Life Skills for the Technical Professional

1. Life Skills for the Technical Professional Dennis S Banasiak, Ph.D. Burton Christensen. Ph.D. Life Skills for the Technical Professional

2. Agenda • Seminar 1 • WORKPLACE DYNAMICS • EVALUATING THE JOB OFFER • Seminar 2 • GETTING STARTED IN YOUR NEW JOB • NON TECHNICAL CRITICAL SKILLS • MANAGING YOUR CAREER • Seminar 3 • FINDING THE RIGHT POSITION FOR YOU Burton Christensen. Ph.D. • Seminar 4 • AN INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS PRINCIPLES Life Skills for the Technical Professional

3. LIFE IN YOUR NEW JOB Life Skills for the Technical Professional

4. LIFE IN YOUR NEW JOB • You are responsible for you • Learn what is valued and necessary for success • Likely to work on teams • Various levels of travel are likely • Will change projects or careers • Work life balance will be challenged • Pace will be fast--- develop a sense of urgency • You must earn your way; no entitlements Life Skills for the Technical Professional

5. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Life Skills for the Technical Professional

6. LIFE IN YOUR NEW JOB PERCEPTION • Our perceptions are influenced by: • physical elements -- what you see or hear and how your brain processes it. • environmental elements -- what information is out there to receive, its context. • learned elements -- culture, personality, habit: filters we use to select what we take in and how we react. PERCEPTION = REALITY Life Skills for the Technical Professional

7. YOU ARE A BRAND • What is your professional image? • “Marketing yourself well is important for early-career chemists.”C&E News p 252, 7/30/2007 • How you look, act, talk are as important as what you know. Life Skills for the Technical Professional

8. FIRST IMPRESSIONS 3 actions will go a long way in helping you acclimate in your new job ! OBSERVE LISTEN LEARN FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE 2 -WAY Life Skills for the Technical Professional

9. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Internet Presence • Job Sites • Networking Sites – My Space, Linked-In, You Tube • Protect both your Personal and Professional Identity • Google yourself and see what comes up. • Companies may keep track of your internet usage at work ! Life Skills for the Technical Professional

10. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Resources at PamDixon.com • How to say no to cookies that track you • Online Job Searching Tips • Guide to Resume Database Privacy • How to Avoid Fake Jobs & Scams \Background check privacy • Internship Tips http://www.pamdixon.com/jobsearch.htm Only post your resume on sites you have verified will protect your information Life Skills for the Technical Professional

11. NON TECHNICAL SKILLS Life Skills for the Technical Professional

12. Roadmap for a Successful Career • Solid technical foundation • Can do attitude • Develop a career plan • Build professional skills and relationships • Develop understanding of business principles • Find a mentor Life Skills for the Technical Professional

13. NON TECHNICAL SKILLS • Communications • Interpersonal Skills • Report Writing • Decision Making • Time Management • Working with Teams • Mentors • Networking Life Skills for the Technical Professional

14. NON TECHNICAL SKILLS COMMUNICATIONS • Inform, Persuade, or Document • Verbal • Delivery Style, Vocabulary, Awareness of Audience • Non Verbal • Attire, Attentiveness, Body Positions, Personal Hygiene, Facial Expressions, Eye Contact, etc • Written • Email • Presentations • Negotiations and Persuasion All communication is two way ! Preparation is Critical Life Skills for the Technical Professional

15. NON TECHNICAL SKILLS Interpersonal Interactions “Adding Charisma to your personality” article by David Jenson Elements of a good and memorable communicator • Good eye contact. • Good listening skills. • Speak in terms of the other person's interests • http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/2007_07_20/caredit_a0700103/(parent)/14460 Life Skills for the Technical Professional

16. PERSONALITY PROFILES How different people react to the same situation or challenge? Life Skills for the Technical Professional

17. PERSONALITY PROFILES • Characterizes employee attributes, values and life skills • Trait Personality Profile tests • Identifies persons preferences and characteristics when approaching situations and problems • Helps match employee profiles with roles and responsibilities • OPQ. 16 PF, Orpheus, etc • Type Personality Profile Tests • All people fall into well defined categories which defines how they react to situations • Makes employees aware of what motivates themselves and others • Myers-Briggs, Insights Discovery, DISC • All based on C. Jung's Theory of Psychological Type • Used by companies to better match employees to roles and tasks • Can be used in making hiring decisions Life Skills for the Technical Professional

