Hi Dave --

Interesting question! I have an MA in science journalism, and while I always list it on my site, I never thought to list it on my business card. And only one client has ever listed it as part of my bio/credits on the product. That said, however, I do think it's a significant plus on my resume, and does help to get me work.

Cathy Dold

I am not a big person for putting academic credentials behind your name unless you are a either a "doctor" - Ph.D, MD, Ed.D, etc or you have a certain type of certification that is relevant to your job function.

For example, I have an MS degree along with an FMP (Facility Management Professional). I only attach the FMP to my name on my email signature and not the MS degree. The FMP is relevant to my profession - it shows that I have achieved a relevant level of knowledge in the area. The MS degree is added and can be explained in further conversation if needed.

Good post. I am a CCIM, which is a commercial real estate designation. So, in the CRE world, I put it after my name in emails and business cards. I do this mostly because I want to meet other CCIMs. In other circles, however, people have no clue what that means, so I usually don't mention it.

Dave:

I think the comments are valid, as are your points. Many people responded to my LinkedIn question, and I am blogging about the results at my website - www.StartupStoryRadio.com.

Cheers,

Rob

i think your credentials are part of your name, part of your identity and leaving it off is like leaving off part of your name

the other day i was checking into buying a house and the guy due to my youthful appearance asked if i had school loan payments. i said yes but forgot i looked young so he assumed undergrad. well this doens't help my credibility in looking at houses and i was told to look at townhomes. this guy had no idea that i graduated from HS nearly 20yrs ago. So, if i had put my master's degree on my info sheet, maybe i would have gotten more respect. i guess it depends. sometimes i use it when someone talks down to me at work because they are used to talking to people in my group like that, especially if the person is correcting me when i have evidence i wasn't wrong. l-o-v-e that 1-2 punch. what can they say. you can soften the blow by saying, hope i can help or at your service or something like that.

"It depends" is the copout, correct answer. If the alphabet soup of initials behinds a person's name comes off as pretentious, then it is. If it informs or is part of an industry's nomenclature and lets the audience know you are a person of gravitas, go for it.

(FORTUNE Magazine) – Dear Annie: What is the protocol for listing one's credentials on e-mail signatures, business cards, etc.? I have an MBA and am a CPA, yet today my boss sniped at me in a meeting for listing these things on my e-mail signoff and business card. He has a Ph.D., and he asked me, "Oh, now I'm going to start putting that on my card?" I was nonplussed, since many other people here use the same professional designations without this kind of ridicule. What is going on? --Puzzled

Dear Puzzled: Hmm. Your boss is exceedingly modest. Most Ph.D.s not only note the designation on their cards but also like to be addressed as "Doctor," which seems fair enough after all those years of study. "It is customary to list one's credentials on one's card and e-mail signoff, although MBAs do it somewhat less than CPAs do," says Jacqueline Whitmore, founder and director of an executive-etiquette training firm called the Protocol School of Palm Beach (www.etiquetteexpert.com). "Your boss really should include his Ph.D. on his card and e-mail signoff as well. For him to make fun of you for this--well, there must be something else going on." Indeed. I hate to break this to you, but it seems pretty clear that your boss dislikes you for some reason that has nothing to do with this at all. And since he is the CEO, you might be wise to figure out what it is about you that bugs him--or else start job hunting.

Hi Dave: In my opinion,I think you should place your credentials behind your name on a business card because it is an accomplishment of hard work and it also tells the receiving party they are dealing with someone that has expertise and knowledge in a certain area of interest. I have a BS in CJ (Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice), MBA in Management and a MS in Psychology. By revealing this information, it starts a networking process that can put you in contact with others with similiar backgrounds and can be good for business as well.

I get to see a lot of business cards and I've always found it to be pretentious to list MBA behind your name. My colleagues feel the same. Would you list a BA? (obviously one respondent thinks its okay- but its not!)
An MBA is not a professional degree, it has no place on a business card. However, I agree it does belong on a resume' because you are listing your level of formal education. (and, as one response suggests, its not part of your name, for heaven's sake!)

Michael on June 22, that makes no sense to me.

You worked hard for your degree(s) they are part of your experience and your identity. List them, what people label pretentious is just their own jealousy.

Kevin......you miss the point, an MBA is just a degree, and not even a highly specialzed one at that. If we all started listing our degrees after our names that would look silly (Joe Schmoe, BA). On business cards and business email signatures, ONLY professional designations should be listed as THAT is what implies a level of accomplishment.

And every degree you get you work hard for, BA, BS, Master's.....but they only belong on a resume (unless you're at the Ph.D. level) since they DO NOT equate to a level of expertise in any area as a designation like CPA, CMA or CFM does.

I find people might like to stroke their own eqo by listing their education level after their name, but I usually look down at themn for that exact reason...I have met a LOT of idiots with MBA's, so there really isnt much to brag about there. By putting it out there, youre probably going to get more negative response than positive.....I would even circular file resumes with a degree listed after someone's name just for that reason.

Let you skill do the talking and your resume explain your background/education.....

A MBA is a professional degree and a global respected accomplishment. Although there are higher educational attainment(DBA or PH.D) The MBA is usually look upon as a terminal degree. The same as JD or LLM. The MBA usually expresses you have a level of business skills within the major areas of business operations. It can be useful in any industy. Those who earned one, would agree. I use mine everytime I get a chance. email signuture, business cards, check book with confidence their be no bonus checks.

An MBA is no harder (and in some cases easier) to obtain then rigorous undergraduate degrees in computer science, engineering, or similar. Personally, I never had an opinion on those that included the MBA but I've had co-workers point it out on some people's email signatures and had unfavorable comments. I see less people include it than have it so in general it seems most MBAs are modest while others like to point it out every chance they get.