Author Topic: Useless Professional Designations (Read 58680 times)

Davids · « **on:** July 02, 2015, 04:07:59 PM »

There are so many different designations in the professional world. Some are meaningful and some are just dumb. Like for example a CPA in the accounting world or a CPCU in the insurance world are useful designations (although just because one has one does not make them necessarily qualified, it could just be they are good at memorizing and passing tests). But then I see others out there that are in my opinion useless like a PMP or someone who has a Six Sigma whatever color belt. Call me crazy but I find those useless. Another one I find useless is a CFA, I don't even get the point of that one. Just ways for these companies to make money by saying you need this designation in your industry. Just my rant for the day. Now back to your Mustachian ways.

dandarc · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2015, 04:25:32 PM »

I have a shitload of insurance designations. The company paid us to get them - pass the test, get a bonus. Most of these involved studying for one or two nights from the company-provided books, then taking the test. By the time I left, I was taking 1 or more tests per month and starting down the CLCU path. Or was it CPCU? One of those.

It was interesting and good to learn a bit more about the industry I was working in, but yeah day to day it means nothing. Every time it comes up in current job, I answer "Look if you want me to go take a test, I guess I can do it, but I've been working here for over 6 years - all that work should tell you more about me than a piece of paper that says I'm Microsoft certified in whatever". Still don't have any new certifications since I left big Insurance company though.

iamlindoro · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2015, 04:46:15 PM »

So are you saying I shouldn't spend $1300 to become a "Certified Scrum Master?"

merula · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2015, 05:20:39 PM »

Can't Produce, Can't Underwrite.

But seriously, I can't tell you how excited I was to see CPCU as the second example. My pet peeve is to see a collection of alphabet soup after someone's name (actual example from my inbox "CIC, AIM, CSIR, CPIW"). If there's an accepted standard designation in your industry (even if that's CFA), and you don't have it, don't try to make it up with other, less rigorous designations. Quantity is no replacement for quality.

FIRE Artist · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2015, 06:48:11 PM »

For the first time in my working career (18 years), I work for an organization (public sector) that just loves credentials. The department administrator has "BA" listed behind her name. Seriously, who gives a shit that the director's secretary wasted money on a degree that she doesn't use? It really just makes me feel sorry for her. It is hilarious to me that I have done a career downshift to get better work life balance to a position where I don't use my engineering degree at all, but have to have it on my business cards. At my previous company where being an engineer was actually useful, no one cared, I guess because everyone just assumes you are qualified, otherwise you wouldn't be there.

Prepube · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2015, 09:17:56 PM »

Don't forget that some of those designations are for public protection... Licensure and certification in some areas (you mentioned CPA) such as accounting or medicine or counseling/psychotherapy assure the public of minimal competence. But I am always surprised how many useless-sounding certifications there are in the business world. I work for a Pearson Test Center, and every day there's a new cert or license test that I've never heard of. But the purpose is clear, isn't it? Pearson likes to make money, licensing and certificaying agencies like to make money, and large corporations and government entities enjoy spending it. It's all about money.

Fastfwd · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2015, 05:26:20 AM »

I have 2 titles in IT. One is quite common and well known. The other is so specialized and so long that I actually have to write it down to remember the full sentence and explain it to recruiters because I am the only one in my whole city to have completed that certification.

Also I'm currently a VP where I work but that's meaningless. I manage nobody.

pbkmaine · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2015, 05:35:17 AM »

Quote from: Davids on July 02, 2015, 04:07:59 PM

There are so many different designations in the professional world. Some are meaningful and some are just dumb. Like for example a CPA in the accounting world or a CPCU in the insurance world are useful designations (although just because one has one does not make them necessarily qualified, it could just be they are good at memorizing and passing tests). But then I see others out there that are in my opinion useless like a PMP or someone who has a Six Sigma whatever color belt. Call me crazy but I find those useless. Another one I find useless is a CFA, I don't even get the point of that one. Just ways for these companies to make money by saying you need this designation in your industry. Just my rant for the day. Now back to your Mustachian ways.

