8 Key Steps for a Successful Career

1.      When you start your job, create a career development plan.  Your career is like a business.  You need to invest in it and develop it in order for it to progress.  For example, take a course, build mentors and alliances, set up specific goals.

2.      When setting goals, make sure they are measurable, result-orientated with a timetable.  "I want to take a course to improve my technical writing by November."

3.      IQ vs EQ.  Academics is not enough, you have to be able to connect with people.  You need to have Emotional Intelligence, being sensitive to the needs of other people.  Industry is a team environment.  Your peers and superiors will have to attest for your performance.

4.      Diversity is important because the creation of different ideas makes solving problems easier.  Diversity can come in many forms, cultural and educational.

5.      Learn to adapt to situations.  Some projects may come and go. Taking things personal will become an obstacle.

6.      Whether you go to medical school or pharmaceutical, its all about problem-solving.

7.      Communicate your accomplishments by hanging out with people, writing memos, etc.

8.      Give back to your community. .