Skills for Fostering a Successful Tech Career

Skills for Fostering a Successful Tech CareerSkills for Fostering a Successful Tech Career

Cover Letter Samples

Cover Letter SamplesCover Letter Samples

Things You Should Know About Occupational Therapy Resume

Things You Should Know About Occupational Therapy Resume Occupational Therapy Resume - the Conspiracy Employers like to recognize that youre consistently developing and trying to enhance your abilities. Because not every kind of therapy will do the job for each patient, assistants may have to be creative when working with occupational therapists to find out the ideal therapy to attain a patients goals. Occupational therapy will continue to be a significant part treatment for individuals with several illnesses and disabilities. Trained patients in the appropriate use of therapy equipment. All the OTs agreed that professionalism is among the absolute most important aspcts of your interview performance. Instead, think of all of the search phrases and key phrases you are able to include that are relevant to your experience and abilities, and sprinkle them liberally throughout. If youve got an extensive work history and dont wish to include your fieldwork experience its completely acceptable. Make a bid to figure out the suitable expressions and spellings. So, as well as offering advice on producing the very best OT resume to go found and selected by recruiters, were actually likely to give away a free resume vorlage intended for occupational therapy professionals. Previous work experience in healthcare may be useful in getting work. In the majority of cases, you will apply to a work online. You may want to generate headings for example Skills, Strengths or Interests and collection info and facts that may be on the sttte youre trying to get. Your resume objective is the initial thing recruiters will look at. In addition to this, write the best suited items (that the recruiter may be on the lookout for) on the top and remainder of the details at the end. The majority of the info in your resume will be a discussion about your fieldwork or employment experience, but the manner that information is presented can dramatically impact the way youre viewed by the facility. You might even search and view resumes of distinct prospects diagnosed with the kind of job youre looking for to acquire insight into the experience and skills companies value. When constructing your resume its a good idea to take a look at some employment postings for ideas concerning the characteristics employers are searching for a perspective practitioner. As you most likely know, obtaining a new work requires you to create an offer. Make sure that its updated with all pertinent info and abilities, and ask current connections to introduce you to prospective contacts in the industry you need a job in. While all resumes must offer advice in your work and education experience, along with your abilities and achievements, there are many approaches to supply this info. Also, it is a good idea to put your licensing and education data in a prominent position for your readers convenience. Writing work application may be an intimidating starting. There are plenty of b asic forms of resumes used to earn application for job openings. No matter your degree of job practical expertise, your resume format is important to making your program stick out. In stables throughout the nation, health professionals are harnessing the ability of horses to take care of people with disabilities. If youre interested in pursuing a change in your specialty, and you would like to find out more about open healthcare jobs in your region, please get in touch with us. Occupational therapists working in schools may want to stay after school for meetings or other pursuits. fruchtwein physical and occupational therapists involved with hippotherapy spend only some of their time working in the area and the remainder of their time in more customary roles. Our resume builder makes it simple to create a well-written resume in a couple of minutes. Theres definitely some overlap between the important jobs boards, but its worth looking through each one. Most resumes are submitt ed through an on-line portal, for that reason, it is crucial to indicate youre an occupational therapist with experience. There is going to be a range of resumes filled with the exact same set of skills and obligations. Uploading to our resume database requires you to make an account. Adhere to the Job Profile It is essential that your resume must be in compliance with the job. Free resume templates for work in the health care market. Second, you have to understand how to organize the info youve got. Career aspirants ought to keep an eye out for a resume template rather than a program load vitae template. Its fast and simple to use. Careers research the top careers to obtain the one which is the right one for you. Careers in medical fields expect a lot of education.