I'm not a CFA, but for securities analysts it's the gold standard. The exams are right up there with the CPA in terms of difficulty.

Cougar · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2015, 01:05:38 PM »

i got a microsoft certifications years ago, our dept needed two people to get them for a microsoft designation. i studied for and passed it all on my own time and my only reward was being reimbursed for the cost of the test. 2 years later, they let me go; what a waste that was.

some certifications are worth it, like if youre need in IT; getting a comptia opens doors and there's some security certs that really can make your career considering everything is about security today; but a lot of that is just to make testing centers money.

Friar · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2015, 01:56:06 PM »

Oh man I totally get this.

When I was still doing my previous role at the company I work for, my manager kept trying to convince me to start a "Green Belt' project. Whilst I see benefit with the methods these type of systems teach you to use, it was:

1) In a job that I didn't enjoy and wouldn't want to effort into improving.
2) It would mean that I would be stuck for an additional year in the company unless I wanted to pay the cost of the week long training course back to them.
3) The whole buzz word "Green Belt", "Master Black Belt" thing just makes me nauseated!

nobodyspecial · « **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:33:01 PM »

I always wanted a job title which involved "Darth ...."

TheOldestYoungMan · « **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:43:34 PM »

Aye, I've spent most of the day looking for my next new certification. It's annual review time and we're required to have a goal for the upcoming year. Seriously considering leveraging my proximity to FI to tell 'em to go F themselves.

What I need is something with lots of F's P's and E's that sounds intimidating but means "Plays much racquetball."

Joggernot · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2015, 05:11:56 PM »

Quote from: Cougar on July 03, 2015, 01:05:38 PM

i got a microsoft certifications years ago, our dept needed two people to get them for a microsoft designation. i studied for and passed it all on my own time and my only reward was being reimbursed for the cost of the test. 2 years later, they let me go; what a waste that was.

Me, too. Company needed someone with cert in order to bid a contract. I got it on my own time and dime. They got the contract; I got nothing, not even a thank you.

AH013 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2015, 08:35:09 AM »

Quote from: Davids on July 02, 2015, 04:07:59 PM

Another one I find useless is a CFA, I don't even get the point of that one.

The point is quite simple. Pass it, and you're pretty much guaranteed to always have a job paying $100k+ for the rest of your career...unless I don't know...you improperly appropriate almost $1B of client funds or bankrupt a $42B firm...even that isn't a definite career stopper in the investment industry *cough* Jon *cough* Dick.

In all seriousness, it's a solid education in stock & bond analysis and portfolio management. Not only do you get to permanently fire your financial adviser for the rest of your life since you'll likely know more about investments than any "Vice President" from any advisory firm trying to pitch you their services, you can check yourself when you're behaving like a dofus financially -- "Hey self, why do you care about getting back to even with this stock? You're just having a cognitive error of anchoring. Snap out of it!"

You're right in that it isn't some sort of legally required designation to practice in the field like the CPA is. But it's viewed as a masters/doctoral level education in the investment profession, and a dirt cheap one at that (figure 5 cumulative attempts at 3 exams for $1000 a piece...$5k compared to a $150k MBA) . Not having it and trying to get a significant position in the investments industry is akin to expecting to advance far in a standard office environment without a bachelors degree.

Spork · « **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2015, 08:45:28 AM »

I worked* for about 26 years in unix/IT/security areas. It is a veritable alphabet soup of useless designations. In 26 years, I got one -- and only because it was a deal I made with management. They were bumping my pay and needed an excuse and I had to promise to get a cert in the next few months. There were lots of cert hounds... but I never saw that it got them anywhere.

Cisco might be one exception. If you're in the routing world, the Cisco certs have sort of become a standard. I.e, your Cisco cert level will likely determine your salary.

*worked. I said "worked" for the first time. WOOHOO!

mozar · « **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2015, 08:55:03 AM »

I'm studying for the CGFM (government accounting) right now.

forummm · « **Reply #16 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:04:53 AM »

Quote from: nobodyspecial on July 03, 2015, 02:33:01 PM

I always wanted a job title which involved "Darth ...."

