Retiree
Forarmed services / military retirees see the post – “Military Retired – How to Address” .
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How to Write My Name as a Retiree?
What is the proper use of my former title on business cards now that I am retired? Is it acceptable to use my previous work title with a ‘retired’ following the title?
—————-– S.C.
Dear S.C.
Neitherbusiness norsocial cards include former officesyou’ve held.
—-#1) Business Cards: The purpose of abusiness card is to transfer contact information. As is implied in the name, it’s exchanged so people can be in contact for some work-related activity. These cards have the official form of your name, company name, job title and contact information. They include post-nominal abbreviations like Ph.D., M.D., M.B.A. or R.N. A business card is not your resume/CV.
—-So if you are a consultant now, include that fact and the field in which you have expertise. If potential clients are interested in the job’s you had, it will come up in conversation or they will ask for / check your website for / your CV/resume.
—-#2) Social Cards: What you are asking about is asocial card (calling card) which is a rare thing now-a-days. Social cards have the social form of your name and contact information. It does not include company names or job titles. Since it’s thesocial form of one’s name – it does not include professional post-nominal abbreviations: Ph.D., M.D., M.B.A., R.N., etc.
—-But the social form of your name does include a personal rank if you have one: Dr., Ambassador, Judge, or General. With it you will at least hint on your past endeavors.
Note on military ranks:‘Branch of service’ or‘retired status’ are included in the official form of one’s name but are not part of the social form of one’s name.
– Robert Hickey
Related Forms of Address:
–—-—Boy
–—-—Couples: Military
–—-—Couples: Private Citizens
–—-—Couples: U.S. Officials
–—-—Couple, Same Sex
–—-—Family
–—-—First Names
–—-—Gender-Neutral Honorifics
–—-—Girl
–—–—Man or Woman, Social
–—-—Woman, Married
–—–—Miss
–—–—Mrs. vs. Ms.
–—–—Mx.
–—-—Retiree
–—–—Spouse of an Official
–—–—Widow
Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing aletter, invitation, card orEmail.(If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you use when you say their name in conversation or when yougreet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site aremany thingsI do cover in my book:all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions,etc. I hope you’ll get acopy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—-#1)At right ondesktops,at the bottom of every pageontablets andphones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answeredsend me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of“Honor & Respect”
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see theProtocol Resources page.
