Is Displaying Degree In Office Appropriate? [closed]

Question

This is a little bit of a non-technical question for those working in the software development field.

My employer has spent a fair amount to renovate 2 executive offices into 1 software development area. There are 3 programmers here, and I am the only one who holds a degree, and the only general software developer - my co-workers program in a scripting language that controls our hardware product.

I feel that my employer is attempting to demonstrate to customers and others who visit the office that they are taking an active step in quality and functionality control by bringing the development in house (some of it has previously been contracted out).

I feel that we're being looked after; new furniture, new hardware to work on, etc.

I am considering whether it is appropriate to display my degree in the office. I generally feel that it would be fine, I'm proud of it and worked hard for it. My only hesitation is that there are engineers here who are much more well established in their careers who don't display any of their certifications (mind you, their work area is constructed of partition walls instead of drywall, but I don't think this is the deciding factor, but may be).

I would, of course, consult my employer before hanging anything on the walls, but I thought it would be good to get a feel before approaching them.

What has been your experience with this sort of decision, and are there other considerations that I am overlooking?

Thanks

Answer 1

Short answer: No, your colleagues will make fun of you behind your back.

Longer answer: I think this question is well proxied by the question "should I put my academic qualifications on my business card"; the answer to which is that it depends on the culture in the country where you are working. In Europe and the US the answer to that question is generally "only if you have a PhD and only if that PhD is relevant to your job" and this is debatable. Conversely in I believe India it is standard to put down as many letters after your name as possible.

If you shouldn't put them on your business card, you shouldn't display them to your colleagues; nothing good will come of it.

We've all worked hard to get where we are and personally I think that when working with others it is best not to try to differentiate oneself from them.

--

The Mouth of a Cow BSc MSc (Oxon) PhD LOL

Answer 2

When I graduated college and held my first job, I had my diploma prominently displayed in my office. I was very proud of it. Many of my co-workers joked that it made me look like a Doctor, maybe because they were jealous.

At any rate, in the past 7 years I have not been to one place where displaying your credentials as a software engineer was commonplace, so it stays mothballed currently at home because I have no suitable place to display it. I have worked at very small Companies to large Companies in the US and I have not seen one programmer display their degree/diploma.

Answer 3

I just graduated, but my diploma is staying at home (once I actually get the thing in the mail...). Currently on my bookshelf, I'm displaying my IEEE CSDA certification, a copy of the Obligation of the Engineer, and a couple of achievement awards from previous jobs are sitting in frames on a lower shelf.

Typically, my walls at work are occupied by whiteboards and various notes and diagrams and memos posted with push pins. These are things that I find valuable to help me get my job done, which is what my company is paying me to do. Posting all kinds of diplomas and awards on the wall would eat up valuable space for things that help me be effective, I think.

The deciding factor should be corporate culture. Look at what other people in your position have done. Typically, in my experiences, the most senior engineers, business staff, and management personnel with private offices are the ones who have their diplomas and awards hanging on their walls. These are also the people who receive the most visitors from outside the team or organization, and I would suspect that they think that displaying their credentials gives them credibility to these visitors.

Answer 4

I can't imagine anyone would care, but if you're this concerned about it I'd listen to your gut. Its not like you're losing anything of consequence by not having it there.

Answer 5

Typically the reason to post a degree on the wall is to instill confidence in customers who are unable to judge your credentials for themselves. This is why lawyers and doctors tend to have diplomas posted on the wall behind their desks, clearly visible from the seats across from them.

Your motives are sort of in line with this -- you mention your employer is attempting to increase credibility with customers -- but on the other hand, you are not personally trying to win the customer's confidence, the company is. If your customers are touring your office, they probably aren't uninformed individuals; they represent other businesses, who will care more about the company as a whole rather than whether one of the employees has a degree.

Also, consider how suspicious it looks that only one degree is displayed in a room with three engineers? Whereas before nobody would have thought of it, now you've introduced a question about the others' qualifications.

In general, I think it's only appropriate to post your degree if:

1. You have an office all to yourself, or
2. Part of your job is convincing potential clients of your capabilities.

It doesn't sound like either of these applies to you.

Answer 6

I'd imagine that posting your degree on your wall isn't a big deal. It's not done out of bragging but out of a sense of fulfillment. I think others will think the same. Not that youre looking down on them but almost encouraging yourself of your accomplishments.

Answer 7

Managers and higher ups are ones where I've tended to see their degree in some cases. I graduated back in '97 and while I did have to supply a copy in order to get a visa to work in the US, I haven't often pondered about displaying it in my cube. I suspect if I had an office with full walls and some freedom to hang whatever I wanted within reason that then I may put up my degree but even then it would likely be more of a conversation piece than anything else as seeing my Combinatorics & Optimization major may make some people go, "What is that?"

Answer 8

If you just graduated then display it - it is only reasonable to be proud.

If life is back to normal, then consider not to unless you have some legal obligation to or everybody else have their displayed.

People may consider you to be bragging or putting down on others who haven't got a degree.

Answer 9

I would go for displaying technical certificates and PhDs relative to job function leaving everything else off. Employers are very often only concerned about very specific, job-related skills whereas degrees in general demonstrate you know how to learn. In some cases, like getting a BS in mathematics and then going on to become a programmer, it might be down right confusing or detrimental as others walk in and see it. In the end, it is a judgment call though.

Answer 10

Needless to say, everyone has their own opinion. It's a hard call, since being too heavy handed in promoting your credentials will get you mocked, while being to shy may make you under-appreciated.

My guidelines would be:

• is it common anywhere in the business? It turns out that in my company, company given award display is common, the hottest new certification is sometimes done, Master's degrees are sometimes done and BS degrees are always skipped. People with lots of bling to hang around tend to pick 1-2 favorites and shelve the rest.

• does it help the business? one of the reasons people in my company brand their email, business cards and cube walls with the CISSP/ISSEP certifications is that these are a big deal with our customers and the customers like to see how super qualified we are. So you're not "bragging", you're "helping the team"

• do you have your own nook? I almost never see it in open environments, but in private offices or cubes it seems more common.

And one guideline - always spend more time using your education than telling people about it. In other words - if it makes very little difference in the day to day life of your group that you have the extra qualification, then don't hype it so much. The person I was most interested in mocking was someone who went above and beyond to tell the world about a number of certifications that were not a primary focus of the particular background and skillset of what he brought to the table. If the only way I'd know you had a degree is that you clubbed me in the head with the diploma, then avoid hanging it.

Answer 11

I think it is determined by the culture of your profession. In the counseling profession it is displayed a lot for the same reason Dr., and Lawers do it you customers want to know that you have been professionaly trained, not just talking out the side of your mouth.