© Banasiak Development LLC Life Skills for the Technical Professional Dennis S Banasiak, Ph.D. Burton Christensen. Ph.D

Life Skills for the Technical Professional © Banasiak Development LLC

Life Skills for the Technical ProfessionalLife Skills for the Technical Professional

Dennis S Banasiak, Ph.D.

Burton Christensen. Ph.D.


Seminar ObjectiveSeminar Objective

For scientists and engineers who will be entering the workforce this course will help you:

Prepare for the changes you will encounter; Make decisions on the type of job to seek; Understand and evaluate the job offer; Navigate and communicate in the new

organization; Manage your career. Learn about general business financial and

operating principles;


AgendaAgenda

• 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


• Seminar 4– AN INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS PRINCIPLES


DECISIONSDECISIONS

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POST DOCPOST DOC

GRAD SCHOOLGRAD SCHOOL

CAREERCAREER

COMPANYCOMPANY

ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

LOCATIONLOCATION


EXPECTATIONSEXPECTATIONS

What does Industry expect from What does Industry expect from you?you?



• Fair day’s work for compensation

• Certain knowledge base and ability

• Professional attitude and behavior

• Ability to grow into or with the organization



• Biotech's Beef from Business Week“Companies say grad schools aren't stressing what students require in the real world”

• "The focus of academia is getting basic and theoretical knowledge in place," says E. Dale Sevier, a director at the California State University Program for Education & Research in Biotechnology. "The skills needed to be successful in the industry are just not taught in universities."



• Recent grads lack the technical knowledge to carry out applied research in areas that straddle engineering, math, and computers MULTI-FUNCTIONAL AND DIMENSIONALMULTI-FUNCTIONAL AND DIMENSIONAL

• Job candidates have little awareness of what the Food & Drug Administration is looking for when it considers whether or not to approve a drug. UNDERSTANDING OF MORE THAN SCIENCEUNDERSTANDING OF MORE THAN SCIENCE

• Universities don't train students to function in today's small-R, small-R, large-D environment," large-D environment," WORK LIKELY TO BE VERY APPLIEDWORK LIKELY TO BE VERY APPLIED

• Students have “THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING Students have “THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITITES IN FOCUSED AREAS”ABILITITES IN FOCUSED AREAS”



• You are being hired:

– For your technical expertiseFor your technical expertise– To solve problemsTo solve problems– To keep things runningTo keep things running– To innovateTo innovate

To To Think and ActThink and Act often in new areas often in new areas


OTHER CONSIDERATIONSOTHER CONSIDERATIONSIN MOVING TO IN MOVING TO

THE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR CAREERTHE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR CAREER


CHANGECHANGE

Student Professional

Location

Home Lifestyle

Job

Work Environment

Co-workers

Boss

Income


CHANGECHANGE

No matter where you decide to work –

changechange will be constant !!will be constant !!

“Across virtually all industries, almost all major US companies today face the challenge of managing simultaneous growth and restructuring- often simultaneously.”

Towers Perrin 2006 Global workforce Study

mass layoff”, “reductions-in-force”, synergies“position elimination”, “downsizing”, “outsourcing”, “restructuring

Growthvs.


THE WORKPLACETHE WORKPLACE

• As recently as 15 years ago, recruiters would have balked at representing a candidate with three jobsthree jobs in the last five years.

Now no one blinks. A typical American holds more than eight different jobseight different jobs between the ages of 18 and 32 alone. Recent research shows that 85% of American workers expect to be employed by a new company within 12 months. Such statistics weigh on the minds of employers everywhere.

Forbes


WHAT’S IMPORTANT WHAT’S IMPORTANT


WHY PEOPLE CHANGE JOBSWHY PEOPLE CHANGE JOBS


Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs(original five-stage model)

Self-actualization

personal growth and fulfillment

Esteem needs

achievement, status, responsibility, reputation

Belongingness and Love needs

family, affection, relationships, work group, etc

Safety needs

protection, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc

Biological and Physiological needs

basic life needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, sex, sleep, etc.



• Studies show that the average working American will have three to five careersthree to five careers and between 10 to 12 jobs10 to 12 jobs during his or her lifetime. http://www.careersintransitionllc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=25

• Bottom Line:– You work for yourself – Company Loyalty to you is based mostly on company

performance but high performers can achieve longevity

– Workplace is volatile



• To prepare yourself for the new volatile environment

• Roadmap for a Successful Career: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



A Balanced Approach to Life

• Internal: your physical health and mental state • External: relations with your spouse, children,

friends, employer, colleagues, and others • Knowledge and learning: your skills and

learning ability • Financial: fiscal stability

“Personal Balanced Scorecard: The Way to Individual Happiness, Personal Integrity and Organizational Effectiveness” by Hubert Rampersad


WHO DO YOU WORK FOR??WHO DO YOU WORK FOR??

