Academic Women’s Network Things You Should Know to Thrive as a Staff Member at Duke

1. Academic Women’s NetworkThings You Should Know to Thrive as a Staff Member at Duke Nancy M. Rhodes, M.P.H. February 21, 2006 Duke University Department of Medicine

2. Introduction I. Thriving amidst one’s day-to-day responsibilities II. Identifying and taking advantage of opportunities for growth

3. Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Confucius

4. I. Thriving day-to-day A. Know why you work here • To contribute as a part of the Duke team - Patient care - Research - Teaching

5. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) A. Know why you work here (Cont’d) 2. To earn a living 3. To enjoy opportunities for advancement 4. To be a part of the solution

7. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) B. Choose your attitude 1. Service Begins with Me -- It’s more than a slogan on our ID badges.

8. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) B. Choose your attitude (Cont’d) 2. Your boss a. Do work carefully the first time b. Anticipate needs c. Go the extra mile

9. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) B. Choose your attitude (Cont’d) 2. Your boss (Cont’d) d. Ask questions e. Volunteer for new assignments f. Do the right thing • Demonstrate integrity • Set the correct priorities

10. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) B. Choose your attitude (Cont’d) 3. Your co-workers a. Inside and outside your department b. Help build an “old girls’ network”

11. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) Systems often don’t work. Relationships are critical. Support that comes only from the top is called “hanging”. Lily Marks, Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center

12. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) B. Choose your attitude (Cont’d) 4. Patients a. Put yourself in their shoes

13. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) Choose to be an institutional citizen and not just a departmental soldier. Lily Marks, Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center

14. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) C. What to do when the job feels too big 1. Savor, for a moment, the sense of accomplishment Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties. Doug Larson

15. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) C. What to do when the job feels too big (Cont’d) 2. Modify the means of keeping track of your to-do’s (and as needed your boss’ to-do’s) a. Lists b. Index cards c. Calendars d. ScanCard System

16. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) C. What to do when the job feels too big (Cont’d) • Talk with your supervisor about eliminating or streamlining tasks • If more than five areas (not tasks) of your job have changed, ask about the possibility of a review for an upgrade

17. I. Thriving day-to-day (Cont’d) D. Keep a file folder of your accomplishments 1. Samples of work 2. List of projects by date 3. List of special assignments (that go beyond your “regular” job)

18. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth A. Know who you are • Choose a career that matches your basic personality Resources • Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – widely used personality inventory test

19. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) B. Know what you think you want 1. New boss 2. New content 3. New location – local, regional, national, or international

20. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) B. Know what you think you want (Cont’d) 4. New schedule 5. New colleagues 6. New ________?

21. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) C. What are you willing to risk to get what you want? 1. New boss, content, location, schedule, colleagues, etc.

22. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) C. What are you willing to risk to get what you want? (Cont’d) 2. Some personal discomfort – changes, even good ones, can make us uncomfortable

23. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) D. What are you willing to investto get what you want? 1. Time 2. Energy 3. Creativity

25. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) E. If you want a new job, set a target date Rule of thumb: Allow 1 month for every $10,000 of pay, i.e., 3 months for a job that pays $30,000

26. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) F. Meet with people who have jobs like the ones you want 1. Ask about their backgrounds 2. How were they prepared/not prepared to take on their current job

27. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) G. Prepare your resume 1. Phone number – check your voice mail message 2. Objective at the top – Yes or No • List accomplishments, not just job tasks -- use the folder you’ve kept for reminders of what you’ve done

28. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) G. Prepare your resume (Cont’d) 4. Proofread, proofread, proofread • How long? • How many versions? 7. References

29. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth H. Ask a friend to do a mock interview with you about your applying for her job 1. Be prepared to answer questions about strengths and areas of growth 2. Be interested in the specific job, not just wanting a new or different job

30. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth I. Talk with your supervisor about opportunities 1. Special projects 2. Vacancies

31. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) J. Prepare a cover letter 1. Express interest in the job posted or advertised 2. Address any gaps between the posting and your skills/background 3. Refer to your enclosed resume

32. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) K. Read the Job Postings (SOM, DUHS, PDC), Want Ads, MGMA

33. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) L. Interview 1. Know the company 2. Know the profession 3. Write a thank you note or send an e-mail

34. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) M. Forge ahead; have courage

35. II. Identifying and Taking Advantage of Opportunities for Growth (Cont’d) One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. Maya Angelou