The Pattern People Follow to Find Great Jobs

The Pattern People Follow to Find Great Jobs The Pattern People Follow to Find Great Jobs I recently gave a talk to a small class of coders in Phoenix on the subject of finding a great job. In this post, Ill share the content ofthe talk.But first, a bit of a backstory on why I was asked tospeak on this particular subject.Almost 10 years ago, I grabbed a couple of friends and an R.V. and hit the road to interview 300+ people about their career paths. I was just graduating from college and was curious about a stat I had read More than half of the American workforce dislikes what they do for a living.My question was, What were thosepeople who loved their jobs doing that the rest of us werent?I lined up interviews with everyone from Michael Jordans shoe designer to the CEO of MGM Grand and a goat farmer. I asked them about how they got to where they are today. I documented their stories on a website, wrote a book, and have since delivered mora than 100 speeches from Alaska to Miami Bea ch about the findings. After getting off the road, I started a digital marketing company about five years ago and have been part of the minority that enjoys what I do for a living.And yet, as I prepared to give my talk to this particular class of coders, I veered away from the stump speech and revisited what I had listened to 10 years ago. Heres what I had to say to the classAdvice for Landing a Great Job / Starting a Business / Running a Marketing CampaignTheres a pattern Ive identified. The pattern, or formula, applies to finding a great job, starting a business, or running a successful marketing campaign. There are three elements to this pattern story, skill, and network.Every person Ive met who has a great job or started their own business has these three things, and every successful marketing campaign Ive ever been involved with has had them as well.StoryLets start with story. Story is the reason why you get hired, why you start a business, or why you buy a product or service f rom a marketing campaign. People are so compelled by stories that they want to do business with you or hire you. Story isthe differentiator and captures yur drive.Of course, some stories are more interesting than others which is why you need to consciously and continuously create the story for yourself. The best exercise you can tryis to write your bio as it is now, and then write your future bio.Lets take me for an example.My current bioBrett Farmiloe is the founder and managing partner of Markitors, a digital marketing company that moves small businesses forward online. He is the author of the bookPursue the Passionand has delivered more than 100 speeches from coast to coast on finding purpose in work.This bio is fine if Im satisfied with a bio in the past tense. At thebeginning of this year, however, I decided to write my fake bio. It included items that I wanted to be part of my story. Heres the fake bioBrett Farmiloe is a cereal entrepreneur, backyard farmer, author, mutual f und manager, World Pillow Fight Championship revivalist, and founder of a digital marketing company that moves small businesses forward online. Hes the father of two, and has owned an R.V. three different times.(leide A brief explanation of the fake bio is listed at the endof this post.)Moral of the fake bio If you write it down, take it seriously, and move things forward, you will write the story that youve always wanted for yourself.Action ItemWrite a fake bio for yourself based onhow you want your life to look and the story you want to be told about yourself. Instead ofbecomingparalyzed by contemplating what your purpose or passion is, writing a bio gives you a compelling direction to pursue.SkillNext part of the pattern is skill. Skill is what an employer or client gets when they hire you and/or what a customer gets when they buy a product/service from you. As someone wise once said, You gotta have skills to pay the bills.Not only did the people I interviewed on my cross-country tours have great stories that fueled them in their journeys, but they also had amazing talents that they used to reach the pinnacles of their professions.Michael Jordans shoe designer got kicked out of his art class as a freshman in high school because he drew better than the teacher did. A Hall of Fame basketball coach was an educator for decades both on and off the court. A celebrity chef plopped herself in the kitchen of one of the finest restaurants in France and spent years learning about the distinctions that make the difference.As one person on the tour told us, The average overnight success story takes 17 years to create.It may not take 17 years to acquire the skills you need to succeed, but the point is that it takes awhile. Choose the skills that you need to make your story a success.Action Item Interview the people who are actually living the story you want for yourself. Find out what skills wereabsolutely vital to their success. Then, figure out a way to acquire those s kills.NetworkThe final element of this formula is network. Network is, to put it simply, how you make it all happen.With a marketing plan, you identify where and how you can market your product or service. Since you are your own product or service,you have to figure out how youll market your story and skills to find a great job or start a business.fruchtwein people we interviewed on the tour had a little help from their network along the way to get to where they are. Most people you probably know got to where they are through a referral or two from friends, family, and colleagues. The key is developing those referral sources to increase the likelihood that your network will help you achieve your story.Everyone is accessible. Seriously. Everyone. I never thought Id be sitting in the corner office of the CEO of MGM Grand, or sharing tea with a Nobel Prize winner, or listening to a jam fest with one of the best banjo players in bluegrass but it all happened.Action ItemIf you want togr ow your network, develop a targeted list of people you want to connect with. Find a way to connect with them, andthen nurture those relationships.Thats the magic. Story. Skill. Network. Focus on those three things, and youll find a great job, start a successful business, or execute a great marketing plan.Extra Brief Explanation ofthe Fake Bio Listed Above- Cereal entrepreneur is not a typo. A friend and I always wanted to launch our own brand of cereal. Since writing the fake bio and discreetly publishing it online, weve put a prototype together.- Backyard farmer Since writing this bio, Ive built a chicken coop, acquired eight chickens, and built two large gardens. I felt like I had to live up to my ancestral last name, Farmiloe. We just got our first eggs this week.- Mutual fund manager Ive frequently heard about how purpose-driven companies outperform the SP 500. I decided to analyze the top 10,000 most popular companies on Glassdoor and group the 50 highest-rated publicly traded companies into a mutual fund. Now Im able to test the truth of this statement for myself.- World Pillow Fight Championship revivalist This was one of my favorite 4th of July events growing up. The event stopped about 10 years ago after a solid 40-year run. I decided this event needs to come back, and Im currently in the process of reviving it for 2017.- The father of two and three-time R.V. owner parts are true. Including both items in the bio just completes the story of who I am and what my priorities are.Brett Farmiloeis the founder of Markitors.