Yourself and your familyYourself and your family


LIFE IS A JOURNEYLIFE IS A JOURNEY


EVALUATING THE JOB OFFEREVALUATING THE JOB OFFER



• Job offer:Job offer:– Written– Implied or real contract– ““at will”at will” employment– Details job specifics

• Job description• Location• Supervisor• Salary and benefits• Relocation policy• Report date• Contingencies– drug testing, physical exam, etcdrug testing, physical exam, etc• Acceptance details and signature


2007 Top attraction drivers by age group for US employees2007 Top attraction drivers by age group for US employees Towers Perrin DataTowers Perrin Data

18-2918-29 30-4430-44 45-5445-54 55+55+

Competitive base pay 1 1 1 2

Career advancement opportunities

2 4 6 9

Salary increases linked to individual performance

3 3 5 4

Competitive health care benefits 4 2 2 1

Work life balance 5 3 4 6

Learning and development opportunities

6 10 - -

Caliber of co-workers 7 9 9 7

Organization reputation as good employer

8 8 8 8

Challenging work 9 7 7 9

Competitive retirement benefits 10 6 3 3

Organization’s' financial health- - 10 10


Understanding Compensation



• Compensation is more than just salary!

• Total package often worth 30-40% more than base salary.

• Consider total package in any job offer.



Compensation is more than just salary!

Salary (Fixed Pay)– Annual pay for work performed. – Professionals do not get paid for overtime !Professionals do not get paid for overtime !

Bonus (Variable Pay)– %of salary paid annually, usually based on

combination of company, work unit and individual performance

Profit Sharing (Variable Pay)– Periodic payment based on company performance



Compensation is more than just salary!Stock

– Grants– ESOP

Stock Options– Right to purchase stock at a set price sometime in the

future, usually for a set period of time

• Deferred Compensation– Right to delay receiving a part of your salary or bonus to

some point in the future. (tax reduction benefit)



Compensation is more than just salary!Benefits

– “Cafeteria Plans”• Can use before tax dollars to pay for benefits

“Flexible spending”• Uses before tax dollars

– Insurance• Medical• Life – employee, spouse, children • Disability• Long Term Care



InsuranceInsurance“Free entry into plans for new employees” May need to prove insurability if delay entry into plansEmployer/Employee cost share/co-payDeductiblesUnderstand ExclusionsCOBRA Benefits, Continuing Coverage and Pre-existing COBRA Benefits, Continuing Coverage and Pre-existing

conditionsconditions

• Medical– HMO, PPO, etc

• Dental, Vision, Prescription• Disability

– Chance of becoming disabled while working in white collar job is 27% for men and 31% for women between the ages of 35 and 65



Insurance (typical offering)• Life – employee,

– 1-2x salary at company expense– Optional term – Optional for spouse, children– Accidental death and dismemberment

• Long Term Care



Compensation is more than just salary!

– Retirement• Defined Benefit• Defined Contribution• 401 K------ ALWAYS TAKE THE MATCH IF YOU CANALWAYS TAKE THE MATCH IF YOU CAN

– Sick Leave

– Child Care

– Continuing Education Assistance

– Concierge Services

– Others



Job LocationSupervisor

Compatble

Salary and benefitsCompetitive

Relocation policyDoes it pay for the moveBuy your houseOther relocation costs

Company Company Culture



Organizational CultureOrganizational Culture

• Set of written and unwritten rules by which people in the organization function to get their work done

• Every organization has an unique cultureEvery organization has an unique culture



• Company Culture– What behaviors and attitudes are expected?– How are co-workers expected to communicate and

interact with one another?• Verbally, socially, emails, etc.

– How are decisions made and problems solved?• Autocratic, by committee,

– How are employees and customers expected to be treated?

– How people dress?– Management policies and Interactions



• Job offer:Job offer:• Acceptance details and signature

• Best leverage for negotiation on any of the offer specifics will be before you formally accept the offer. Once you accept, your leverage will drop.– Supervisor not HRSupervisor not HR

• Be reasonable on any requests. Company policies often limit what a supervisor can grant.

• Unreasonable requests will reflect badly on you and start your career on a bad note.



Job LocationSupervisorSalary and benefitsRelocation policyCompany Company Culture

You must decide which offer fits your situation.You must decide which offer fits your situation.

The most money may not be the best offer! The most money may not be the best offer!


AgendaAgenda

• 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


• Seminar 4– AN INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS PRINCIPLES


QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Documents

© Banasiak Development LLC Life Skills for the Technical Professional Dennis S Banasiak, Ph.D. Burton Christensen. Ph.D