Academic title in your e-mail signature

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the inclusion of academic titles and certifications in email signatures, exploring personal preferences, workplace policies, and cultural differences regarding this practice.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants indicate they do not include academic titles or certifications in their email signatures, citing reasons such as relevance and personal preference.
  • Others argue that including an academic title is justified if it is relevant to the communication context, especially in professional settings.
  • A participant mentions a workplace policy that prohibits the inclusion of academic titles in internal communications, emphasizing that job titles are more relevant.
  • There are cultural differences noted, with some participants highlighting that in certain cultures, titles are considered essential for establishing credibility.
  • One participant humorously suggests using informal titles based on their current work context, indicating a flexible approach to signature usage.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express differing views on the necessity and appropriateness of including academic titles in email signatures, with no consensus reached on the matter.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' preferences appear to depend on workplace culture, personal values, and the context of the communication, indicating a lack of universal standards.

Math Is Hard
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Do you list an academic title (like PhD) or certification (PMP) in your email signature? I see some of both where I work.
 
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Math Is Hard said:
Do you list an academic title (like PhD) or certification (PMP) in your email signature? I see some of both where I work.
I don't, but many folks, particularly PhDs and PEs do.
 
I put my job title in my email signature.
My academic title is not really relevant so I leave it out.

Is the academic title or certification relevant where you work?
 
We're required to put our job title on our sigs at work. Sometimes, if I know the person I'm writing, I replace my title with "Laboratory Dogsbody" :biggrin:.
 
I don't and never would 'just because'. I find it's off-putting and pretentious. (when optional)

If I were chatting with someone on the street and he or she out-of-nowhere said "I have a PhD", and it wasn't something I needed to know or care about, I would think they are kind of rude. I don't see how putting it in a signature unnecessarily is any different.
 
I don't usually, but I have been known to follow my initials with "range/lab rat" depending if I am on the test range or in the lab working. Most people I work with know that if I say that, I am out of town and don't try to get a hold of me any further.
 
My employer has a policy of NOT including academic/professional titles on any internal emails or reports. Job titles are a different matter - the logic being that your job title reflects what the company is paying you to do, not what pieces of paper you collected by jumping through hoops.

That doesn't necessarily apply to communications outside the company, if there is a justifiable reason for including them (e.g. published papers, conference presentations, etc) - but self-aggrandisement doesn't count as a justification.

But even with that policy, there are huge differences between different cultures. Our German colleagues don't think they "know" anybody until they have seen an organization chart with at least 100 boxes on it showing how they fit into the "big picture". And if you get confused and permute the order of Herr Dr. Ing. Eur. (or should that be Herr Ing. P. Eur. Dr.?) you instantly lose all credibility :smile:
 
Of course I do, I worked hard to get it :wink: If it is relevant for your work, why wouldn't you use it? When I send e-mails to colleagues or my hairdresser I always leave out the signature.
 

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