Presentations for 2013 IEEE Career Advancement Workshop

Presentations for 2013 IEEE Career Advancement Workshop
Carl Selinger Presentation
Title: Stuff You Don’t Learn in Engineering School
Abstract: One-hour presentation covers the most important soft skills that engineers in all
stages of their careers need to know. These non-technical skills include: decision-making;
setting priorities & managing time; being effective at meetings; better speaking, writing and
listening; teamwork & leadership skills; understanding themselves and others; negotiating;
managing stress and having fun; and action planning.
Background Information on Carl Selinger & His Seminars:
I am an engineer with forty years’ experience — and much invested in many IEEE activities —
I greatly enjoy giving programs in professional skills to support the development of engineers
to be more effective and happier. My professional development program will energizes GOLD
members, attracting all age groups and all specialty areas, and giving them more value to want
to maintain their IEEE membership.
My seminars teaching soft skills have been given to many IEEE Sections and groups (GOLD, WIE, S-PACs) -- including
twice at FDU in recent years -- and at other professional societies throughout the USA, Canada and Scotland over the
past twenty years. “Stuff You Don’t Learn in Engineering School” is my down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach from my
career as an aviation/transportation engineering manager and college professor.
To give you an idea of what IEEE members think of my seminar, these from the IEEE Metro LA Section were typical: 25 of
28 attendees rated it “good” or “excellent.” Some comments:
• Review of soft skills in the real world that every engineer needs to succeed. For me, the most helpful was “setting
priorities and managing time.” I am a procrastinator.
• Reinforcing things that I have heard time and time again. Important soft skills checklist provides us with a list to
reference. Asserting that we need to be assertive, have action plans, and be decisive.
• Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, experience, tips and advice as well as your time.
• You smoothly inserted all important aspects about managing personal & business life. It was really beneficial, I
am going to record the difference of my work compared to before the meeting.
• Wonderful seminar. Great job.
There are links below for more information about me and the seminar on my website, as well as reactions of seminar
attendees, including the 5-minute podcast interview that the WTS LA Chapter posted on YouTube.
Below is a link for more information about my book, “Stuff You Don’t Learn in Engineering School: Skills for Success in the
Real World” (Wiley-IEEE Press), which has further information, and which can be integrated into the METSAC program,
e.g., arranging a book signing (like at WTS GNY), raffling off/gifting copies to students, etc. ASCE Past President David
Mongan recommended Stuff as “a fairly quick read, one that I recommend to all engineers, both young and old” in his blog
at http://live.asce.org/blog/1/president2008/Professional+Development/2008/10/27/. You might wish to buy a few copies
of my book now so you can determine how it can be best used … click below.
Bala Prasanna Presentations
Title: Working in the 21st Century: Essential Skills to Survive & Thrive in present day
Workplace
Abstract: Workplace habits and expectations have changed significantly in the last few
years. Surviving and thriving depends on your ability to grasp the broader picture and
hone some essential skills.
Topics of discussion include:
• Handling a round the clock job
• Setting aside think place/think time regularly, training a backup
• Playground vs. battleground attitude/aptitude
• Finding & developing a sweet spot of issues for resolution

