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Transitioning to the Workplace

John Mackinnon Vice President, Engineering AMEC NSS. Transitioning to the Workplace. Outline. My background The first few years Considerations in the work place Interpersonal skills Life long learning Random thoughts. My background. Education: Bachelors in Math. & Eng. - Queen’s

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Transitioning to the Workplace

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  1. John Mackinnon Vice President, Engineering AMEC NSS Transitioning to the Workplace

  2. Outline • My background • The first few years • Considerations in the work place • Interpersonal skills • Life long learning • Random thoughts

  3. My background • Education: • Bachelors in Math. & Eng. - Queen’s • Master’s in Chem. Eng. - McGill • Ph. D. in Mech. Eng - Waterloo • Why I went to graduate school: • realised how little I understood • Why I chose industry • understand applications • environment

  4. My background (cont.) • 1992 - 1994 • small consulting company in Nuclear industry • computer code development, analysis • 1994-2002 • Ontario Hydro/OPG • Section Manager - 1998 • Department Manager - 1999 • Support to nuclear power stations: R&D, code, analysis, industry and regulatory involvement • Responsible for new grad program, UNENE

  5. My background (cont.) • 2002 - 2009 • Private consultancy company in Nuclear industry (growth from 150 to 450) • Business Director - 2002 • VP, Engineering - 2006 • Responsible for training delivery • Why I chose career path • increase awareness and sphere of influence • opportunity to mentor and have positive impact on people’s careers and lives

  6. The first few years • Interview and resumes • I review hundreds of resumes every year • must be clear and well organised • highlight at start what you bring • specifics on what you have done - don’t exaggerate • interviews • come prepared - e.g., know the company and industry • answer questions considering how it is relevant to the position • convince your interviewers you know your technical stuff • sell yourself • interpersonal skills and communication

  7. The first few years • Find out what you do and don’t like • First few years are the ‘rocket fuel’ • form basis for knowledge and can set one’s career trajectory • Be willing to invest your own time to learn, read and expand your knowledge • Give thought to how you want your career to develop, and revisit • take charge of your career

  8. The first few years • Establish yourself in at least 1 technical area but consider broadening your self to work in more than 1 area • Look for/accept opportunities that allow you to become known to others outside your immediate work group, including other managers • Conduct yourself appropriately - people are watching (more later)

  9. The first few years • Mentors: • don’t need to be supervisor, more senior, even in same company • relationship needs to work and be natural/comfortable • characteristics: • respect • compassion • judgement • honesty • available • wants to help • discreet

  10. Considerations in the work place • Always ask if you do not know • be able to explain things in concise, simple terms • Always do the honorable thing • Come prepared to meetings • Treat everyone with respect • Say thank you • When seeking help - come with proposed solutions, not just problems

  11. Considerations in the work place • Appearance • Grapevine/gossip • Seek opportunities - ask how you can help • develop a reputation as someone who says ‘yes’ • Email and following up • Wait 24 hours before you react • Understand what commitments/expectations are and update supervisor (client) along the way - no surprises

  12. Considerations in the work place • Try and learn what the ‘small stuff’ is • Pick your battles • Organisation • keep good notes • keep good to do list • meet your committed dates

  13. Interpersonal skills • Learn what is important to others • important to understand what supervisor wants • Understand it is very difficult to change how others act/think • you can only control how you react • Watch how others act in situations • learn by example and counterexample • ask to go to meetings with senior people

  14. Life long learning • Keep up technical skills • Find out where additional/new information can be found • library, journals, reports, presentations, training materials • Invest your own time • Consider benefit of graduate courses/degrees • Prepare yourself for next position - you cannot control timing but can control your readiness

  15. Random thoughts • Learn from mistakes • don’t deny - stand up and admit • accept it can shake your confidence but persevere • Stretch yourself • be prepared to work outside your comfort zone • there will be times when it seems insurmountable - ask for feedback/support • Work/life balance • consider how comfortable you are in letting your work/career define who you are • lifestyle will impact you later in life

  16. Almost final thought • Have fun

  17. Final thought • Greatest factors in • workplace effectiveness • client satisfaction • career advancement/opportunities communication & interpersonal skills

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