A little off topic, but back in the day United Airlines had their frequent flyer signup page where you could pick from a list of like 100 different titles. Everything from Mr, and Dr, to Majesty, Prince, etc. On a lark I signed up as Baron Forummm. Then after 9/11 they got all touchy about your name on your ID matching things and I had to change it (which was a pain).

Spork · « **Reply #17 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:10:50 AM »

Quote from: forummm on July 04, 2015, 09:04:53 AM

Quote from: nobodyspecial on July 03, 2015, 02:33:01 PM
I always wanted a job title which involved "Darth ...."

A little off topic, but back in the day United Airlines had their frequent flyer signup page where you could pick from a list of like 100 different titles. Everything from Mr, and Dr, to Majesty, Prince, etc. On a lark I signed up as Baron Forummm. Then after 9/11 they got all touchy about your name on your ID matching things and I had to change it (which was a pain).

I changed my wife's vanguard account to be something like "Mistress of the Universe".

NateupNorth · « **Reply #18 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:22:59 AM »

The worst one at my organization is CIM - "certified in management". It's a certificate one of the local post-secondary institutions gives people for taking eight evening introductory corses in things like 'business' and 'human resources'. Everyone with a degree in anything business-related (who doesn't inculde it in their email signature) thinks it's a joke, but there are a ton of clerical staff who were hired with no education, who have had the company pay for it, and are signing their emails "Joe Everyman, C.I.M."

Jack · « **Reply #19 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:36:09 AM »

In high school, I was qualified to sit for the CCNA (the first Cisco cert) but never bothered to actually do it since I wasn't interested in network administration. (I only took the CCNA class because my school didn't have AP CS and it seemed fun... my friends and I spent the entire year doing the lessons in 10 minutes and then playing Starcraft and Counterstrike for the rest of the double period.)

I'm an EIT but not in a PE-track job, so I guess that's useless too. I have it on my work email sig anyway...

Spork · « **Reply #20 on:** July 04, 2015, 09:51:08 AM »

Quote from: Jack on July 04, 2015, 09:36:09 AM

In high school, I was qualified to sit for the CCNA (the first Cisco cert) but never bothered to actually do it since I wasn't interested in network administration. (I only took the CCNA class because my school didn't have AP CS and it seemed fun... my friends and I spent the entire year doing the lessons in 10 minutes and then playing Starcraft and Counterstrike for the rest of the double period.)

I'm an EIT but not in a PE-track job, so I guess that's useless too. I have it on my work email sig anyway...

Where I came from, CCNP was the minimum requirement for any routing job. CCNA would get you a starting job in the NOC, though.

Jack · « **Reply #21 on:** July 04, 2015, 10:03:49 AM »

Quote from: Spork on July 04, 2015, 09:51:08 AM

Quote from: Jack on July 04, 2015, 09:36:09 AM
In high school, I was qualified to sit for the CCNA (the first Cisco cert) but never bothered to actually do it since I wasn't interested in network administration. (I only took the CCNA class because my school didn't have AP CS and it seemed fun... my friends and I spent the entire year doing the lessons in 10 minutes and then playing Starcraft and Counterstrike for the rest of the double period.)

I'm an EIT but not in a PE-track job, so I guess that's useless too. I have it on my work email sig anyway...

Where I came from, CCNP was the minimum requirement for any routing job. CCNA would get you a starting job in the NOC, though.

Like I said, it was in high school -- and it was a slack class. Hell, I wouldn't hire anybody with a CCNA to do anything important either, given the kinds of people (other than me and my friends, who were the school's "computer geeks") who took it!