• Managing your boss, thinking as a manager
• Managing relationships(creating your angels)
• Awareness of the business control requirements of your employer
• Handling personal vs. professional attitudes/opinions
• Habits of successful people
• Talents vs. skills, training to acquire necessary skills
• Productivity tracking
• Customer/vendor relationships
Title: Beyond Basics: The Essentials of Communications in Workplace
Abstract: If we do not manage relations with managers and peers in workplace, we will not have resources to get our job
done. Communications, spoken, written or otherwise, is an essential part. Can we ask better questions? How do we work
with toxic people? Do we always say nice things, but carry a stick? Have we tried talking-up? Are we “deadline”
passionate, and how do we manage that? The presenter while sharing his ideas will also engage the audience for their
thoughts on topics such as these.
Speaker Bio: Bala Prasanna joined IBM in May 2005 as a program manager. He began his career as an assistant
professor in SUNY University and then worked at AT&T Bell Labs for over 20 years in several job positions. As manager,
he is active in many employee counseling and support organizations. Bala Prasanna is IEEE Region 1 Treasurer, and
past chair of the IEEE Jersey Coast section among many volunteer positions. He is a senior member of the IEEE. He has
published and presented on software reliability engineering methodology in IEEE Communications, given presentations at
many universities discussing the need and value of career & life management skills. He is a recipient of IEEE Millennium
and IEEE Region awards for his leadership.
Dru Reynolds Presentation
Title: Effective Networking: Finding "Hidden" Opportunities for Job Search and Career
Success
Abstract: Navigating in this rough economy and often lack-luster job market is no easy task.
Whether you are out of work, trying to weather the storm, or unsure of which way your career
winds are blowing, this talk is for you. Stand apart from the crowd - Don't do what everyone
else is doing! Learn why Networking is a critical piece in finding employment opportunities
and how best to utilize what is known as Social "Media."
Speaker Bio: Dru Reynolds has been in the employment / recruiting industry for more than 25 years and began her own
business when she was part of a RIF in 1998 and could not find a job. With some help from the State of NJ – a program
for entrepreneurs – she started her own recruiting company, Reynolds, Recruiters, working from her apartment and
specializing in RF/MW nationally. In addition to recruiting, she has been a consultant to the SBA of Monmouth County;
taught telephone techniques to inside sales staff; and was a sales rep for consulting services to the defense industry. Dru
attended Brookdale CC and Rutgers / Douglas. She is an active volunteer with the IEEE; serves as Region II coordinator
for the MTT society; and an active member of Women in Engineering. Her passion to bring encouragement and
enthusiasm for engineering to students was supported by the local group of WIE and Dru is delighted she was the
originator and moderator for “Engineering Career Day” NJ schools. Coaching @Dru Reynolds was conceived and
introduced as a response to the devastating unemployment situation, and the response has been great! Dru's motto is
"Professional help for anyone in need of a strong, creative approach to job searching."

Don Herres Presentations
Title: Resume Workshop: Create Resumes that Get You Hired
Abstract: A resume goes through many filters before being seen by a hiring manager.
Most people will look over a resume in about 20 seconds before deciding if it is worth
reading in detail. This is a marketing tool that is essential and you only get one chance to
get your message across. The resume should also be an extension of your on-line profile in
LinkedIn or a related site. A resume goes through many filters before being seen by a hiring
manager. Most people will look over a resume in about 20 seconds before deciding if it is
worth reading in detail. This is a marketing tool that is essential and you only get one
chance to get your message across.
Title: Interview Skills Workshop: Turning Interviews into Job Offers
Abstract: The typical interview starts with a phone screening. This needs as much preparation as you would for an in
person interview. Once you get to the in person interview, you need to be prepared for questions that may be irrelevant or
on subjects that you are not comfortable with. Remember, most interviewers are not professionally trained in interviewing.
It is your responsibility to make this a positive experience for the interviewer! The interview process does not end when
you leave the building. You need to follow up proactively.
Speaker Bio: Don Herres is the IEEE Region 1 Employment & Career Activities Coordinator. He has been involved with
Career Activities Workshops with IEEE for a number of years and was awarded an IEEE-USA Citation of Honor in 2006
for these efforts. Don has a BSEE from SUNY Buffalo, MSEE from Syracuse University and is a licensed Professional
Engineer in New York State. He has extensive experience in product design and manufacturing, holds 3 patents, and
recently retired from his full time paying job to work on his unpaid volunteer jobs. He also does contract electronic design
work.
Dr. Gloria Reinish Presentation
Title: Women in Engineering
Abstract:
The evolving role of women in the engineering profession will be discussed,
from the perspective of a woman whose engineering career spans a period of
almost 70 years. What was it like to be a woman engineer in the 40's, how have
things changed, and what does the future hold?
Speaker Bio: Dr. Gloria Brooks Reinish received the BS in Electrical
Engineering, MS in Electrical Engineering, and Doctor of Engineering Science
in Biomedical Engineering, all from the Columbia University School of
Engineering and Applied Science. (She was the first woman to obtain an
engineering degree from Columbia.) Dr. Reinish was a Member of Technical
Staff at Bell Telephone Laboratories, and a Research and Development
engineer at the Sperry Gyroscope Company, where she obtained a patent on a
precision ranging system for a long range radar application.
She retired from Sperry to start a family, raised three children (all engineers), and became a professor of Electrical
Engineering at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she has been teaching for the past 50 years. Dr. Reinish was a
consultant to the medical devices panel of the Food and Drug Administration, having done research on electrical
properties of bone, and on electrical stimulation of bone growth. She is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE (including WIE
and EMBS), a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers, and a member of Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, and Eta Kappa Nu.