Five non-technical tips for technical success
Michele Beaulieux, Nov. 10
In her presentation to UIC IEEE Student Branch on October 24th, former UIC IEEE
Student Chapter
Membership Chair, Tracey Harris, highlighted the interpersonal skills that she
attributes to her
success in the job world. Tracey's talk outlined her career trajectory which began
in 1992 as a
UIC graduate with no references or internships through stints at Underwriters
Laboratory and
Motorola to her current position as Critical Account Manager at Symantec. Tracey
gave the 35
student engineers in attendance five tips that all of us would do well do heed.
1. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Tracey explained how early in her career her
questioning the
use of the mountains of data that was being generated led her to get another, better
job. "It's a
complicated process," they said. "That's o.k.," she said. "I'm an engineer: Explain
it to me."
2. Listen. "There's a difference between not speaking while someone is talking and
listening. If
you're thinking about what you're going to say," Tracey warned, "you're not
listening." She
encouraged the students to take notes in their future business meetings so that they
can later
recall, for example, "we discussed these four action items." Tracey told the group,
"All you need
to do is write down enough information so you can recall it later. People love it
when you
remember what they say."
3. Keep it simple. "Don't assume that everyone in a room is an engineer. The people
who get
promoted are the ones who can explain to the customer in plain English what is going
on. Better to
have them walk away understanding what you said," urged Tracey, "than thinking
you're brilliant
but not understanding." Tracey also explained that we all have customers - internal
customers or
users of our work - even if we don't have contact with the ultimate consumer.
4. Share information. "If you share your ideas with others, they will steal them,
but share
anyway," Tracey advised. "Don't be one of those people who steals. No one likes
those people. But,
be the kind of person who helps other people out, and you'll be the kind of person
who gets
promoted."
5. Play nice. "Don't say bad things. The world is small. It will get back." Tracey
warned. "If you
say bad things about your current company or customers, you could say bad things
about a future
company or customers. Instead, be an advocate. People want positive people around."
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