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Message |
    
Seagull
Citizen
Username: Seagull
Post Number: 99
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 10:12 am: | 
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It's time to order new business cards at work, and I'm wondering...
Is there an order that degrees should be listed? Is the first degree listed the one attained first and last degree listed the one attained last? Also, where do certifications get placed? I have the following:
MBA, BS in Biology and have an HT (ASCP) certified as a Histotechnician (HT) by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists
Should it be:
MBA, BS, HT (ASCP)
or
BS, HT (ASCP), MBA
Also, is it ostentatious to list all of these?
Thanks! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7734
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 10:32 am: |
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Bachelors don't get listed. If the HT certification is part of your job, then list it. Otherwise, Masters and Doctorates only.
We have a (very snotty and pretentious) guy here (whom I have come close to slapping several times). He does economic modeling. He just finished law school. Everything (e-mail sig, business card, probably the name tags in his shorts) say "Jerk Off, Esq., MBA".
We all roll our eyeballs at him.
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DRJ
Citizen
Username: Alaska
Post Number: 75
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 10:48 am: |
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Maybe it depends on the industry, but around my office it is doctorates and professional certifications only on business cards. I work in finance, and most of the people I work with and deal with have MBA's or other advanced degrees. These degrees are never listed on the business card. |
Rod
Citizen
Username: Skimrod
Post Number: 116
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 11:05 am: |
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please tell me you're kidding with this degree crap. Do you think one day you will forget you have a degree and have to look at your card to remind yourself?
Instead of putting it on your card why don't you just tell everyone you meet all about your degrees.Maybe you cam tell them some of your crazy stories from
when you were getting your degree.Better yet,let me tell you all about my degrees.It all started back in '77....................... |
Seagull
Citizen
Username: Seagull
Post Number: 101
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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Thanks- it's the pharmaceutical industry. HT certification pertains to the job- although not all colleagues have it (which is why I think it probably should go on there)
So...
MBA, HT (ASCP)
or
HT (ASCP), MBA
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7738
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 11:36 am: |
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MBA first.
And Rod, thank you for that witty reparte. Some of us actually have jobs where it makes a difference. Clients need to know who/what level they are dealing with. In many cases, we are required to have different degrees to do what we do.
Hey, don't take it out on those of us who did the work and went into debt to get thru grad school just because you're tired of flipping burgers. |
Seagull
Citizen
Username: Seagull
Post Number: 103
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:09 pm: |
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Thank you Greenetree- both for the advice, and for responding to Rod (I hadn't seen that before my last posting!)
Rod-
It is pertinent to the job I do (and I don't go handing out my business card in non-work settings) Having them on there eliminates the need for the person to ask whether I'm certified/qualified to address the business I'd be discussing.
It was an honest question, in the "please help" section. No need for the rant. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 660
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:21 pm: |
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MBA generally does not go in your title, your business card or your letter heard. (That's the formal approach) Just your resume, and it would be posted before your BA/BS
It sounds like the HT is important to put there.... |
HOMMELL
Citizen
Username: Hommell
Post Number: 189
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:25 pm: |
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No MBA, No BS. Don't know about HT (ASCP) certified as a Histotechnician (HT) by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists
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Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 9463
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:27 pm: |
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This topic has given me some ideas to improve my business card.
 |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7739
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:50 pm: |
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It really does depend. For me, it's necessary because degree level denotes professional level. It's dumb, it doesn't always mean jack, but I'm in an academically snobby field. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 9464
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:57 pm: |
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I just wanted a way of saying "allow me to give you the finger" at business meetings. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7741
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
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Viola
http://experts.about.com/q/Business-Etiquette-2294/Business-Card-Degrees.htm
and
http://experts.about.com/q/Business-Etiquette-2294/Degree-Business-Card.htm |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11577
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 1:14 pm: |
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I know a heck of a lot of people with MBA degrees and I can't recall seeing any of them put it on a business card. The industry I work in has a professional designation similar to a CPA and people who hold that designation almost always have it on their card. Also, actuaries, if a fellow, usually include their designation on their card. It is sort of a tradition.
My personal opinion is that it is pretentious, at least in the USA, to include degrees or professional designations on cards unless they directly relate to your job. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 1254
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 1:32 pm: |
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I think a rule of thumb is that you include a degree or certification on a business card only if that degree or certification is a prerequistite for having the job. In other words, only if you cannot legally hold that job without the certification/degree/license/designation. Examples: MD, RN, CNM, CSW, LCSW, PhD (for psycologists), DO (doctor of osteopathy), OD (optometric doctor), DPM (doctor of podiatric medicine), CPA, DDS.
