Learn Basic Skills

A second important step in the professional development of a scientist is the ability to learn basic non-technical skills. Typically these skills may involve an increasing use of the computer and the ability to interact remotely with people. Specifically, many scientists need to interact with colleagues who are no longer present in adjacent offices or down the hall. Instead, many colleagues are working at remote sites or are traveling, and the communication among colleagues is performed through writing (email) and teleconferences. For these forms of communication, the skills of writing and speech etiquette need to be adapted to the changing work environment in order to maximize the success in their jobs. The purpose of this chapter is to provide free available resources in these areas.

Resources

Willingness to learn new basic skills

• Read “Good Writing and Speech – Their Importance to the Engineer,” by Alfred N. Goldsmith. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/nov_dec04.pdf. IEEE PCSNewsletter, Vol. 48, No. 6, p. 26.
• Read “An Abuse of Engineeringese Was Observed,” by Jean-Luc Doumont. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/sep_oct04.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 48, No. 5, p. 8.

Basic Skills

Computer Skills

• UNIX/AIX. Windows
• Microsoft Office Suite. Latex. Adobe acrobat. Spreadsheet programs – Excel, OriginLab
  

Writing

• Read “Be in the Business of Good Writing,” by Harvey Mackay. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/jul_aug01.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 1, 5.
• Read “Woe is the Dangling Phrase,” by Professor Grammar. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/jan_feb02.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 46, No. 1, p. 12-13.
• Read “Tips for Making Writing Easier: Part 1: The Five-Minute Miracle,” by Cheryl and Peter Reimold. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/mar_apr03.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 13-14.
• Read “Tips for Making Writing Easier: Part 2: Narrow Your Questions, Shape Your Answers,” by Cheryl and Peter Reimold. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/may_jun03.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 10, 14.
• Read “Tips for Making Writing Easier: Part 3: Focus on Your Key Message,” by Cheryl and Peter Reimold. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/jul_aug03.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 47, No. 4, p. 10.
• Read “Tips for Making Writing Easier: Part 4: Break Out of the Endless Editing Cycle,” by Cheryl and Peter Reimold. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/sep_oct03.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 11, 13.
• Read “Tips for Making Writing Easier: Part 5: Quick Editing for Organization,” by Cheryl and Peter Reimold. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/nov_dec03.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 9-10.
• Read “Tips for Making Writing Easier: Part 6: Toning Your First Draft Up – Or Down,” by Cheryl and Peter Reimold. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/jan_feb04.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 8-9.
• Read “How Should Engineers Write? What Their Managers Say,” by Kathleen Mohn, http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/mar_apr02.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 1, 5-6.
• Read “How to Write Readable Reports and Winning Proposals. Part 1: Grab Your Reader with a PAW,” by Peter and Cheryl Reimold, http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/may_jun02.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 10-11.
• Read “How to Write Readable Reports and Winning Proposals. Part 2: Structure Your Reports to Please Your Reader,” by Peter and Cheryl Reimold, http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/jul_aug02.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 15-16.
• Read “How to Write Readable Reports and Winning Proposals. Part 3: Save Readers and Yourself Precious Time,” by Peter and Cheryl Reimold, http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/sep_oct02.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 1, 4.
  
• Read “How to Write Readable Reports and Winning Proposals. Part 4: Internal Proposals that Move Decision Makers,” by Peter and Cheryl Reimold, http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/nov_dec02.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 46, No. 6, pp. 14, 16.
  
• Read “How to Write Readable Reports and Winning Proposals. Part 5: Persuasive External Proposals,” by Peter and Cheryl Reimold, http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/jan_feb03.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 47, No. 1, p. 8.
  

Communication

• Email etiquette:
  
• • Read “Say What You Mean in E-mail,” by Professor Grammar  http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/archive/pdfs/mar_apr02.pdf. IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 46, No. 2, p. 22.
• Phone etiquette:
  
• • “Hello, this is John Smith calling for Dr. Physics. I am following up on the letter that I sent a few days ago. Is this a good time to speak?”
• Learn to communicate:
  
• • Read “Communication in the New Millennium,” Cheryl and Peter Reimold. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/pcs/newsletter/pdfs/may_jun00.pdf IEEE PCS Newsletter, Vol. 44, No. 3, May/June 2000, pp. 5-6.
    
  • Read “Words that Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear”. http://www.amazon.com/Words-That-Work-What-People/dp/1401302599