’s employer/HR have a set policy for the use of degrees in correspondence and other written materials?
I would certainly agree that if male employees routinely get the Ph.D added to their names, then so should the female employees.
But if it’s left to the choice of each employee, as suggested by the fact that several employees have specifically requested that their degrees not be listed, then the OP should just do as this employee wishes. Individual choice, even if it makes her look pretentious.
But see, this isn’t academia and it’s only a peeing contest if you decide you need to play the same game, too. It’s one of the reasons I left academia and am proud to say I didn’t stay for a PhD. I know people who did important study and research to earn their academic degrees and I know others who made shit up or bought their degrees online.
[[What better way to make her feel like an asshole?]]
That’s the funny thing. People like that never feel like assholes when you single them out with their credentials. I thought if I called everybody else at the potluck by their first name and called her Dr., she’d be embarrassed. Oh no, she’d be thrilled.
It’s fine to say call people what they want to be called, but then I have to figure out what everybody wants or deserves to be called in every context. It’s all crap and I’m sick of wasting my time on pompous assholes like her.
Jill - BS, MS, Married 21 years, ran a marathon in 3:55, led a 5.8 rated rock climb, certified telemark ski instructor, certified HIV/AIDS testing counselor, Master Gardener, getting ready to punch you in the nose, can’t decide which is the biggest accomplishment - Gat
I just sent an email to my boss today and asked. Will let you know.
JillGat, hfsiisif[n’knndiur[eseddd
I experienced almost the same thing, albeit in a non-academic setting. Two of the managers in my company (at the time) were introduced to a customer as “Doctor <surname>.” I was introduced as “Mister ----”, even though I also had a doctorate. As you might imagine, I bristled at that a little bit.
It’s the opposite where I work. The male medical director requests that he always be called by his first name and this mid-level person demands the PhD. It will look funny when their names appear together.
Okay, I need to drop this and go drink alcohol now.
JillGat, ETOH
The rule where I work is that business cards cannot show any postnominal academic qualifications.
But see, that’s the problem. They most likely didn’t know you were DR. Thunder. As soon as you start calling some people special titles, you have to research what every person’s special title is so you don’t leave anybody out. Slippery Slope.
I’m just the opposite - I don’t put my degrees on anything, and rarely put my office position on any e-mails. I’ve never felt any need to do so, and I’ve never run into any academic/professional snobbery.
Yes, they did. They’re the ones who hired me.
I think I’m going to start requiring all listings of my name to be “Oakminster, ADoK*”
Arch Druid of Karana
I don’t think I’ve ever used PhD after my name, and the only time I’ve seen Dr. before my name is from my old school asking for money, and on letters to interview candidates when I was at Bell Labs. There half our group had PhDs, and no one used doctor ever. As one manager said, people will start asking us how to cure their colds.
My observation is most people who use it are the only one in their organization with one, and want to stand out. I know of a university where a lot of the faculty didn’t have doctorates, so Doctor was higher prestige than Professor, but that is rare.
I’d do whatever she wants, and definitely not change the titles of anyone else. She’ll look like an insecure putz, which is likely what she is.
Yes, I once worked at a college where over time, the men all awarded each other honorary doctorates. They called each other “doctor” in public constantly, and called the one woman with an earned doctorate “Angie.”
South African Universities as well - it’s probably a commonwealth thing. Any Kiwi’s or Auzzies out there care to verify? (Or Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, etc for that matter).
Grim, BSc(Hons), HDE(PGSc)