18. PERSONALITY PROFILES Myers-Brigs Type Indicator Eight Personality Preferences that everyone uses at different times • Extraversion or Introversion (I)How we are energized w/People, quick to decideAlone, thinking, fact based • Sensing or iNtuition (N)How we gather information Status quo, practical, procedural Change, new, challenges • Thinking or Feeling (F)How we decide Logical, task oriented, recognitionHarmony, values, avoids confrontation • Judging or Perceiving (P)How we react to the world Organizer, structured, focused Inclusive, procrastinator, flexibility Life Skills for the Technical Professional

19. PERSONALITY PROFILES Myers-Brigs Type Indicator IDEALISTS RATIONALS THOUGHTFUL ACTION-ORIENTED REALIST INNOVATOR Wikipedia Life Skills for the Technical Professional

20. PERSONALITY PROFILES Life Skills for the Technical Professional

21. PERSONALITY PROFILES Communicator Implementer Administrator Planner Birkman Life Style Grid DISC Life Skills for the Technical Professional

22. PERSONALITY PROFILES OPQ Results from worldwide tests….SHL Paper describing the development of OPQ32 and compares results from over 7,500 people from 16 countries and 12 different language versions. http://www.shl.com/SHL/en-int/Thought_Leadership/Opinion/OPQ/OPQ_List/Comparability-of-Personality-profiles-around-the-world.htm Life Skills for the Technical Professional

23. NON TECHNICAL SKILLS REPORT WRITING • Targeted to the audience • Understand expectations • Concise - “ brief and to the point ” • Objective • Highlights and results not activity Types of Reports • weekly updates • monthly/status reports • full project reports • project proposals • Trip and meeting reports Study previous documents to learn what is expected Life Skills for the Technical Professional

24. Email Etiquette • Don’t substitute email for one-on-one communication • Use email for scheduling, routine updating, quick questions and other administrative efficiencies. • Use the phone or face-to-face communication for everything else. • Never deliver a negative message by email • Live by the 24-hour rule • Wait 24 hours before responding to an emotional email • Be more polite than when you speak • You’re judged by your grammar and spelling • Write every email for your boss’ eyes. • Always include a subject line • Stop the copious cc’s Email’s don’t go away and can end up where you don’t expect Life Skills for the Technical Professional

25. NON TECHNICAL SKILLS Decision Making • A defined process • Handles uncertainty and risk • Learns from past mistakes • Based on reality and facts • Identifies the unknowns • Removes emotions • Recognizes the need for collaboration Life Skills for the Technical Professional

26. NON TECHNICAL SKILLS Decision Making Process • Define and clarify the issue • Gather all the facts • Think about or brainstorm possible options and solutions. • Select the best option • Explain your decision to those involved and affected, • follow up to ensure proper and effective implementation. Life Skills for the Technical Professional

27. Reactive Work Handling Daily Routines Dealing with Urgent Tasks Resolving Crises Handling Interruptions Getting Things Done Proactive Work Developing the Business Focusing on Key Tasks Achieving Deadlines & Targets Managing Projects Making Things Happen NON TECHNICAL SKILLS Time Management http://www.getahead-direct.com/download.htm Life Skills for the Technical Professional

28. TEAMS • A group of individuals brought together for a defined purpose. • Every team has key roles which must be filled in order to be successful • Multifunctional- mixes disciplines and organizations • You may fill different roles on different teams • Should operate within a set of agreed principles Task Roles Team Scribe. Timekeeper. Information/Opinion Seeker. Clarifier/Summarizer.. Orienter. Reality Tester. Team Maintenance Roles Harmonizer. Gatekeeper. Encourager. Compromiser. Standard Setter. Life Skills for the Technical Professional

29. TEAM STAGES Life Skills for the Technical Professional

30. TEAMWORK brainstorming process • Define and agree the objective. • Brainstorm ideas and suggestions having agreed a time limit. • Categorize/condense/combine/refine. • Assess/analyze effects or results. • Priorities options/rank list as appropriate. • Agree action and timescale. • Control and monitor follow-up. Life Skills for the Technical Professional

31. MANAGING YOUR CAREER Life Skills for the Technical Professional

32. MANAGING YOUR CAREER • MENTOR • A trusted advisor usually not your supervisor • Very Experienced and knows the organization and profession • Formal or informal • Can be assigned in formal programs • Identify through networking • Assists in • Learning the system • Gives non threatening feedback • Helps develop action plans for work or career Life Skills for the Technical Professional

