em • yp perspective/special edition Five Things I Know Now A Professional’s Advice to YPs and Students

As I write this, I’m marking my 18th year as an environmental professional. I’ve made my share of mistakes, missteps, and missed opportunities, and today I’m thinking to myself that I wish someone had sat me down and warned me of the pitfalls, sparing me the ache of damage control. This article doesn’t come close by Dallas Baker, P.E., BCEE to covering the entirety of good professional advice that a young up-and-comer

Dallas Baker is an environ - needs in order to grow and be successful, but here are five concepts I wish I had mental engineer with the Mississippi Department of mastered long ago. Environmental Quality and currently serves as a Vice President on A&WMA’s Communication Is Crucial bring anything you think you might need, and Board of Directors. Baker A few years back, I interviewed several engineering make plenty of copies of anything you’ll likely hand graduated from the University school graduates and was very impressed by the out. Know something about the people expected of Mississippi with a BSME qualities they brought to the table. One candidate to attend and the purpose of the meeting. If you’re and an MS in Environmental in particular stood out. She had excellent grades, chairing a meeting, write an agenda, no matter how Engineering. He earned an MBA from Mississippi was sharp, extremely poised, and well spoken. Just simple it is. It shows you are prepared and value College and holds a CPM before I was about to call her in for a second in - everyone’s time and input. designation from the terview, my Human Resources Director suggested Mississippi Certified Public I give the candidates a writing assignment. Reluc - If you are making a presentation, be ready for it and Manager Program. He is tantly, I went along with her suggestion, thinking it make it effective. When appropriate, which is most a licensed Professional Engi - neer and is board certified was somewhat juvenile, but was shocked by the re - of the time, use PowerPoint or something similar. by the American Academy sults. My bright protégé-to-be carelessly sub - Be polished and confident in your material: Tell of Environmental Engineers. mitted something I would expect from my them what you’re going to tell them; tell them; then fourth-grader. Written communication was so im - tell them what you just told them. Don’t over- YP Perspective is a monthly portant to that job and her sample was so bad that animate, avoid distractive sound effects, don’t throw column organized by I couldn’t overlook it. up complicated technical information you can easily A&WMA’s Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC). If hand out, and most importantly, keep it simple. you have a topic you would The productivity of a workaholic genius is virtually like to see young professionals discuss, e-mail: worthless if it can’t be understood by all stake - For interviews, I’ll share with you two timeless clas - [email protected]. holders, or just as detrimental, contains the stain of sics: own a conservative tie and blue suit (ladies, I

YPAC strives to effectively poor grammar. I took a technical writing course have no advice here, but you get the point) and be engage YPs within the about eight years ago, and it was perhaps the most prepared. Invest in a book that includes the 101 Association by developing useful training I’ve ever had…about 10 years too most-asked interview questions. Research the com - services and activities to meet the needs of today’s young late. Proof read everything at least three times. pany and the position for which you’re applying, professionals. A YP is defined Watch your written manners and formality—that is, and be ready to ask questions of your own. Don’t by the Association as being 35 years of age or younger. don’t address a client’s CEO as “Hi Bob!” unless he just show up and expect charm alone to get you Each YP is encouraged to insists. Assume everything will be read by the pres - the job. get involved with the Associ - ation, whether within their ident of your organization, which happens more local Chapter or Section or than you think. Know when to send handwritten Take Initiative within the Association’s four Councils (Education Council, notes too. This is a skill area you can’t overdevelop. This is a trait bosses love to see, and the absence Technical Council, Sections of it sticks out like a sore thumb. Don’t wait to be and Chapters Councils, and YPAC). YPs interested in get - Be Prepared spoon-fed every task and assignment before get - ting involved may contact The Boy Scouts of America have something very ting necessary work done. Take on new things that YPAC for more information on current volunteer and profound here. Even if you aren’t leading a meet ing, are well above the minimum and ask for new leadership opportunities. be ready to contribute. Insist on an agenda if available, assignments when caught up. This sends a message

1 em august 2011 awma.org F That I Wish I Knew Then

that you are reliable and can work autonomously. your skills, abilities, and accomplishments going to be recognized and rewarded if you sit at your com - When solving a problem, do as much research and puter all week? Get yourself in front of the movers resource gathering as possible before asking for and shakers in your organization and show them help. It’s a sign of laziness when the answer is at you mean business. Trust and good impressions your fingertips, but you distracted someone anyway. must be set before management entrusts you with On the other hand, if you’re genuinely stuck, don’t more responsibility. Impress them with how well sacrifice productivity for pride. Finally, if you go to you handle yourself. Volunteer to train staff on your your boss with a problem, bring along one or two area of expertise. Ask to tag along to high-level suggested solutions. This shows you’re solutions- planning meetings. Even try small things like oriented and take initiative. organizing the company picnic. Building trust and relationships are significant goals you should set. What’s My E-IQ? Back in April, I had the good fortune to sit next to My final thought along these lines is don’t be afraid Frank Harrison, the CEO of Coca-Cola, at a luncheon to fail. Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times in his and ask what qualities he’s looking for in a young career, but hit 714 home runs. Look at failure as a executive. He said, “Integrity, far and away.” Not a means of growth, and realize no one started out Harvard MBA. Not the ability to digest a corporate the best of something. A good boss will appreciate financial report or reengineer a regional distribution your willingness to grow and learn new facets of system, but integrity. This concept is just one factor the job. And when you succeed, even grander in what they call Emotional Intelligence, or E-IQ, opportunities await. em which will serve you very well in your career. How you handle your successes and failures speaks vol - In Next Month’s Issue… umes of your character and your ability to lead. Be self aware. Take responsibility for mistakes, and be quick to deflect credit. Avoid the blame game and run, don’t walk, from the office gossip mill.

It’s difficult to quantify your E-IQ, but there are things you can do to grow in professional maturity. Read and take courses on subjects such as dealing Setting Standards for Welfare Impacts: Invoking with difficult people, listening and communication, an Overlooked Part of the U.S. Clean Air Act? conflict management, and team dynamics. Get your The September issue will cover aspects of establishing separate national air quality Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator score and standards for criteria air pollutants to protect non-health values (e.g., vegetation understand what it means. These things may sound and visibility) that differ in function and form from current health-based air quality hokey and fluff now, but you’ll thank me later. standards, including discussion of a separate national air quality standard for secondary particulate matter and an ozone standard for farm and forest land. Exposure Also look for… While you are honing your technical skills to be • Competitive Strategy great at your job and are sharpening your image, • PM File remember to put yourself and your work out in • EPA Research Highlights front of those who are in a position to advance • YP Perspective • IPEP Quarterly your career. Author Harvey Coleman characterizes the keys to success as “Performance, Image, and ...and a Call for Abstracts for A&WMA’s 105th Annual Conference & Exhibition, Exposure,” with the latter being 60% of the weight. June 2012, in San Antonio, TX Don’t underestimate this concept. How likely are

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