There are multiple reasons that I love writing profile articles for the American Chemical Society. Learning from my profile subjects is one of them.
In 2015, I interviewed and profiled a dozen chemists working in the chemical industry. Despite of their different upbringings and educational backgrounds, their success shares some commonalities.
Here are 3 top ones they think that have contribute to their success.
- Continuing learning. Technologies change, researches evolve. To stay competitive, no one can afford to stop learning.
- Building a strong network. The old saying goes, “it’s not what you know but who you know matters more.” Most of my subjects agree, and they admit their professional connections have opened doors and led to new opportunities.
- Improving communication skills. It doesn’t matter if you work in a lab or manage your own company, if you want your boss or stake holders to notice your contributions and strengths, you have to be able to communicate effectively.