Joel · « **Reply #22 on:** July 04, 2015, 10:07:28 AM »

The one that makes me laugh is when people put MBA behind their name. It's not a certification, and most MBA programs are very low quality and just exist to generate revenue for colleges. (This coming from someone who wasted a year to get his MBA for unrelated reasons)

pbkmaine · « **Reply #23 on:** July 04, 2015, 10:32:26 AM »

I have an MBA and at one point had 5 active professional designations: CPA, PFS, CFP(r), CIMA(r), AIF(r). I got them all because companies I worked for 1) thought they'd be a good idea, 2) fully paid for the courses and the exams, 3) let me study on company time. I like taking tests, always have. But I never put a single one on my business card. I did put them in my bio. I don't think they made a difference to most people, but at one point I had some hospital systems as clients, and the MDs loved the designations. I think they spent so many years taking tests themselves that they appreciated the effort that went into mine.

KMMK · « **Reply #24 on:** July 04, 2015, 11:54:09 AM »

I almost have my CRM (Canadian Risk Management - just have to send in my transcripts and pay my fee), which I doubt I'll ever use, since I decided to not work for other people any more, still have my RAHT (Registered Animal Health Technologist, which will probably switch to RVT soon with our provincial professional association name change) which was actually useful back when I worked in vet clinics, and on the way towards my CFP. I'll most likely give up the RAHT before I attain my CFP, but I kind of do want to use them all at once as it's amusingly diverse. KMMK, RAHT, CRM, CFP. I can risk manage your business, fix your personal finances, and give your cat an injection all at the same time!

EngineerMum · « **Reply #25 on:** July 05, 2015, 12:26:13 AM »

We have the opposite problem. Our staff are not allowed to have any letters on our names (not even those that have doctorates or our professional certification which is valuable, quite hard to get and really should be on business cards) either on cards or emails. The reason? The CEO doesn't even have an undergrad degree or MBA, so he doesn't have any letters, therefore we aren't allowed to make him look bad.

cdttmm · « **Reply #26 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:54:29 AM »

In about a month, I'm going to sit for the Master Beekeeper exam. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is any special combination of letters that I get to put after my name if I pass. But if there were, I'd probably do it just because I would find it funny explaining what the letters meant to people who felt compelled to ask!

Katsplaying · « **Reply #27 on:** July 05, 2015, 10:31:58 AM »

When I see letter afters a name, I cannot help but remember:

Technician Second Class Arnold J. Rimmer, BSc, SSc

**Bronze Swimming certificate
**Silver Swimming certificate

And laugh.

Bearded Man · « **Reply #28 on:** July 05, 2015, 10:48:14 AM »

I'm going to make a cert called CBA (Certified Bullshit Artist). At the end of the day, these CBA's are the ones who really rule the office. Taking credit for the work of others, making up shit to do, pretending to be working when they are just looking at a spreadsheet all day; the same spreadsheet they stare at everyday. These bs artists are the ones who truly have the world around their fingers.

That said I have 12 IT certs, am studying for my PMP and 11 months from completing my MBA (just started a month ago lolz).

wenchsenior · « **Reply #29 on:** July 05, 2015, 12:13:51 PM »

Quote from: cdttmm on July 05, 2015, 06:54:29 AM

In about a month, I'm going to sit for the Master Beekeeper exam. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is any special combination of letters that I get to put after my name if I pass. But if there were, I'd probably do it just because I would find it funny explaining what the letters meant to people who felt compelled to ask!

That is AWESOME! (I have been nurturing a developing bee obsession for the past year...still at the 'planting my whole yard in attractor-plants and putting up houses' stage, but the active bee-keeping stage is likely just a year or so away LOL.)

nobodyspecial · « **Reply #30 on:** July 05, 2015, 02:06:57 PM »

Quote from: cdttmm on July 05, 2015, 06:54:29 AM

In about a month, I'm going to sit for the Master Beekeeper exam. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is any special combination of letters that I get to put after my name if I pass.

"Lord of the Hives" ?

Latwell · « **Reply #31 on:** July 05, 2015, 02:16:55 PM »

I joke around a lot with people regarding certifications. I tell people I'm going to try and get as many abbreviations after my name as possible.

Soon I'll be a CPA. Once I am a CPA, I'll be working towards my RMA (registered municipal accountant- required to have to be able to audit towns in NJ and actually requires studying to be done).

