Posted on Jun 7, 2016
What are your thoughts on including initials (MBA, PHD) after a member's name?
50.2K
441
144
27
27
0
There seems to be a trend towards Rallypoint members including initials after their names. Some of these are fairly straight forward such as the initials MBA, JD, PHD, or so forth that indicate an academic degree is held. Others, however, are fairly vague and sometimes indicate a job title, community position, or certification. So is this an acceptable trend or is merely grandstanding?
Master's Degree
Education
Networking
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 77
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
I think MBA is okay, PhD...not sure because in what??? Doctorate, obviously yes, I'm working on mine, and when it's business I will put Dr before my name...Dr is vague as well though because everyone automatically assumes MD, but mine will be in education. These degrees are not obtained by everyone, but if you work hard to do so, I don't see a problem. But now when you see a name and afterwards like literally like 5 or 6 acronyms, that may be a bit much.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
People work very hard for their professional certifications (i.e. R.N.) and academic degrees earned... I see it the same as a veteran using their military grade... You earned it... You choose whether to be modest or flaunt it... On RP we are networking... Sounds very appropriate to me.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Guitar great Chet Atkins (1924-2001) would later in life add CGP and it fit him well! Certified Guitar Picker is one I would take too.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
If you earned it so what- in some cases it might lend some extra weight to the discussion- "Oh he's a lawyer- might know the Law!", etc.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I am a nurse in a hospital and I see it all the time. Mostly I would say it is a combination of both. If it is relevant yes do it RN, LPN, MD, DO... Fine so be it but an administrative person doesn't need in relation to their job then it is grand standing. Nothing more irritating then your boss have mba ccrn ..... After their name for no reason at all.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I think its grandstanding. My comments should be able to stand on their own merit and not have to rely on my "credentials" as a Master Sergeant with a Bronze Star, 4 deployments, 35 years of service and a Masters Degree.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Other than education, big deal- we all served and we all put our pants on the same way every morning.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
A bit of a dated topic, but I'll jump in as a couple folks have breathed new life back into the thread.
I have had this discussion on LinkedIn myself. I am working on an MBA, but I don't know if I want to put "MBA" behind my name. It seems like the kind of attention grabber I don't think I need. Maybe I'm wrong, and its exactly the kind of attention grabber I need, who knows. Still, its kind of "unseemly" I guess I'd say. On LinkedIn my opinion is distinctly in the minority. Should I earn my MBA, maybe I'll tag myself with it on LinkedIn where maybe it means something, but not here, not Facebook, not in casual conversation... You get the point.
I have had this discussion on LinkedIn myself. I am working on an MBA, but I don't know if I want to put "MBA" behind my name. It seems like the kind of attention grabber I don't think I need. Maybe I'm wrong, and its exactly the kind of attention grabber I need, who knows. Still, its kind of "unseemly" I guess I'd say. On LinkedIn my opinion is distinctly in the minority. Should I earn my MBA, maybe I'll tag myself with it on LinkedIn where maybe it means something, but not here, not Facebook, not in casual conversation... You get the point.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google