Getting the Right Job FORREST A . ANDERSON

Wilkcns-Anderson Co., Chicaso, III.

whether you are a prospect he would want. Also you have decided whether you have made a mistake in seeking an interview. Further details may be handled by mail or others in the organization may need to be consulted, but probably the decision was made at that interview, whether you get word of it then or later.

Industry is interested in you if you know your field thoroughly and have had a good training. Industry wants your enthusi­asm, your interest and pride in your work, and your aggressiveness in carrying out work to a good conclusion. Industry also wants your good feeling and happiness in your work, for under such conditions you will do your best.

A wise laboratory director will do his utmost to see that all these objectives can be attained by you so far as they are in his ability to do so. The laboratory worker is charged with doing his share to make the situation one of mutual help. If you do not feel that you can contribute these things, then you are misplaced in an indus­trial laboratory, in fact misplaced in any chemical job.

Many candidates for positions have no idea about how to handle the salary ques­tion when seeking a job. A reprint of the material appearing in CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING NEWS, 20, 1622 (Dec. 25, 1942) should be placed in every graduate's hands before he starts looking for a posi­tion. That article, besides denning the requirements for the chemical profession, also makes minimum recommendations for starting salaries. Ethical employers are bound to meet these requirements.

Far too many applicants do not ask for even the minimum starting salary recom­mended. They are discounting and de­preciating their training and profession by so doing. Do not hesitate to state "what you know you should receive as a minimum starting salary and as a person trained for a specific scientific assignment. Do not hesitate to ask your interviewer before you close your talk what the salary limits are. Eventually you will have to agree on the salary question and in this both of you have to be fair.

To sum up:

1. Prepare your presentation carefully before you go to an interview.

2. Approach your interview calmly and prepare to show yourself in your best light—professionally and personally.

3. Speak coherently and enunciate clearly to be sure you are heard and under­stood.

4. Be complete in your presentation of all your qualifications.

5. Try to evaluate the position and laboratory before acceptance, if offered.

6. Try to convince your interviewer that you will be an asset to him in all respects.

7. D o not place too low a value on yourself, but equally important, be reason­able and fair in what you ask for a salary.

8. Finally, when you get your first, or any other job, give it the best you can in the way of interest, enthusiasm, agressive-ness, and enjoyment.

GETTING a job is as fundamental as bread and butter. In attempting a diagnosis

i t is necessary to consider three periods— Past, Present, and Future.

As veterans of those tragic years of de­pression we of the Chicago Section Em­ployment Group have given advice to many chemists in distress. Then there were no new positions, and those who had jobs were willing to work at reduced wages. Re-employment of large numbers of rou­tine and research workers between 1935 and 1937 occurred in many small and large concerns of the country.

I should like to pay tribute to the Em­ployment Clearing House of the A. C. S. and to Alden Emery and his staff of assist­ants. Through their intelligent planning and untiring efforts this feature has be­come the most popular single effort of the A. C. S. and the door through which many young men and women have received their first jobs.

This activity, started in April 1937 in a small room with the part-time services of one attendant, has grown until at recent meetings i t has required 7,000 to 8,000 square feet of floor space and the services of 20 to 25 assistants. It is a personal medium, and hence its success can be gaged by the number of interviews held. I n April 1942, 1,701 conferences were completed in Memphis; at the Buffalo meeting five months later, 1,793 inter­views were held. The number is rising steadily, and no one will be surprised if 2,000 are scheduled at this meeting1.

The value of the Employment Clearing House cannot be assessed statistically. I t gives every member a certain feeling of security to realize that this activity is available for use when needed, by all who support the work of the SOCIETY.

Placement (or Chemists A frank discussion of placement for men

and women chemists is the purpose of this paper. We will not paint the lily. A spade will be called a spade, and should any recognize skeletons from their per­sonal closet, they should profit by the ex­perience.

First and foremost there must be in­telligent planning and a vigorously exe­cuted campaign if proper placement at the best possible salary is to be obtained by the applicant. There are three major methods used in placing employable per­sons in available positions:

1. The job comes to the man, either at college or the Clearing House.

2. Letter writing in answer to want ads.

3. Personal calls.

Preparation and planning are necessary 1 Detroit had 2,108 interviews.

for the success of any or all of these methods. A careful self-analysis of train* ing is the first requisite.

The following suggestions will be helpful in all three methods of seeking a job. They were incorporated in an article pub­lished in the Register of Phi Lambda Up— silon under the title "Personality Develop­ment in the Educational Program".