While these two titles are useful, I've definitely found one that is a joke. In NJ, they have a "PSA" (public school accountant). The only requirement for this title is to have your CPA license and nothing else. The application for the PSA is about 5 lines (2 or 3 of them being your contact info). lol

SuperSaver · « **Reply #32 on:** July 05, 2015, 06:48:28 PM »

Quote from: AH013 on July 04, 2015, 08:35:09 AM

Quote from: Davids on July 02, 2015, 04:07:59 PM
a CFA, I don't even get the point of that one.

The point is quite simple. Pass it, and you're pretty much guaranteed to always have a job paying $100k+ for the rest of your career...unless I don't know...you improperly appropriate almost $1B of client funds or bankrupt a $42B firm...even that isn't a definite career stopper in the investment industry *cough* Jon *cough* Dick.

In all seriousness, it's a solid education in stock & bond analysis and portfolio management. Not only do you get to permanently fire your financial adviser for the rest of your life since you'll likely know more about investments than any "Vice President" from any advisory firm trying to pitch you their services, you can check yourself when you're behaving like a dofus financially -- "Hey self, why do you care about getting back to even with this stock? You're just having a cognitive error of anchoring. Snap out of it!"

You're right in that it isn't some sort of legally required designation to practice in the field like the CPA is. But it's viewed as a masters/doctoral level education in the investment profession, and a dirt cheap one at that (figure 5 cumulative attempts at 3 exams for $1000 a piece...$5k compared to a $150k MBA) . Not having it and trying to get a significant position in the investments industry is akin to expecting to advance far in a standard office environment without a bachelors degree.

+1 it seems like all my coworkers under 30 are studying for the CFA or CFP exams right now, or just passed recently. There are also older employees with those designations or J.D., LL.M. since they help get you promotions/raises and are subsidized/paid for by the company.

electriceagle · « **Reply #33 on:** July 05, 2015, 07:52:42 PM »

Quote from: NateupNorth on July 04, 2015, 09:22:59 AM

The worst one at my organization is CIM - "certified in management". It's a certificate one of the local post-secondary institutions gives people for taking eight evening introductory corses in things like 'business' and 'human resources'. Everyone with a degree in anything business-related (who doesn't inculde it in their email signature) thinks it's a joke, but there are a ton of clerical staff who were hired with no education, who have had the company pay for it, and are signing their emails "Joe Everyman, C.I.M."

Don't knock it. It beats being Certified Under Management.

Jeddy · « **Reply #34 on:** July 06, 2015, 07:30:36 AM »

Quote from: cdttmm on July 05, 2015, 06:54:29 AM

In about a month, I'm going to sit for the Master Beekeeper exam. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is any special combination of letters that I get to put after my name if I pass. But if there were, I'd probably do it just because I would find it funny explaining what the letters meant to people who felt compelled to ask!

Cdttmm, B.U.Z.Z.

jsloan · « **Reply #35 on:** July 06, 2015, 07:47:17 AM »

In IT these certifications can affect pricing of software from companies like Microsoft, Oracle, etc. Usually the more boxes that are checked these companies will reduce the prices on software depending upon how many units you can sell. In most cases a company should pay for these certs because they are the ones that profit. Also, if you are involved in government contracts there can be requirements for a certain amount of your work force must be certified in XYZ in order to submit an RFP. As far as hiring goes, I don't usually pay much attention to certs because of these reasons.

kimmarg · « **Reply #36 on:** July 06, 2015, 07:51:34 AM »

Quote from: cdttmm on July 05, 2015, 06:54:29 AM

In about a month, I'm going to sit for the Master Beekeeper exam. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is any special combination of letters that I get to put after my name if I pass. But if there were, I'd probably do it just because I would find it funny explaining what the letters meant to people who felt compelled to ask!

Awesome! I was just going to add that there are tons of certifications I would like, but non of them have anything to do with my day job. Master beekeeper, professional ski instructor level 3, senior ski patroller, master food preserver are all on my list.