How to Make Your Resume Work History Look Better

How to Make Your Resume Work History Look BetterHow to Make Your Resume Work History Look BetterWhen youre writing the work history section of your resume, there are a few goals to consider. Its important to get your resume notlageiced by the hiring manager and to show a strong career record, presented in reverse chronological order. However, your resume isnt just a list of what you did when. Rather, its your most valuable tool in landing an interview a sales pitch for your candidacy. Thus, the experience section needs to highlight your best qualifications for the job for which youre applying. How can youwrite job descriptionsthat will make yourwork historysound better, getpast the applicant tracking system, and impress the hiring manager? Even if you had a boring job, you can focus on your best skills and highlight them on your resume. Dont make stuff up, because hiring managers do check. Instead, filter your responsibilities and focus your resume on the attributes the employer is seeking. Review these tips for improving your resume job descriptions, as well as a before and after version of a revised position description. 6 Tips for Making Your Resume Job Descriptions Sound Better Edit your resume for every job. It can be time-consuming, but the mora time you invest in your resume, the more youll get out of it. Take the time toreview and decode the job posting, so you know what the company wants in applicants. Make a list of what the organization is looking for, and highlight those qualifications on your resume.Prioritize. Take the time totweak your resumefor every job you apply to. List your most relevant duties first, being sure toconnect your accomplishments to the job description. Move your other responsibilities down the list. Youll be able to mix and match based on the job opening, so your top qualities are always listed first. Use bullets in addition to narrative paragraphs. To highlight your work achievements, format them in a bulleted list immedi ately following a short narrative description of your specific work responsibilities. This will allow the accomplishments to pop on the page, setting you apart from your competition.Quantify your accomplishments.Numbers work well on resumes. They are informative and noticeable. For example, Increased fiscal year revenue 25% sounds much better than Improved revenue. Use percentages, dollars, and numbers instead of words to show what you achieved at the positions you have held, and selectively boldface these figures so that they immediately catch the hiring managers eye. Show what you have accomplished on the job. Include actionable achievements, not just descriptions of your daily tasks. Hiring managers want to know why you were a stellar employee, not what you did at work. Use action words to describe your duties. Heres a list ofresume action verbs and power wordsto get you started.Keep it concise. You dont need to include everything you did at every job youve ever had on your resum e. Three or four sentences for each description, followed by a few bulleted achievements, is plenty. Include your most valuable contributions to the organization. Youll have an opportunity to discuss your other duties in-depth when you interview. An Example of a Revised Job Description Heres a before and after version of a job description, written to highlight the candidates best attributes for the job. BeforeI was responsible for website design and development for a variety of clients. I oversaw data optimization, product uploads, and product management, and diagnosed and repaired product issues. My responsibilities included implementing and managing projects from design through launch. I managed search engine marketing, SEO, and online advertising for several clients including strategizing solutions for optimizing visibility. AfterCreated, developed, launched, and managed websites for a variety of clients with an emphasis on state-of-the-art, responsive, and user-focused desi gns. Implemented data, product, and design enhancements managed search engine optimization and marketing and monitored site statistics to optimize visibility. Increased search engine traffic by 25%, pages per session by 18%, and doubled site revenue over the past year.Trained and mentored 5 new team members in effective client relations strategies.Implemented enhancements to employers website that increased client list by 45% between FY 20XX and FY20XX. Do you see the difference? By using active verbs and tangible bulleted achievements, the after example delivers a more persuasive argument for the candidates suitability for the job.

