What It Means to Be a Professional Home Economist

by Evelyn Hullah

By definition, a Professional Home Economist (P.H.Ec.) is a registered member of the Ontario Home Economics Association. The public is protected and assured of established standards of each member through both the academic credentials and the adherence to the Code of Ethics.

But what makes Professional Home Economists tick? What are the success characteristics and attributes that we can see in each other and then share with students—our future colleagues?

Career Development for Professional Home Economists – Common Success Characteristics, Attitudes and Attributes:
  1. Love of working in your chosen specialty within the home economics profession - the profession that celebrates and holds as “key”, the day-to-day well-being of individuals and families, at home and in the community - “Getting a kick out of doing what you do!”.
  2. Sense of where your work fits into the “big picture” of the home economics field of practice and where you fit into your particular project team.
  3. Delivery of proficient, results-oriented service via professional skills and knowledge.
  4. Integrity – Honesty, Ethics, Dependability, Confidentiality, Respect, Accountability.
  5. Knowing the limits of your expertise – and how to compensate for them.
  6. Commitment to life-long learning to remain current in your field of expertise and to potentially expand your expertise.
  7. Good communication skills - both to present your project work and to promote your value to the team, as a registered professional. ‘Letting your P.H.Ec. credentials work for you!’
  8. “Dressing for success” - good visual presentation of yourself. It still counts, in many cases!
  9. Positive, cooperative and compassionate, team spirit - and a good sense of humour!
  10. Development of actionable linkages with colleagues within the profession and with other professionals in related disciplines, in order to extend the influence of our home economics field. ‘Becoming indispensable in wider circles.’
  11. Development of leadership and business skills – especially time management and financial knowledge.
  12. Support of professional associations, including OHEIB and OHEA, which promote and develop professional standards and link us together - doing your part to give back to the profession. ‘Striving to make our profession stronger than when you entered it!’