CAGD Career Development SeminarCAGD Career Development Seminar

Matt TsienMatt Tsien

24 September 200524 September 2005

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OutlineOutline

What is career success?What is career success?Who’s responsibility is it?Who’s responsibility is it?Key ingredients of successKey ingredients of successSome analogiesSome analogiesMentorshipMentorshipCommon pitfallsCommon pitfallsA Few ConsiderationsA Few ConsiderationsSome enablersSome enablers

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What is Career Success ?What is Career Success ?

Is it being a CEO ?Is it being a CEO ? Is it being a Chief Engineer?Is it being a Chief Engineer? Is it being a Senior Research Scientist?Is it being a Senior Research Scientist? Is it simply loving what you do?Is it simply loving what you do?

It’s ultimately up to It’s ultimately up to YOUYOU to define ! to define !

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Who’s Responsible for Your Career?Who’s Responsible for Your Career?

Is it your manager ?Is it your manager ? Is it your mentor ?Is it your mentor ? Is it your HR department ?Is it your HR department ?

No, it is No, it is YOUYOU ! !No one knows you betterNo one knows you betterNo one cares more about your careerNo one cares more about your career If you don’t take charge, no one willIf you don’t take charge, no one will

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Key Ingredients of SuccessKey Ingredients of Success

Talents and AbilitiesTalents and AbilitiesHard workHard workChanceChance

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Some AnalogiesSome AnalogiesCareer as a triathlonCareer as a triathlon

It requires endurance (it’s not a sprint)It requires endurance (it’s not a sprint) It requires multiple skills (not a single talent)It requires multiple skills (not a single talent) It requires training (through hard work)It requires training (through hard work) It’s filled with ups & downs, twists & turns It’s filled with ups & downs, twists & turns It requires a desire to winIt requires a desire to win

Career as the Tour de FranceCareer as the Tour de FranceYou want your team to win and…You want your team to win and…You want to winYou want to win

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MentorshipMentorship Your mentor is NOT your career brokerYour mentor is NOT your career broker Make sure the relationship is mutualMake sure the relationship is mutual

The mentor wants to mentor, and you want to be mentoredThe mentor wants to mentor, and you want to be mentored Maintain an open, trusting, and respectful relationshipMaintain an open, trusting, and respectful relationship Seek advice, listen hard, and follow throughSeek advice, listen hard, and follow through Learn from your mentor’s experienceLearn from your mentor’s experience Leverage your mentor’s contactsLeverage your mentor’s contacts Focus on how to improve performance vs. always Focus on how to improve performance vs. always

looking for the next assignmentlooking for the next assignment Be gratefulBe grateful

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Common PitfallsCommon Pitfalls Over fixation on career developmentOver fixation on career development Being too boastful and self-confidentBeing too boastful and self-confident Under focus on career developmentUnder focus on career development Too much humilityToo much humility Self esteem too lowSelf esteem too low Failure to express aspirations Failure to express aspirations Not seeing the ‘big picture’Not seeing the ‘big picture’ Not demonstrating self-initiativeNot demonstrating self-initiative Not demonstrating good teamwork (individualism)Not demonstrating good teamwork (individualism) Not willing to make sacrifices (‘go the extra mile’)Not willing to make sacrifices (‘go the extra mile’) Being driven by politicsBeing driven by politics Ignoring politicsIgnoring politics

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A Few ConsiderationsA Few Considerations RelationshipsRelationships

Build ‘em before you need ‘emBuild ‘em before you need ‘em Make it a two way streetMake it a two way street 360 degree management360 degree management

Team workTeam work Getting things done while getting alongGetting things done while getting along

LeverageLeverage You can’t know everything nor do everything yourself’You can’t know everything nor do everything yourself’

CommunicationsCommunications Maintaining a robust two-way dialogueMaintaining a robust two-way dialogue Stay informed, and keep others informedStay informed, and keep others informed

Enjoying what you doEnjoying what you do

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Some EnablersSome Enablers IntegrityIntegrity

Integrity beyond a shadow of doubtIntegrity beyond a shadow of doubt Keeping promises and commitmentsKeeping promises and commitments Admitting mistakesAdmitting mistakes Putting team, company and customers firstPutting team, company and customers first

LoyaltyLoyalty To leadership, to team, to companyTo leadership, to team, to company

AlignmentAlignment Understanding the organization’s prioritiesUnderstanding the organization’s priorities

AttitudeAttitude Staying positiveStaying positive Being optimisticBeing optimistic

ProfessionalismProfessionalism Perception is realityPerception is reality

Work EthicWork Ethic No nonsense focus on delivering resultsNo nonsense focus on delivering results

ExcellenceExcellence Establishing a track record of performanceEstablishing a track record of performance Doing the current job extremely wellDoing the current job extremely well

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Some EnablersSome Enablers VisionVision

Knowing the end-gameKnowing the end-game InitiativeInitiative

Anticipate issuesAnticipate issues Be self-starting and self-directedBe self-starting and self-directed Be proactiveBe proactive

AssertivenessAssertiveness Pursuing your convictions the right wayPursuing your convictions the right way

Continuous ImprovementContinuous Improvement Staying currentStaying current Learning from mistakesLearning from mistakes

Energy and StaminaEnergy and Stamina CharismaCharisma

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SummarySummary

Career success requires a combination of Career success requires a combination of talents & abilities, hard work, and lucktalents & abilities, hard work, and luck

A career is a long term journeyA career is a long term journeyYou need to take primary responsibility for You need to take primary responsibility for

that journeythat journeyStay positive, be assertive, take initiativeStay positive, be assertive, take initiative