Have tons of fun in Guelph at EAS! I went to EAS Burlington a few years ago and learned a lot. Speaking of which time to get off the internet and go check the hives!

Bumbling Bee · « **Reply #37 on:** July 06, 2015, 08:14:27 AM »

Quote from: AH013 on July 04, 2015, 08:35:09 AM

Quote from: Davids on July 02, 2015, 04:07:59 PM
Another one I find useless is a CFA, I don't even get the point of that one.

The point is quite simple. Pass it, and you're pretty much guaranteed to always have a job paying $100k+ for the rest of your career...unless I don't know...you improperly appropriate almost $1B of client funds or bankrupt a $42B firm...even that isn't a definite career stopper in the investment industry *cough* Jon *cough* Dick.

In all seriousness, it's a solid education in stock & bond analysis and portfolio management. Not only do you get to permanently fire your financial adviser for the rest of your life since you'll likely know more about investments than any "Vice President" from any advisory firm trying to pitch you their services, you can check yourself when you're behaving like a dofus financially -- "Hey self, why do you care about getting back to even with this stock? You're just having a cognitive error of anchoring. Snap out of it!"

You're right in that it isn't some sort of legally required designation to practice in the field like the CPA is. But it's viewed as a masters/doctoral level education in the investment profession, and a dirt cheap one at that (figure 5 cumulative attempts at 3 exams for $1000 a piece...$5k compared to a $150k MBA) . Not having it and trying to get a significant position in the investments industry is akin to expecting to advance far in a standard office environment without a bachelors degree.

+1 on this. Unfortunately, I have to go through so many hoops at work to buy most securities (and could also end up not being able to get out at a later time), that I just buy index ETFs. The exam that I think is a joke, especially in comparison to the CFA, is the FRM (Financial Risk Manager). If you are collecting alphabet soup after your name, you can easily pass the latter if you have the former, with maybe a week of study.

Jenny1974 · « **Reply #38 on:** July 06, 2015, 08:34:27 AM »

I'm a C.P.A. (Certified Public Accountant or "Couldn't Pass Again" . . . whichever you prefer) and, while that is certainly a useful designation, there are a whole subset of specialized certifications available to C.P.A.'s that I find somewhat useless. The AICPA and local chapters are always coming up with some new way to make your email signature more complicated!

beltim · « **Reply #39 on:** July 06, 2015, 08:38:09 AM »

Quote from: SuperSaver on July 05, 2015, 06:48:28 PM

+1 it seems like all my coworkers under 30 are studying for the CFA or CFP exams right now, or just passed recently. There are also older employees with those designations or J.D., LL.M. since they help get you promotions/raises and are subsidized/paid for by the company.

I can't tell if this is a commentary on lawyers or ignorance of degrees.. you realize that JD and LLM are law degrees, right?

coppertop · « **Reply #40 on:** July 06, 2015, 08:48:28 AM »

Oh, how times have changed. Back in the dinosaur days (c. 1972), when I was in school learning proper business usage, I was taught that one never signs one's name with a title, whether that title is M.B.A., J.D., Esquire, Ph.D., or M.D. It was considered in poor taste and never was to be done. Nowadays, I see all these letters after people's names and most of the time, I don't even know what they mean. People sign themselves "John Smith, Esquire," and I was taught that was tantamount to blowing one's own horn and was greatly frowned upon.

My professional organization is constantly trying to get members to sign up for its "certified manager" designation. Costs thousands of dollars, so there's the reason IMHO. I can do my job just fine without it.

Spork · « **Reply #41 on:** July 06, 2015, 08:58:55 AM »

Quote from: coppertop on July 06, 2015, 08:48:28 AM

Oh, how times have changed. Back in the dinosaur days (c. 1972), when I was in school learning proper business usage, I was taught that one never signs one's name with a title, whether that title is M.B.A., J.D., Esquire, Ph.D., or M.D. It was considered in poor taste and never was to be done. Nowadays, I see all these letters after people's names and most of the time, I don't even know what they mean. People sign themselves "John Smith, Esquire," and I was taught that was tantamount to blowing one's own horn and was greatly frowned upon.