The Most Popular Good Resume Adjectives

The Most Popular Good Resume Adjectives The Most Popular Good Resume Adjectives Use confident to demonstrate you know who you are as a man or woman and that it is possible to carry any tasks without being afraid or hesitating. Challenges are what stand in the manner of delivering the goods or making money. The Lost Secret of Good Resume Adjectives Be certain to be thoughtful once you use action verbs. Its fine to leave in a couple of the previous verbs. Only utilize adjectives to describe yourself if youre ready to back this up immediately afterwards. The ideal adjectives are an important portion of a great resume. Nothing dilutes the effect of action verbs than being surrounded by a number of other action verbs Power verbs are occasionally thought of as action verbs. This means that youre on the market for 25 or so verbs. Weve researched the best tactics to format and compose a resume, together with the most elendiced verbs and adjectives to use. Sparingly utilize words of authority if you dont have the experience to support it. Knowing and accurately employing those words demonstrates you have the necessary hard skills. Employing power words is the secret to success, but it is not the conclusion of the resume-writing story. If your language is the very same as everyone elses, it is going to be difficult for you to stand out. The impression you make it from the second case in point is quite a bit mora powerful. You might go through the effort to discover ideal synonyms, but really, the very best approach to go is to use the words in the work description. Its particularly important if writing your work experience. Take a look at the expert experience section of our how to compose a resume guide, and you are going to be up to speed right away The Benefits of Good Resume Adjectives Rate your skills and determine if you might qualify for work in various industries. Wed be very honored if you may apply some or all unterstellung designs in You r design plans. Ideally, you might detail those skills when you list your experience in the remainder of your resume. Yet, they wish to employ team players. Following are some adjectives that help to create the resumes of these professionals more impressive. Resumes are somewhat more effective with the perfect adjectives. A view has become the most important marketing and advertising document a man or woman may ever write, just because they are marketing themselves. Take a look at the list below, and get prepared to make your resume way more exciting. Finally, you will end up with a fairly complete collection of keywords that are relevant to the job and your suitability for it. For full accessibility to the content found in the True, download the presentation utilizing the hyperlink below. A project manager is a critical portion of the infrastructure of any corporation. Following these ideas will help you accomplish both tasks with flair and allow you to land your fantasy project management job. Keep in mind that the aim of a resume is to secure you a work interview. So writing a prosperous black remains crucial true the work procedure. Regardless of what industry you work in, proving that you have what it requires to do your work effectively is vital. Your bullet points ought to be targeted at the job which youre applying for. Your resume is among the most significant documents you could possibly need, and it may make a difference in your job success and ultimate salary. If, for example, a project is understood to be an excellent job there isnt any way to compute the results. A History of Good Resume Adjectives Refuted Included in these are the capacity to multi-task, think creatively, and the capacity to lead and command respect along with manage time. Your familiarity with a plethora of different engineering computer software programs will make your resume a lot more convincing. Utilizing power words which best communicate your qualific ations and talent to a prospective employer can boost your abilities. It is likewise an area which has an impact on a lot of other facets of life.