33. NETWORKING “Networking is about ideas, information and introductions”. ---CHEMJOBS.org • Important in building a presence in a company or community • Important in finding a job • It is not about asking for a job • A 2-way process • Requires both giving and taking • Practice • “elevator speech” • Always follow up Life Skills for the Technical Professional

34. NETWORKING • Connections with others outside of direct environment • Builds relationships • Useful in all aspects of life • Obtain new information and perspectives • Requires concerted continued efforts to remain connected • Should be life long activity • Easier with email Life Skills for the Technical Professional

35. MANAGING YOR CAREER Life Skills for the Technical Professional

36. MANAGING YOUR CAREER • Career Stages • Navigating Corporate Culture and Politics • Performance Reviews • Dual Ladders- Promotions • On the Job Training and Continuing Education • Changing Careers • Professional Growth & Options Life Skills for the Technical Professional

37. MANAGING YOUR CAREER Stages of a Career • Stage I • The Early Stage - Depending on Others • Stage II • The Colleague Stage - Contributing Independently • Stage III • The Counselor Stage - Contributing through Others • Stage IV • The Advisor Stage – Leading through Vision Life Skills for the Technical Professional

38. MANAGING YOUR CAREER “The Career Stages” As defined by Novations. Life Skills for the Technical Professional

39. PERFORMANCE REVIEWS • To determine top performers and employee potential • Used to determine salary treatment and promotions • “Stars are not Born” • Valued employees develop critical and good work habits • Just being smart does not guarantee job and career success • From CHEMJOBS.org Life Skills for the Technical Professional

40. MANAGING YOUR CAREER • PERFORMANCE REVIEWS • Can be Informal or an as needed basis • Formal Reviews are scheduled; requires preparation • Opportunity to determine how your accomplishments are valued • Should be 2 –way • Should focus on both past and future performance • Identify future contributions which would be valued • Should include career planning elements Learn what is important and valued by management Life Skills for the Technical Professional

41. PERFORMANCE REVIEWS • Personal Goals and Objectives • Should set and agree as soon as possible • Will be reviewed at some interval with supervisor • Should be: • Specific • Realistic • Measurable • Achievable • Have a timeline or due date Life Skills for the Technical Professional

42. PERFORMANCE REVIEWS BACKBONE PROBLEM CHILDREN STARS ICEBERGS Life Skills for the Technical Professional

43. PERFORMANCE REVIEWS Life Skills for the Technical Professional

44. DUAL CAREER LADDER • Allows for career advancement w/o management duties • Recognizes technical achievements • Provides for reasonably equal compensation • Allows movement between ladders Management Technical Supervisor Staff Engineer Manager Senior Staff Engineer Director Distinguished Engineer Vice President Fellow Life Skills for the Technical Professional

45. MANAGING YOUR CAREER The Scientific Career Ladder at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. spells out the requirements for 8 career steps. They are: • Distinguished Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow, Research Fellow Research Fellowships • Principal Scientist • Senior Scientist • Scientist • Senior Associate Scientist • Associate Scientist • Research Associate • Research Assistant • http://www.jnjpharmarnd.com/careers/scladder.html Life Skills for the Technical Professional

46. Technical Roles Research Technical Support Development --- Product; Process Manufacturing (Plant Operations) Manufacturing Support Engineering and Design Health Environmental and Safety Management Non Technical Roles Business and or Product Development Sales and Marketing Intellectual Property Roles Business Management Sales Support Regulatory MANAGING YOUR CAREER ROLES FOR SCIENTISTS IN INDUSTRY Good Career Move to spend time outside of R&D Life Skills for the Technical Professional

47. MANAGING YOUR CAREER CONTINUING EDUCATION • Keep up to date on technical literature • Learn about your industry • Take professional development courses • Volunteer professionally and in your community Life Skills for the Technical Professional

48. Agenda • Seminar 1 • WORKPLACE DYNAMICS • EVALUATING THE JOB OFFER • Seminar 2 • GETTING STARTED IN YOUR NEW JOB • NON TECHNICAL CRITICAL SKILLS • MANAGING YOUR CAREER • Seminar 3 • FINDING THE RIGHT POSITION FOR YOU Burton Christensen. Ph.D. • Seminar 4 • AN INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS PRINCIPLES Life Skills for the Technical Professional

49. QUESTIONS Life Skills for the Technical Professional