Maybe it's regional? I know lots of physicians that are octogenarian that have been signing "MD" since the 50s.

coppertop · « **Reply #42 on:** July 06, 2015, 09:12:58 AM »

Maybe it's regional? I know lots of physicians that are octogenarian that have been signing "MD" since the 50s.

I dunno - my training was as a legal secretary (yes, there used to be a community college major for that). It used to be secretaries who prepared all correspondences and presented it to their bosses for signature. Anyone who prepared their own correspondence would not necessarily know what was called "proper business usage" and would do whatever seemed logical. Most of the rules I learned way back when are pretty much out the window now. We actually had to measure our assignments to make sure our typed correspondence was perfectly centered on the page. Our grades depended on it.

AH013 · « **Reply #43 on:** July 06, 2015, 09:43:25 AM »

Quote from: KMMK on July 04, 2015, 11:54:09 AM

I almost have my CRM (Canadian Risk Management - just have to send in my transcripts and pay my fee), which I doubt I'll ever use, since I decided to not work for other people any more, still have my RAHT (Registered Animal Health Technologist, which will probably switch to RVT soon with our provincial professional association name change) which was actually useful back when I worked in vet clinics, and on the way towards my CFP. I'll most likely give up the RAHT before I attain my CFP, but I kind of do want to use them all at once as it's amusingly diverse. KMMK, RAHT, CRM, CFP. I can risk manage your business, fix your personal finances, and give your cat an injection all at the same time!

Can I ask what drove you to get this? I mean over either the more widely (globally) recognized Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation with 25,000 charterholders or Professional Risk Manager (PRM) designation with roughly 11,000 charterholders, both having membership in 80+ countries? In looking into the CRM, RIMS reported they have roughly 4,000 members (predominately Canadian) holding either the CRM designation or the less rigorous RF designation that requires nothing more than having completed 3 non-unique risk/insurance undergrad courses that almost anyone majoring in finance would have done during their bachelors and then paying an enrollment fee.

I'm legitimately curious, because I see Canadians coming up with a lot of Canada-specific professional organizations eschewing already established global ones, and I'm left wondering if this is a government thing, or employer driven, or what.

KMMK · « **Reply #44 on:** July 06, 2015, 09:51:57 AM »

Quote from: AH013 on July 06, 2015, 09:43:25 AM

Quote from: KMMK on July 04, 2015, 11:54:09 AM
I almost have my CRM (Canadian Risk Management - just have to send in my transcripts and pay my fee), which I doubt I'll ever use, since I decided to not work for other people any more, still have my RAHT (Registered Animal Health Technologist, which will probably switch to RVT soon with our provincial professional association name change) which was actually useful back when I worked in vet clinics, and on the way towards my CFP. I'll most likely give up the RAHT before I attain my CFP, but I kind of do want to use them all at once as it's amusingly diverse. KMMK, RAHT, CRM, CFP. I can risk manage your business, fix your personal finances, and give your cat an injection all at the same time!

Can I ask what drove you to get this? I mean over either the more widely (globally) recognized Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation with 25,000 charterholders or Professional Risk Manager (PRM) designation with roughly 11,000 charterholders, both having membership in 80+ countries? In looking into the CRM, RIMS reported they have roughly 4,000 members (predominately Canadian) holding either the CRM designation or the less rigorous RF designation that requires nothing more than having completed 3 non-unique risk/insurance undergrad courses that almost anyone majoring in finance would have done during their bachelors and then paying an enrollment fee.

I'm legitimately curious, because I see Canadians coming up with a lot of Canada-specific professional organizations eschewing already established global ones, and I'm left wondering if this is a government thing, or employer driven, or what.