powertofly vip

powertofly vip Thats right, we now have a VIP program on PowerToFly for those of you who want unlimited e-learning modules, mentor/mentee opportunities and so much more.Watch this and Ill show you what youll get for less than the cost of a latte each week. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When welches the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a fema le plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2 pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive inno vation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

stop claiming subjective traits on your resume

stop claiming subjective traits on your resume stop claiming subjective traits on your resume Do you have anything like the following on your resume?excellent written and oral communication skillsstrong initiativevisionary leadercreative innovatorable to present strategic concepts clearly and persuasivelyIf so, remove it Remove it allYour resume is for experience and accomplishments only. Its not the place for subjective traits that anyone could claim without evidence. Moreover, hiring managers generally ignore anything subjective that an applicant writes about herself, because so many peoples self-assessments are wildly inaccurate what theyre looking for on your resume are facts.Heres the thing If you really are a visionary leader, or you have strong written communication skills, or you have a track record of taking initiative, the way to demonstrate that is by including accomplishments that demonstrate those traits.Employers want to landsee evidenceof the traits youre claiming, not just proclamations.So What have you done what have you achieved that illustrates your work ethic, or your great writing, or your amazing customer service skills, or whatever else it is that you want employers to see that you have? Thats what belongs on your resume.

What To Do When The Recruiter Doesnt Call Back

What To Do When The Recruiter Doesnt Call BackWhat To Do When The Recruiter Doesnt Call BackINBOX Hi, Jewel. For the 2nd time in 2 weeks a recruiter found me and called me. I heard all about the positions, said I was interested, and they said they would arrange next steps. But both times Ive heard nothing, and I cant get either of them on the phone, plus Ive sent schmelzglass.When the phone rings and the email pings, the emotional rush is on. Its like, Finally Yes Somebody wants to take a look at me and have an actual conversationThat high you get when a real person calls you about a real opportunity can quickly turn into a low when nothing comes to pass. While there isnt always a cut and dried solution to tracking down that particular ghost recruiter and getting them to respond, you can devote your energy to other elements of your job search that wont leave you waiting and hoping, but will have you more squarely on the path to the roles you ideally want.What Do You Ideally Want, Any way?The answer is not just that you want the person to call you. That only seems nice on the surface. Plus, you cant control what other people do and when they do it, so dont lose mental energy trying to, and definitely dont give away your power.Take control of your conversations. Key to doing so over and over when youre in active job search mode is to learn how to clearly, engagingly say what you want.The fundamental question, though the actual words can be phrased 100 different ways, is, So, what do you do? The voreingestellt reply most of the time when youre speaking in a conversation is to provide some factual description of your current or most recent job.Nope.You werent asked what a project manager does, or what a marketing director does. The question is, What do YOU do? Lets take that 1 step further and pretend the question is, What do you want to do? The answer to that should automatically veer away from history (which is boring, sorry), and lean toward whats going on right now today.Heres how a clear, engaging response can sound Im in chemical engineering, most recently for DuPont. Now Im looking at companies like Astra Zeneca, McNeil, and Johnson & Johnson for Senior Researcher roles, because what I really want to do is have my hands on a scientific breakthrough that impacts public health.That answer conveys excitement it sounds like youre on the edge of pouring your heart into meaningful work. That answer also clearly tells he other person where you used to be, but much more importantly where youre looking to go. When youre specific, the other persons wheels may start turning, and they may be able to provide you with useful information or a relevant contact.Once You Know What To Say, How Do You Say It To Get Results?Direct contact with a relevant decision maker means all the difference between your job search being a long and winding road, or being the shortest straight line from A to B.It matters how you say what you want and how you ask for help , because youll either get the help or youll continue to get ignored.Find something in common with the person youre approaching. Jobseekers who get hired fast will not only research the company, but they will also research the individual.Some Internet stalking will take you far here. The Google Machine is the prime place to start. See what comes up when you enter the persons name articles, media mentions, awards, etc. Twitter is your next best resource. What does the person like to talk about when they get social? And dont overlook LinkedIn. Look at the persons activity and groups to find a point of commonality.Eliminate extra thought and extra work for the person youre approaching, especially when you dont know them. Instead of wasting time and space with a preamble telling them how much you value their time, show them you value their time by getting to the point of what you want to ask.Additionally, ask for 1 thing, and 1 thing only. That 1 thing is not, if you know of anybody. I know a lot of anybodys. But if I have to invest the time to wonder and guess at who you might need, the response will take a lot longer if a response comes at all.Heres what an ask can look like Joe I saw your post on the 3 steps you to raise team engagement, and Im going to steal your 2 strategy for myself Regarding a post I came across for a Researcher II role with your organization, and I applied. My background is chemical engineering, most recently for DuPont. I really want to have my hands on a scientific breakthrough that impacts public health. Are you open to a 5-minute call this week? Id certainly appreciate your insights.Make a regular habit of submitting your application, and virtually at the same time, reaching out to a relevant person with a clear, simple message. This puts some control back in your hands, so you dont continue to be slave to the job boards, and living on a hope and a prayer that a recruiter may call.Successful job search isnt an either / or scenario. Sh ould I apply online or should I email the decision maker? People get hired because they take control of the things they can control in their job search, and they execute with an and / plus mentality. Im going to identify the role(s) I want, apply the regular way, then find a way into the organization through a real human being. Its important to do not just those steps, but all your steps in the right order. Find out what you need to do, and when to do it with maximum impact, using our new Cheat Sheet over and over again pursue the opportunities they know perfectly well theyre qualified for, and land those jobs.

