What does the term 'having a profession' mean now?

Good post Doodledog thanks.

Does anyone remember the wonderful Alan Bennet monologue " A woman of no importance"?

The narrator describes herself as a "professional woman" because she is unmarried and works in an office where she is in charge of the photocopier.

As a "professional woman" she chooses to read "The Daily Express" not "The Sun" or "The Mirror" which are only read by unprofessional people.

Chestnut

The Cambridge Dictionary has a definition of profession.
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/profession
It says jobs which need a special training or skill but not in business or industry.
And one that is respected because it involves a high level of education.
Not sure where that leaves the London black taxi driver, probably not a profession, although it certainly involves a huge knowledge base. Other taxi drivers definitely not.

Yes, that’s what I have always assumed of the term ‘ a professional’ Chestnut.
Meanings and wordings change however, and I have no problem with that.

Sorry Chestnut my word was changed! How ironic is that??
Profession was the word.

A profession requires expertise, higher education and qualifications - beyond mere training for a job. The lines are blurred lately though, with so many calling themselves 'professionals'

This because people especially young people are much less snobbish than they used to be.

I think people are just as 'snobbish' and it's to do with the meaning of words in common usage changing over time. 'Professional is used loosely now.

(e.g. I know somebody who describes herself as a 'professional artist and designer' - who is usually unemployed and dabbling in some creative project.)

"'Professional is used loosely now."

Because people are less impressed by the authority of doctors, lawyers, and priests, and more impressed by blue collar credentials.

Hetty58

(e.g. I know somebody who describes herself as a 'professional artist and designer' - who is usually unemployed and dabbling in some creative project.)

'Professional' in that sense is used as the opposite of 'amateur', though, and suggesting that she expects to get paid for her talents, not to expect them to come free - it's not the same as someone saying that they are 'a professional'.

I've been thinking about this thread this evening as we've had a power cut. Power out all over town most of the afternoon. Today is my husband's birthday and he really wanted an Indian takeaway.

We put all our faith in the local power people and hooray the electricity came back on and Mr Scones has had his biryani.

The people at the power company and the guys at our local takeaway - total professionals the lot of 'em.

I thought that a profession could only be called that if it had a code of ethics to adhere to.

I had some feedback recently about how the charity I lead operates and it was said that one of the reasons others like to work with us is that we take a ‘professional’ approach to the work.

I assume by that they mean that we take our work seriously and we are competent.

I think that’s the measure I use most; if someone approaches a job in a competent manner then I tend to think of them as professionals. People offering a service who are incompetent, discourteous, have bad timekeeping etc. I tend to think of as unprofessional.

grannyactivist

I had some feedback recently about how the charity I lead operates and it was said that one of the reasons others like to work with us is that we take a ‘professional’ approach to the work.

I assume by that they mean that we take our work seriously and we are competent.

I think that’s the measure I use most; if someone approaches a job in a competent manner then I tend to think of them as professionals. People offering a service who are incompetent, discourteous, have bad timekeeping etc. I tend to think of as unprofessional.

As ever grannyactivist, very well expressed

grannyactivist straight to the point, and a useful definition of a good worker .

Germanshepherdsmum

Calling a taxi driver a professional is ridiculous. Next it will be the plumber, the bricklayer, the postman. All worthy and respectable trades and we couldn’t manage without them, but I go with the old understanding of what a professional is. I agree that landlords looking for ‘professionals’ should be perfectly satisfied with prospective tenants in steady jobs with acceptable references. Being a professional is no guarantee of good behaviour nowadays. And of course there are always members of ‘the oldest profession’… ?

You try being a cabbie in somewhere like London, and having to know all the street names, one way systems, best shortcuts, etc then tell us it's not a profession!!!
Our local cabbies may just be 'drivers' but in places like London you HAVE to be very knowledgeable!!

Ali08

Germanshepherdsmum

Calling a taxi driver a professional is ridiculous. Next it will be the plumber, the bricklayer, the postman. All worthy and respectable trades and we couldn’t manage without them, but I go with the old understanding of what a professional is. I agree that landlords looking for ‘professionals’ should be perfectly satisfied with prospective tenants in steady jobs with acceptable references. Being a professional is no guarantee of good behaviour nowadays. And of course there are always members of ‘the oldest profession’… ?

You try being a cabbie in somewhere like London, and having to know all the street names, one way systems, best shortcuts, etc then tell us it's not a profession!!!
Our local cabbies may just be 'drivers' but in places like London you HAVE to be very knowledgeable!!

Perhaps the term "skilled worker" should be given the respect it deserves.

After all, someone could be in a professional job but not be able to do it competently.

You try being a cabbie in somewhere like London, and having to know all the street names, one way systems, best shortcuts, etc then tell us it's not a profession!!!

Do London black cab drivers still have to pass "The Knowledge" test before they can get a licence?

The problem is that other types of cab driver may not.

Being a professional is no guarantee of good behaviour nowadays.
Yes that too, in the news this week!

I'm thrilled as my work has a professional body with a code of standards, I must assume that I'm a professional. Makes no difference to then income though.