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Years ago I'd occasionally see someone list PhD in their email signature. Then I started seeing people listing MBA in their sig. Not too long ago I started seeing people adding MA/MS which is other Masters I'm assuming? Here's some that I'm starting to see this year:
BS
BA
AA
AS
PMP
LSS MB
LSS GB
One guy actually has: Bob Smith, BA/AA/PMP/LSS MB
It's becoming a contest to see who can put the most ridiculous title attached to their name. It's on thing to put a PhD that took years vs a PMP or LSS MB/GB that took a few months of night classes a few times a week. Anyone else seeing this at work or just inundated by people classifying themselves with all these acronyms?
Please note I have nothing bad to say about being proud to earn these degrees/certs but do they all really belong in a signature?
Years ago I'd occasionally see someone list PhD in their email signature. Then I started seeing people listing MBA in their sig. Not too long ago I started seeing people adding MA/MS which is other Masters I'm assuming? Here's some that I'm starting to see this year:
BS
BA
AA
AS
PMP
LSS MB
LSS GB
One guy actually has: Bob Smith, BA/AA/PMP/LSS MB
It's becoming a contest to see who can put the most ridiculous title attached to their name. It's on thing to put a PhD that took years vs a PMP or LSS MB/GB that took a few months of night classes a few times a week. Anyone else seeing this at work or just inundated by people classifying themselves with all these acronyms?
Please note I have nothing bad to say about being proud to earn these degrees/certs but do they all really belong in a signature?
Optional, of course, but they are designations that carry weight in certain fields.
With the exception of "Phd.", I've never seen anyone list their degree in a signature so that is odd to me but Meh, whatever.
I work with people who have 10 titles or more after their names. I don't put any other than my official job title since that speaks for itself. The fact I have multiple certifications that have initials, a couple degrees etc doesn't change my title or what I do. Generally those people are insecure or completely arrogant jerks from my personal experience. The only time those are needed is when communicating with a high level peer at an outside organization.
Sure sign of insecurity and need for ego boost for the average person.
However, I can understand that it's important for people in some positions to list JD or phD or the like as it gives you professional credibility. I expect a vice president, or even head of scientific R&D, to have a phD, as would other outside people doing business with that company. Just one example.
But average Joe and Jane, no need for such things.
It is absolutely getting worse -- and ridiculous.
Not to pick on HR or PR people, but OMG I've seen so many capital letters after a name that I didn't know.
Not degrees, but certifications, or heck even just course completions.
It's like people need to list every single class they've taken or cert they've received.
Do I really need to know that an HR person has or is SHRM, SHPR?
Or that a PR person is APR or CCPR?
Really? I don't want to downplay accomplishments. But to me it's a little like a PhD insisting on being called doctor.
It's like "Oh, this person is XYZ."
Buy hey....anything to get the leg up on competition I suppose.
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While I don't think adding a degree designation to an email signature is appropriate, it's not a big deal either. Just seems like boasting. The worst I saw was a guy I used to work with that was a design engineer. He actually added P.E. after his name on his personal checks.
I would only do it for a professional degree, like PharmD, or a PhD. MBAs can be gotten from virtually any school and do not carry the weight they used to.
It is absolutely getting worse -- and ridiculous.
Not to pick on HR or PR people, but OMG I've seen so many capital letters after a name that I didn't know.
Not degrees, but certifications, or heck even just course completions.
It's like people need to list every single class they've taken or cert they've received.
Do I really need to know that an HR person has or is SHRM, SHPR?
Or that a PR person is APR or CCPR?
Really? I don't want to downplay accomplishments. But to me it's a little like a PhD insisting on being called doctor.
It's like "Oh, this person is XYZ."
Buy hey....anything to get the leg up on competition I suppose.
They aren't insisting they be called medical doctors. They do, however want you to know they've accomplished a "Doctorate" level of expertise in their chosen field. Doesn't bother me one bit.
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