9 SelfImprovement Strategies for Engineers

9 SelfImprovement Strategies for Engineers 9 SelfImprovement Strategies for Engineers Its all goodyouve graduated with a degree in engineering and landed a good job with an engineering firm that promises a stimulating environment and maybe even some interesting travel. Youre all set, right?Not necessarilyengineering is a competitive field and, as evidenced during the Great Recession, susceptible to big layoffs when the economy takes a dive. So what you can do in your first five years as a professional engineer to strengthen your long-term career and make you stand out from the competition? Here are some pointers from Carl Vieth, director of corporate education for the department of engineering professional development, University of Wisconsin-Madison.Learn the business.What is the core business strategy, how is company revenue made, and what are key sources of growth? Seek out opportunities to work with a diverse cross-section of business units within the company, including HR, manuf acturing, sales, marketing, and customer service. You may also find that your company offers boot-camp style learning opportunities that will give you a deeper understanding of your industry.Develop a love affair with your customers.Understand their business better than you understand your own and learn how your customers make money. Request assignments that allow you to work directly at a customer site be inquisitive about their needs and strive to understand how you can solve their problems. Regularly read market publications and familiarize yourself with what industry analysts are saying. Know your customers competitive marketplace and understand who their key competitors are, as well as the relative strength of the competitions value proposition relative to that of your customer, says Smith.Learn the upstream supply chain.Understand the sources and producers of inputs to your business. Become familiar with the variety of options available that you can bring to your organization. Strive to keep on top of technical innovations, both within your field and other engineering and technology disciplines.Dont stop learning.College has left you woefully unprepared for many of the challenges you will face (its true). Becoming an effective communicator, team member or leader, or project manager are worthy goals to aggressively pursue. Seeking out professional development activities related to growing your soft skills will drive professional growth in dimensions you never knew existed, says Smith.Keep your technical skills current.Join a professional society and participate as an active member. Share what you learn with your colleagues at work. If your local work group does elend have a journal club or study circle, consider starting one. Engineering associations also provide professional learning opportunities, including short courses and online learning. Search for universities that are active in providing technical education in your field.Find a coach.Being indepen dent types, engineers often feel they have to do it alone. Find a coach within the organization who can provide valuable advice, direction, and support. More important than having technical credibility, your coach should be adept at navigating the organization. Find the engineer who business leaders and customers seek out when they want to get an answer or solve a problem, advises Smith. Once youve established the relationship, honor it by listening carefully, following the advice, and carrying yourself in ways that will make your coach proud.Seek out new challenges and challenging assignments.The term stretch assignment defines an opportunity to challenge your knowledge, skills, and creativity in new and different ways. Challenging assignments take you out of your comfort zone and provide you with opportunities to set yourself apart.Critique your performance.Practice your new skills and try to be self-aware and realistic about how youre progressing. New abilities dont come easily a nd those who excel in their own personal development take advantage of opportunities that sharpen their skills and grow their knowledge base through practice.Think about the next step in your education.You wont get far without a graduate degree and you need to start planning, Smith advises. A few years of work experience will allow you to make the most of your next learning opportunity and to rediscover the joy in formal learning.Mark Crawford is an independent writer.Seeking out professional development activities related to growing your soft skills will drive professional growth in dimensions you never knew existed.Carl Vieth, University of Wisconsin-Madison