By Michael N. Quigley, FIScT
As a science technologist, you’re making a vital impact every day by keeping workflow and projects running smoothly and translating ideas into tangible results. Performing your work to the best of your abilities is commendable but if you want to accelerate your career, you need to proactively make your expertise visible. Standing out to be noticed is no longer something just to think about. In today’s competitive job market, it’s an essential strategy to ensure your contributions are recognized and rewarded.
Your intelligence and ability to pass exams are most likely what enabled you to settle into your specialization. However, there are other qualities that you possess that are equally important. Be proud of your accomplishments, exude confidence, and make networking a priority.
In your path forwards and upwards, consider your experience as evidence of your commitment. Think about maintaining a record of everything that you have accomplished. For instance, you could record:
- Projects that you have been involved with.
- Equipment that you have learned to use.
- Methods or techniques that you have improved.
- People that you have trained.
- Risks that you have helped to reduce.
- Positive outcomes that you have been involved with.
Record keeping of this type can help in your preparations for internal appraisals, promotions, job applications and applications for membership of professional organizations. You’re probably already aware that the Institute supports science technologists across STEMM, AI, creative and digital technologies. In addition, the Institute offers various routes towards registered and chartered status. This type of recognition can help in demonstrating your professionalism, competence and commitment to continued development.
No matter what your specialization is, learning some aspects of business will benefit you in your career aspirations. For instance, taking a basic online business course will help you understand and appreciate budgets, together with profit and loss. You can also learn to write compelling acquisition proposals and manage supplier accounts. Such skills are important in defining yourself as someone who is willing to facilitate positive outcomes within and outside of your specialization.
Both your personal and professional online profiles matter since for most employers, checking details online is the first step they will take in assessing your competence for advancement within your current environment or elsewhere. LinkedIn is a good site to showcase your skills and build a network of contacts. You should also consider joining US based ORCID (orcid.org). Different to scholar sites that generally index books and peer-reviewed papers, ORCID is defined as a Persistent Digital Identifier site. With its acronym standing for Open Researcher and Contributor ID, ORCID is mainly intended as a repository for scholarly materials. However, the site is much more flexible than the regular scholar sites. You can join ORCID for free and be allowed to archive, showcase and link to your work and creations.
Conceivably, you could choose to add research based “Works” to your profile. However, other options from the drop-down menu include:
- Materials in the “Dissemination” category including magazine articles, newspaper articles and websites.
- Materials in the “Creative” category including design, images, videos and musical compositions.
Once you have your ORCID membership and your work is archived, you can include your 16-digit persistent identifier (usually spelled out verbally as PID) in your correspondence and on your CV.
Membership of professional organizations can help open doors, and as an example the Institute provides event notifications and professional development support. You can also explore opportunities with organizations and societies that represent your field of specialization.
Finally, if you have bilingual skills be sure to mention them in your CV, and add the information to your ORCID profile. If you aren’t already fluent in a second language, consider how acquiring this new skill can open even more doors.
In advancing your science technology career, you will need ambition, reliability and a willingness to keep learning. If you feel that you are ready to stand out for success, the Institute is here to help. You can request advice and support from science technology professionals who can aid in your professional development. You may also request assistance in navigating challenges along the way. You are already making a difference, and your membership of the Institute can help you showcase your skills, enable them to grow and turn them into new opportunities.
About the Author: Michael Quigley, FIScT serves as the CEO of Createc Corporation in Ithaca, New York. He has an extensive background in analytical chemistry, clinical chemistry, marine chemistry & biology, chemistry education, educational research, plant sciences, and agricultural science. Michael’s work is matched with considerable publishing experience.