Professions

I had not equated being professional to only those who could become self employed. These days anyone could I suppose.

This is very narrow minded.

My husband had a “ profession” but ended up self employed doing something quite different.

I didn’t have a profession as such but am self employed and successful.

According to Mr Google
A profession is “a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification”

The oldest profession in the world is still going today.

But what qualifications are required?

you learn on the job so to speak!

lemsip

It dosn't look narrow to me. Several years of study and examinations followed by several more getting practical experience in one of the professions is indeed a good way of securing future security through a period of unpaid hard work. Varian said that "one route to a secure career was to become a member of a profession." , not that it was the only route.

She also said that "The important advantage of having a professional qualification was the ability to become self employed. " Nowhere did she say that it was impossible for anyone outside "the professions" to be self-employed, secure and successful.

A window-cleaner in an area where the houses have lots of windows and their owners are houseproud can and could be successful - one window-cleaner I knew of owned more than one house, and financed a second stream of income by buying for cash a couple of very swish and expensive new cars which were much in demand for weddings.

I’d say the traditional professions are still of relevance, but that there are others of equal value to modern society. Information technology is an example.

i don't really understand the point of the question.
just sounds like an extract from a previous era.
what are we really discussing here ?

What do you mean by relevant?

To enter Information Technology and do it well professionally requires studying the theory and then getting experience in using what you have learnt in all situations, full time. That takes more application than just being able to do some things for your own interest.

An equivalent is cooking - most people can feed their own family and guests, but a professional cook is trained in all branches and does it full time. Once the chef has gained a good reputation they may strike out alone and even become a celebrity.

Going self-employed in cooking or IT are both ventures that are only embarked upon as secure solo careers when someone feels confident in their ability to be their own boss as well as their employee. That makes them potentially a career (and modern profession) rather than a paid job or a hobby.

I found the thread education versus money quite confusing. So I didnt post.
I find this one quite confusing too.

Glad no one in our family needs to change job or start a new job, in the near future hopefully. I wouldnt know what to advise.

And with the advent of AI, I think things in the careers world are about to change once more.

I have no idea what this thread is about.

What are we talking about? Not sure.

As we can’t manage without most of the jobs mentioned I suppose they must be relevant. Whether they still hold the same position in society I have no idea except I don’t think they are looked up to in the same way as was once the case.

The professions listed above are still relevant but people have started to value other jobs as much. During lockdown we realised who was of vital importance to us. Lorry drivers/ shop assistants/ refuse collectors among others so having a profession doesn't give the esteem it once did.

AGAA4

The professions listed above are still relevant but people have started to value other jobs as much. During lockdown we realised who was of vital importance to us. Lorry drivers/ shop assistants/ refuse collectors among others so having a profession doesn't give the esteem it once did.

Indeed.

Working people seem to care less about 'academic snobbery' and perceived 'elitism' of Cambridge and Oxford, than in the past, imo.

I am currently pursuing an online ACCA course in the UK, aiming to become self-employed. While traditional professions like law, medicine, and engineering still hold relevance, newer fields such as accountancy, especially with qualifications like ACCA, provide opportunities for self-employment and flexibility. For more information visit this web page: mirchawala.com/acca-in-uk/

robertlehrer75

I am currently pursuing an online ACCA course in the UK, aiming to become self-employed. While traditional professions like law, medicine, and engineering still hold relevance, newer fields such as accountancy, especially with qualifications like ACCA, provide opportunities for self-employment and flexibility. For more information visit this web page: mirchawala.com/acca-in-uk/

Of course accounting qualifications are relevant.

What has that to do with the OP?

Casdon

I’d say the traditional professions are still of relevance, but that there are others of equal value to modern society. Information technology is an example.

I agree

varian
Are the traditional professions of any relevance today?

Yes, of course! We still need people to become a
doctor, dentist, vet, architect, chartered engineer, chartered surveyor, chartered accountant, actuary or lawer

As ever the one profession, which is many that isn't in the OP or mentioned since is Professional Engineers; The institute of Civle Engineers, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of mechanical Engineers, Royal Institution of Naval Architects, Yet the great engineering institutes have been among us just as long as the very limited list mentioned by the OP

In Europe the professional description 'Engineer' is used to address a fully qualified engineer, in the same way we us 'Doctor.

People in the professional engineering institues ar sometimes self employed and sometimes employed just like the nine professions the OP mentions.

I am afraid this thread tells us more about the very limited view of life the OP has rather than anything about the myriad professional careers that have always been around and held in equal esteem with the very few mentioned.

When I left school in 1963 I was very much aware of my choices which were office, shop or factory.