8/17/ Options in the Information Field for the Chemist Randall K. Ward Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Summit, NJ 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Introduction o Disclaimers o My Background ä BS Chemistry ä 9 years in chemistry lab ä 3 years in information ä Working on MS of Information Science (aka MLS) 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Why change fields? 2. Observations on Information Field. 3. “How To” make the change. 4. Strengths you bring. 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Why Change Fields? o Dissatisfied/Unhappy o Lack of career advancement opportunities ä BS/MS vs. PhD ä gain broader background o Variety o Health o etc. etc. etc. 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Information Field o Likely entry point o Culture ä Leans more to people/business side than lab work. ä “Small world” of Information ä Pressure and work load depend on supervisor and organization. 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Information Field o Some helpful skills ä Computer oriented. “Techie” or sophisticated user, room for both. ä Service orientation. ä Can work with timelines/customers. Basic people skills. ä See the big picture. ä Like “the hunt”. ä Systems/Procedures 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Information Field Opportunity Advancement as a non-PhD (MLS?) Job Market Salaries 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ “How To Make the Change” o Factors not under your control. ä Supervisory or company support. ä Time frame. 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ “How To” - Controllable Factors o Persistence o Direction/focus ä any better than none. o Education/training - MLS ä (JD, MBA, PhD, BSE, “terminal” degrees) o Believe in and accept self. o Know yourself. (interest/personality tests) 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ “How To” - Controllable Factors o Contacts/networking o Start today. o Do well in current job! (“Catch 22”) o Overcome mistakes. o Initiative/courage ä Where will you be 10 years from now? o Don’t apply for every posting. 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Strengths You Bring o Technical knowledge!!! ä Well-used dictum - “It’s easier to teach a chemist the information field than to teach an information professional chemistry.” o Analytical skills o Knowledge of the business o Mindset of the “customers” o Personal strengths 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000
8/17/ Summary o Why change? o Information field o “How to” ä have a direction, etc. o Strengths you bring 220th National ACS Meeting - Washington DC - August 21, 2000