Because my employer (now former employer) paid for it, and it didn't take too much time out of my life. It would possibly have been useful if I'd stayed in my previous industry - insurance, but I decided to forego the corporate thing altogether.

cripzychiken · « **Reply #45 on:** July 06, 2015, 09:54:28 AM »

At my job it seems the quality assurance department is very guilty of this. The manager has 17 different codes after her name - including one for "QAM" or "quality assurance manager, which is the 5th code she gives. I went and checked - 2 are a "just 'read' this powerpoint" and sign the paper, 6 are from a single 1 day seminar (that 2/3rd of the company was forced to go to), 4 do not relate to her job at all (from a previous position). None are more than a 1 day seminar. None are really that useful/meaningful or significant.

Of her 17, I can claim 9. I have 0 after my name.

cdttmm · « **Reply #46 on:** July 06, 2015, 11:31:15 AM »

Quote from: nobodyspecial on July 05, 2015, 02:06:57 PM

Quote from: cdttmm on July 05, 2015, 06:54:29 AM
In about a month, I'm going to sit for the Master Beekeeper exam. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is any special combination of letters that I get to put after my name if I pass.
"Lord of the Hives" ?

Quote

Quote from: Jeddy on July 06, 2015, 07:30:36 AM
Quote from: cdttmm on July 05, 2015, 06:54:29 AM
In about a month, I'm going to sit for the Master Beekeeper exam. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is any special combination of letters that I get to put after my name if I pass. But if there were, I'd probably do it just because I would find it funny explaining what the letters meant to people who felt compelled to ask!

Cdttmm, B.U.Z.Z.

LOL -- these are awesome!!!

Bob W · « **Reply #47 on:** July 06, 2015, 01:29:50 PM »

Quote from: cripzychiken on July 06, 2015, 09:54:28 AM

At my job it seems the quality assurance department is very guilty of this. The manager has 17 different codes after her name - including one for "QAM" or "quality assurance manager, which is the 5th code she gives. I went and checked - 2 are a "just 'read' this powerpoint" and sign the paper, 6 are from a single 1 day seminar (that 2/3rd of the company was forced to go to), 4 do not relate to her job at all (from a previous position). None are more than a 1 day seminar. None are really that useful/meaningful or significant.

Of her 17, I can claim 9. I have 0 after my name.

That is funny as hell! Talk about insecurity. I bet she wears lots of makeup and has her hair done every 2 weeks and drives a Lexus?

Allen · « **Reply #48 on:** July 06, 2015, 01:52:27 PM »

Quote from: Davids on July 02, 2015, 04:07:59 PM

There are so many different designations in the professional world. Some are meaningful and some are just dumb. Like for example a CPA in the accounting world or a CPCU in the insurance world are useful designations (although just because one has one does not make them necessarily qualified, it could just be they are good at memorizing and passing tests). But then I see others out there that are in my opinion useless like a PMP or someone who has a Six Sigma whatever color belt. Call me crazy but I find those useless. Another one I find useless is a CFA, I don't even get the point of that one. Just ways for these companies to make money by saying you need this designation in your industry. Just my rant for the day. Now back to your Mustachian ways.

Wow you called me useless thanks.

SuperSaver · « **Reply #49 on:** July 06, 2015, 05:27:37 PM »

Quote from: beltim on July 06, 2015, 08:38:09 AM

Quote from: SuperSaver on July 05, 2015, 06:48:28 PM
+1 it seems like all my coworkers under 30 are studying for the CFA or CFP exams right now, or just passed recently. There are also older employees with those designations or J.D., LL.M. since they help get you promotions/raises and are subsidized/paid for by the company.

I can't tell if this is a commentary on lawyers or ignorance of degrees.. you realize that JD and LLM are law degrees, right?

I am fully aware they are both law degrees. I work for an asset management group- for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals. The fiduciary advisers and wealth planners tend to have law degrees since our clients have complex estate/ planning needs. They tend to have either practiced law first and then started at our company (hence why they ones with law degrees are all 30+) or gone back to school and sat for the bar after a few years in their jobs. The investment advisers and bankers tend to get the CFA and some wealth planners have their CFP; which is what I currently am working on.

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Author Topic: Useless Professional Designations (Read 58680 times)