Willie Nelson may have once pleaded with mothers to raise their children into doctors and lawyers and such, but these days, those professions are fighting to maintain their respectability against an often shaky public perception.
Attorneys, journalists, medical professionals; these are the kinds of professions many have long expected a little more out of, particularly when it comes to trust. Most people working in such positions today understand that level of responsibility and say they work hard to honor it.
But they are not always considered among the most trusted professions, according to a 2009 poll. Who made the cut as the most trustworthy and who’s on the verge of losing our respect?
1. Firefighters
A 2009 poll conducted by market research institute GfK found that firefighters ranked as the most trusted profession in Europe and the United States with 92 percent of respondents fining them trustworthy. Perhaps it’s all in the job description—being required to step into the face of danger every time you head out for an assignment is not just admirable, it’s downright heroic.
2. Teachers
In the same GfK poll that lauded firefighters, teachers ranked second with 83 percent. It’s a good sign considering that the people responsible for crafting the minds of our children are deemed trustworthy.
“I think every teacher recognizes that they are part of a trusted profession—that parents trust them to do the best they can for their child, that their principals trust them to do their best to prepare (students) for the next grade level,” said Samantha Solic, a sixth-grade English teacher from North Carolina. “And I think teachers take that trust pretty seriously … trying to teach the children as if they were their own.”
3. Doctors/Nurses
Medical professionals, postal workers, and those serving in the armed forces tied for third place with 81 percent polled pulling for each profession in the Gfk poll, which makes sense considering the amount responsibility each job holds. With doctors and nurses, these are the professionals literally entrusted with people’s lives, so one better believe in what they do and how they conduct themselves. The rising costs of healthcare are getting their fair share of attention these days, but the public doesn’t seem to hold that issue against the doctors and nurses who are just trying to do their jobs.
4. Postal Workers
More than just about delivering your mail on time, postal workers are the people who filter and ensure the delivery of everything from that Amazon.com package and paychecks to tax returns and magazine subscriptions, all which could reveal a lot about you if put into the wrong hands. They may not always get the glory they deserve, but they should certainly take pride in being ranked among the top five trustworthy careers.
5. Armed Forces
If medical professionals operate to save lives, those in the military put their own on the line for everyone else. Almost everyone is on high alert today over fears of terrorism following the nightmare that was 9/11 and the military is the frontline defense against these acts. The men and women of the Armed Forces work tirelessly for one goal—to protect their country and those who live in it. And just as with law enforcement and firefighters, their job teeters on the dangerous side daily, all in an effort to uphold their country’s respective rights. That kind of dedication should warrant nothing but respect.
And Among the Least Trusted Professions …
Attorneys
If there’s any profession that has found it difficult to regain their trustworthy reputation, it’s attorneys. A mere 47 percent of the GfK poll favored lawyers, signifying a big gap between Atticus Finch and Kenneth Starr, which most lawyers will admit.
“There’s a lot of responsibility to do my job well and in a way that develops trust from clients and colleagues, and even opposing clients and their attorneys,” said Naoki Kaneko, an attorney based in San Francisco. “There are plenty of stories about lawyers gone bad out there, but based on my experiences, I think that’s the exception.
