Top 5 Tips for College Grads Entering the Working World
1) Build a Relationship With Your Boss: Like it or not, no single individual has a greater impact on your career future than your direct supervisor. So, how do you get on their good side from the start? Managers want to feel that you truly care, and that you are "in it with them" as a team. Bring your boss solutions, not problems. When a problem arises, take initiative to consider what alternatives are available. Don't just throw the problem on their desk and have them figure it out. Always ask your boss for advice on what you or the company could do better. Offer to stay late for projects, even if they might not be your responsibility. Amazingly, many Americans rush out the door at 4:59 without even saying "Goodnight." 2) Display Professionalism and Maturity: Unfortunately, the immature stereotype of young professionals does present a common barrier to advancement. Often, how you respond to adversity in a situation defines your professional maturity. A young professional views a mistake as a catastrophe, while a mature professional considers it a bump in the road. A young professional is quick blame to others, while a mature professional takes responsibility, and asks how a team can work better together in the future. There will always be differences of opinion on how best to do things in an organization, but they shouldn't escalate to confrontation. Tact, diplomacy, and rational adult conversation should reign. 3) Find a Mentor Within the Company/Industry: Take advice from someone who has succeeded, and they will help you succeed. Makes sense, doesn't it? Some companies sponsor structured mentor programs, as do many professional organizations. Be sure to investigate these options first. Otherwise, you must rely on a more informal method of finding a mentor. You might believe these people are too busy, or too important to talk to you. However, most people want to share their secrets to success with someone who really wants to listen. They also understand mentoring helps contribute to the future success of the company by helping to develop other young leaders. Besides, they probably had a mentor, too. 4) Undertake a Strategic Development Plan: It's never too early to start thinking about where your current job will take you. Understand typical advancement paths from your position, and what training and development is needed for advancement. Invest in yourself and learn from colleagues, books, seminars, and professional organizations. Try to identify your niche or area of specialization within a company or industry that will be in demand in the future. Where do you want to be in 2 years, or 5 years? You must take develop your own strategic game plan, and hold yourself accountable. 5) Avoid Dangerous Pitfalls: A recent study by Harvard University showed that for every firing due to failure to perform, there are two firings due to personality conflicts within a team. There could be temptations to mislead a customer to get one more sale, or hide a mistake from management. Internet and e-mail abuse is still a widespread problem. Further, the threat of sexual harassment is real. Often, the intent of the offender may not necessarily be malicious, but rather they don't realize the difference between what is appropriate in the workplace vs. a "night out at the clubs." It is imperative to understand the rules of the game, and abide by those rules, to avoid irreparable damage to your career from the start. Andy Masters is a nationally recognized speaker from St. Louis, and is author of the newly released book Life After College: What to Expect and How to Succeed in Your Career. Andy earned an M.A.-Human Resources Development and an M.A.-Marketing from Webster University. Visit http://www.life-after-college.com or e-mail am1@life-after-college.com for more information on the book, seminars, and additional resources.
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Is Pursuing a Career in Patent Law the Right Move for You?
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The field of patent law is wide open to Biologists, Chemists, Engineers, Computer Scientists, and many other science and technology professionals. And it's true; individuals with the proper science or engineering degree need only pass the Patent Bar to become registered Patent Agents.
Upon becoming a Patent Agent, you may gain employment writing and prosecuting patent applications at law firms, technology transfer offices, biotech or engineering corporations, and government institutes.
From there, you may decide whether or not to go on to law school and become a Patent Attorney. In addition to writing and prosecuting patents, a Patent Attorney can also litigate in patent infringement cases.
The Perfect Skill Set
Patent law is the perfect field for many creative and talented individuals since it requires so many qualities to be successful.
There is definitely a people-oriented side to a career in patent law. This is especially true when you consider the "isolated lab environment" most scientists and engineers are used to. Contrast this with the fact that an inventor's hopes and dreams will be riding on the invention and that you will be there every step of the way to help them achieve their goals. Obviously, a great deal of interviewing and excellent communication is required in order to adequately learn what was invented and write a patent application.
Which brings us to the next point; patent practitioners must also have excellent writing skills. Drafting a quality patent application is tedious work that requires the absolute best in written communication.
In addition, a strong background in either science or technology is a must. You will have to understand exactly what has been invented in order to write a quality patent application.
Lastly, as a Patent Practitioner, you should possess a thirst for never-ending knowledge. You will be right on the cutting edge of research and development. You will constantly be exposed to new and exciting discoveries virtually before anyone else!
The Dollars and Cents
It's the million dollar question. What might you expect to make as a professional in the field of patent law? Well, the pay scale varies from $45,000 up to $250,000+ for Patent Practitioners and is determined by many factors (yes I realize that's quite a span).
First, as we've already eluded, if you are a scientist or engineer without a law degree you will be classified as a Patent Agent after you pass the Patent Bar Exam. If you have a law degree and are already considered an attorney, you will be classified as a Patent Attorney upon passing the exam. As a Patent Attorney with the same level of experience as a Patent Agent, you will typically earn the higher income because in addition to writing and prosecuting patents, you may also help protect patents in a court of law.
Second, your degree level will help determine your pay. If you have a Bachelor's degree in your particular area of expertise, you will typically make less than someone with a Master's or a PhD.
Third, your experience level will make a difference. Your previous positions will count when factoring your salary. The number of years you have worked as an engineer or scientist will make a difference. The more experience you have, usually the more valuable you will be perceived by the company. The longer you have worked in the field of patent law, the higher your pay will be as well.
Lastly, where you seek employment makes a difference in your pay. Law firms typically pay the most, whereas a Technology Transfer department at a University will usually pay the least. Furthermore, the state and city you apply for work in will also play a factor.
Hot Commodity
Businesses in the science and technology sectors regard patents as their lifeline. Therefore, gaining status as a registered Patent Practitioner can open many career doors for you.
Since the fields of research and intellectual property are so intertwined, imagine the new career opportunities you would be presented with if you were trained in both areas. Furthermore, as a scientist or engineer, most of the qualifications necessary to achieve registration as a Patent Practitioner have usually already been met. It is likely that your only requirement may be to pass the Patent Bar Exam. It is a difficult hurdle, but in comparison to the time and money you already spent to become a scientist or an engineer, the time and money necessary to pass the Patent Bar Exam is reasonable.
In today's unpredictable job market, expanding your skills makes sense, especially when this can be accomplished for a relatively low expense and little time. Compared to getting a degree, setting aside even a full year (although it can be completed in much less time) to learn about the patent prosecution process and take the Patent Bar Exam is very reasonable. Especially when you further consider the fact that it will open an entirely new career door for you. Whether you wish for a complete job change or the desire to become more marketable for technology based companies, gaining skills is always a smart move to make.
Please review www.PatentBarStudy.com to learn more about the Patent Bar Exam and how you can jump-start your career as a Patent Practitioner.
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