Things such as salary, previous credit agreements and so on all have an effect, but one other factor which seems to pop up more and more is the type of work you’re involved with. For those in more clerically-oriented jobs it can be quite hard to categorise what they do – are they ‘professional’?

There are lots of definitions which conflict with each other, but the basic understanding is if you need specialist training or education to do what you do, then you’re a professional. How you categorise yourself can give a little boost when applying for finance, so make your mind up! Are you a professional?