An exception to this rule of thumb would be lawyers. Notwithstanding GT's colleague, it's not common to see Esq. or JD on a lawyer's card. Instead, they usually say something like, "admitted to the bars of NY and NJ." |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1678
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 1:37 pm: |
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I would only put the HT certification on there.
Definitely no BA (A friend of mine put that on her business card....she's a massage therapist -- it's the first thing I noticed on the card because it was so out of place - why would I need to know if my massage therapist has a BA?)
Just my opinion, but an MBA seems as general as a BA/BS and I can't see how it would provide the receiver of the business card any added value or pertinent information knowing you have an MBA. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 2338
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 1:44 pm: |
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I’ve never seen a title on a card. Maybe it’s just because I’m in the IT field. I always just rely on the person’s job title. Director, VP, Partner
Brett
Director of Operations
BS, ½ way to Masters
Good cook
Ladys man
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7743
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 1:44 pm: |
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Shosh- just to clarify. The guy did graduate and pass the bar but I get closer to doing anything remotely legal by watching Judge Judy than he does in this job.
Greenetree, CIA, FBI, ABC, MD, JD, ABC, NBC, CBS
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themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2923
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 3:04 pm: |
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I can never pass a bar. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7746
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 3:14 pm: |
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Themp, B.U.N.N.I.E.S, G.A.T.E., A.A. |
fiche
Citizen
Username: Fiche
Post Number: 143
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 3:39 pm: |
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It's common sense that should dictate. Like LiliB said, why is the MBA pertinent? If it makes a difference and enlightens the reader in a professionally beneficial way, it belongs. If it is just there to adorn your name, it does not. Usually certifications belong on the card (I'm thinking specifically about insurance and accounting) |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 663
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 3:50 pm: |
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You folks have got it all wrong. Whether or not your degree goes on your card has nothing to do with being pretentious, or choosing not to be pretentious. Suggesting that is not correct. Why would sharing that you have an MBA, (and the hard work put into it) be considered pretentious or annoying? Anyone who thinks someone shouldn't be proud of this accomplishment should ask themselves why they feel that way. Are you embarrassed to share that you graduated High School? College?
Whether or not it belongs on a business card is a different story, as Academia is a weird place, and how you promote your degree is dictated by weird rules (along with the weird rules within the business community, such as CFA on the card, but MBA not on the card). You should know these rules, it's not a matter of opinion, they are easily found. Degrees do not go on Business Cards. Professional Designations appropriate to your career, DO.
Therefor, MBA doesn't.
And the rest of you ANNOYING posters who feel anybody who is proud of achieving an MBA, can go jump in the South Orange Reservoir. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7747
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 4:14 pm: |
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Miss our Midol today? |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1680
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 5:10 pm: |
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GT -  |
shasta
Citizen
Username: Shashalagoumba
Post Number: 104
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 6:27 pm: |
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GT - belly laugh! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7444
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 6:54 pm: |
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You should consider the following factors in deciding what information regarding your degrees and certification should be included on your business card.
1. What is the general practice in your field/place of business? If all your colleagues with the same credentials you have include certain degree and/or certification information you could too. I wouldn't recommend adding anything extraneous.
2. What degree(s)/certification(s) do you need to legally perform the work you do? If you can't legally perform an aspect of your job without having one or more of those credentials, then you should list any such credentials on your business card. Anything beyond that is unnecessary and should probably be left off. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11582
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 7:23 pm: |
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Where is the South Orange Reservoir?
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fiche
Citizen
Username: Fiche
Post Number: 144
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 7:42 pm: |
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Smarty: MSW does belong on a card, so your rule is not absolute. Again, it matters why it's there. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 664
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 8:39 pm: |
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Bob, the South Orange reservoir is the enormous 5' deep puddle that forms in my neighbors back yard everytime we have a weeks worth of rain. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 665
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 8:40 pm: |
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What is midol? |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 871
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 9:52 pm: |
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Right after college when everyone had their first job and seemed to give out their business cards everytime they passed gas, I was still in school.
I had a whole box of cards made up with no name on them. They just said, "YOU ARE AN *SS." (With the "A")
Whenever someone gave me a business card, I gave them mine. Then I just started to give it out whenever I felt like it.
It was alot of fun; I got into some trouble, but I was never injured, and I only have one left.
You could try that.
J.B. |
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