BSME in email signature? 8

[kevindurette]

I work as an applications engineer and reverse engineer for a distributor, and many of our clients have little or no college education. The term "engineer" seems to be loosely tossed around by people all over this industry. I did not take my FE exam, though, so I cannot call myself an EIT. Would it be appropriate to put BSME at the end of my name in my email signature? It doesn't seem to be a title that people often brag about; I'm sure my bachelor's degree required only a fraction of the work it must take to earn a doctorate's degree. It might clear up questions of credibility with customers with whom I have not yet dealt, however. I don't want to come off as arrogant either, though. What do you think?

 

[ivymike]

I would definitely not.


ivymike
Sender of emails, Attendee at meetings, Certificate in office safety, LMAO, TYVM
312.588.3108

 

[photoengineer]

You can if you like. It sounds like you need a new job where people will respect you as an engineer. (I once worked at a company where the bosses pulled guys off the shop floor and called them engineers, and I found that to be offensive because they weren't any good at it.)

It's not done very often, and might give the impression of an inferiority complex. I'd encourage you to find better employment rather than trying to figure out creative ways to have your e-mail signature.

Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[Latexman]

No. Credibility must be earned, not advertised.

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[SomptingGuy]

Me neither. I feel a bit of a pseud having it on my business cards, but that's company policy.


- Steve

 

[zdas04]

Well, I have to go against the consensus (imagine that). There is no reason not to include any earned accomplishment in your signature (especially an e-mail signature, after a while people don't see them and you will be excused for throwing it up in every e-mail because no one sees their own signature). There are laws against using the word "Engineer", but nothing prevents you from listing your high school graduation year if you want to.

If you work for a company that calls the janitor a "Sanitary Engineer", then an understated "my name, BSME" differentiates you as a degreed Engineer from the Administrative Engineer who answers the phone. As to the question about appearing arrogant I think it probably comes closer to making you appear desperate for recognition. Desperation is not necessarily a bad thing--desperate people are usually hungry and may go the extra mile.

In the situation you described, I would do it.

David

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

http://www.muleshoe-eng.com

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

"Life is nature's way of preserving meat" The Master on Dr. Who

 

[KENAT]

In a vaguely similar situation I was told to put BEng on my business cards and can't say I lost any sleep over it. It was for the credibility reason, not nececssarily directly mine as the companies.

In an industry where PE or CEng was the norm it may look a bit sad. In an industry where "PIOTSF" is more typical then it may be of beneffit.

Oh, and why not look at taking the FE?

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(probably not aimed specifically at you)
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[kepharda]

How about this: Why not study and take the FE and PE?

To answer the other question no I would not put BSME on your signature.

I once worked with a guy that had a sig. that looked like this:

John Doe
Area Supervisor
Safety Committee Member
BS Business, U of O
US Navy (Ret)
Chief Petty Officer (Ret)
Airborne Qualified

Most people in that plant had a lot of fun with this plus he was universally disliked but still you don't want your sig to be a resume, but instead should identify you and have all your contact info.

this message has been approved for citizen to elect kepharda 2008

 

[KENAT]

One other thought, maybe only use it on targetted external email etc. and not internally.

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[cksh]

I would leave it off.

And I agree that it is time to start looking for a new job where you are more respected for you abilites.

I have my title in my sig but that is so they know what I do. It keeps me separated from the program managers, supervisors, and purchasing etc.

A couple of my fellow engineers list our division only but that doesn't tell someone what they do. Other put engineer for such and such product which is fine.

The smart one's put their first name only with no phone number or other contact info Wouldn't it be nice to never hear your phone ring?

 

[ornerynorsk]

Titles have gotten cliche in the past 20 years or so.

Ornerynorsk
(that would be Norwegian descent, folks!!!)
BS in BS, Univ of Hard Knocks
Tall Tale Teller
Fortunate to be a real Pub Owner as a sideline
Works when has to, still not enough time for fishing
World traveler
Jack of all trades
Part time slacker - slack time loafer

 

[mechmama]

I might think if your *clients* have little or no college education, they might think you have a little holier-than-thou syndrome if you must make a point that you have a degree. I would just put my name and "mechanical engineer" under it, if you must. If non-degreed people at your company are calling themselves engineers, that's their problem, not yours. I only put my title and "PE" when absolutely necessary (i.e. a cold contact with someone and I need to show my qualifications for business purposes).

(Although I have to say, I was irked when watching Howe & Howe Tech last night and one brother kept calling the fabricator a "really good engineer." I hope he has a degree in engineering and is just working there because it's cool. . .Eh, either way, they do much more interesting stuff than me.)

 

[desertfox]

Hi kevindurette

I wouldn't bother.

As someone already stated respect is earned! and some I have worked with have BSc after there name, which after a while could be re-read as "Bloody Silly Clown" well thats the polite version.

desertfox

 

[SomptingGuy]

Actually any puffed-up sig on my outgoing emails would be unnoticeable, swamped by all that pointless, unenforceable legal nonsense our server adds to messages.

- Steve

 

[Latexman]

35 years ago a room mate of a friend in college handed me his business card when I met him, which I thought unusual and neat at the same time. Activities it said he excelled in were:

Orgies organized
Virgins verified
Wild broncs broke
etc., etc., etc.

It didn't take long to figure out he was full of shit. He didn't survive the first semester. His Dad came, loaded him up, and took him to a Marines recruiter.

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[photoengineer]

A subtle way you could indicate your college degree. The first way would be to put the type of engineer you are after your name, and that will indicate you have a degree in engineering. I don't think anybody would find it inappropriate.

John W. Smith
Mechanical Engineer
(268) 683-3829





Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[photoengineer]

Ah crum, my grammar is really bad in that last post. Sorry. (I changed how I was going to phrase it but didn't read it through after my edits.)

Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[KENAT]

A few people have suggested putting engineer after your name. I'd be carefull of this depending on your industry, location etc. In some situations claiming to be an engineer without having PE can get you in trouble. Although, from your OP, you're perhaps vaguely aware of this.

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(probably not aimed specifically at you)
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[TheTick]

Sounds like a Jethro move.

 

[mauricestoker]

I think I like BS Engineer best. I deal with a lot of BS. I wouldn't want to put it on a card or people might start giving me their BS to deal with.