A professional has the following attributes:
- A professional is a member of a vocation founded upon specialised educational training.
- A professional is a person that is paid for what they do; he is one whose income is derived from the practice of his/her profession.
- He is an expert and possesses specialised knowledge in a field which one is practicing professionally.
- A person with a high degree of knowledge or skill in a particular field.
- Excellent practical and literary skills in relation to his chosen profession.
- High quality professional services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research, administrative, marketing or other work endeavours.
- A high standard of professional ethics, behaviour and work activities while carrying out one’s profession (as an employee, self-employed person, career, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague, etc.). The professional owes a higher duty to a client, often a privilege of confidentiality, as well as a duty not to abandon the client just because he or she may not be able to pay or remunerate the professional. Often the professional is required to put the interest of the client ahead of his own interests.
- Reasonable work morale and motivation. Having interest and desire to do a job well and holding positive attitude towards the profession are important elements in attaining a high level of professionalism.
- Participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavour often engaged in by quacks.