1. Secure a correct and selected list of companies who are interested in men of your training.

2. Present a qualification record which puts forth concisely all the facts of your education.

3. Have information at hand about the business and products of the selected companies you are to visit.

4. Present yourself for your personal interview neatly dressed. Be on time.

5. Don't wear out your welcome, but take enough time to present all facts in an endeavor to bring the employer to a definite decision.

6. Summarize cleany all points and agreements before terminating the inter­view.

7. Make another appointment if the employer wishes you to return at a later date.

8. Exit courteously and avoid flat­tery.

9. The "follow-up" is important. Send a letter of thanks for the interview. Confirm the important dates and points of the discussion.

10. Persistence in selling yourself for a job i s necessary. Marketing manpower is no different from the selling of any other commodity.

The Job Conies to the Man Men and women with the better grades

ofV'i receive their positions through the Coiiege Placement Bureau. A good scho­lastic record and a careful presentation of the data attract attention in the Clearing House. In any interview arranged through a college placement bureau or the

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JOB CUIDS FOR SENIORS

DO's and DON'Ta for J o b Hunters

i r the job doesn* x come to you a t c o l l e g e , y o u h a v e two methods t o f o l l o w i n hunt ing one . . . . p e r s o n a l c a l l s and l e t t e r s

PERSONAL CALL wD0»s»»!

1 . P l a n a reaJ. job campaign, s e e a s many men each day a s p o s s i b l e . 2 . Keep h u s t l i n g , work a s hard to g e t t h e j o b , a s you hope t o a f t e r w a r d . 3 . A lways present a n e a t and p e r s o n a b l e a p p e a r a n c e . 4 . Ask f o r a s p e c i f i c Job . 5 . Know what you a r e g o i n g t o say beforehand and speak f o r c e f u l l y .

PERSONAL CALL "DON'Ts"!

1 . D o n ' t q u i t , n e v e r s a y d i e and don*t a p p l y to c o n c e r n s l a y i n g o f f men.

2 . Don' t be a f r a i d t o t e l l the world y o u n e e d a j o b . 3 . Don ' t c a l l on near ho lLdays , S a t u r d a y s o r Mondays. 4 . Don* t s a y you w i l l do a n y t h i n g or t a k e a n y o l d j o b . 5 . Don ' t o v e r l o o k a g e n c i e s , a d s . f r i e n d s o r p o l i t i c a l p u l l .

LSITER WRITING "DO's"!

1 . W r i t e t y p e w r i t t e n l e t t e r . 2 . Send t o a s p e c i f i c person i f p o s s i b l e . P e r s o n n e l D i r , , C h i e f C h e m i s t , e t c . 3 . E n c l o s e re-turn p o s t a g e . 4 . Give complete s t a t e m e n t o f f a c t s . High S c h o o l — C o l l e g e — e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r

a c t i v i t i e s * e t c . 5 . E n c l o s e f u l l f a c e photograph t o e v e r y worthwhi le prospec t .

LETTER WRITING "DON«Ts*»!

1 . Don' t w r i t e a long-hand l e t t e r . 2 . D o n ' t u s e h o t e l s t a t i o n e r y , s e l e c t good grade p l a i n p a p e r . 3 . D o n ' t f a i l t o e n c l o s e r e t u r n p o s t a g e t o worthwhi le p r o s p e c t s . 4 . D o n ' t f a i l t o make your l e t t e r c a r r y a b s o l u t e b e l i e f in t r a i n i n g

and s e l f a s a n i n v e s t m e n t . 5 . Don' t s e l l y o u r s e l f s h o r t .

From the desk o f FORHEST A. ANDERSON W i l k e n s - A n d e r s o n C o .

C h i c a g o 1 / 2 7 / 4 1 b

Employment Clearing House careful pres­entation of facts is essential. The princi­ples of personal interviews discussed in subsequent paragraphs apply equally to all conversations with a prospective em­ployer.

Letter Writ ins a s a n Art Letters and forms of application for a

position should be carefully considered. Item number one should be a good photo­graph of yourself printed on soft mat paper. Some which have come to my attention reminded me of an embalmer's assistant. ALL that is necessary is a good likeness, slightly front or side view, ap­proximately 2.5 X 3 inches in size.

Application forms should be full letter size, paper should be white and of good quality. Any printer can make 100 copies (planograph) at a cost of about $3.50. Many colleges now plan forms for the entire graduating class either as sepa­rate sheets or in book form. Typewritten forms are second chx>ice. Be sure you do not send a handwritten record of qualifica­tions. In addition, a personal letter should accompany the form when sub­mitted.

Business letter writing seems to be a lost art9 judging from the examples which have come to my attention in the past 10 years. Time and again I have been asked, "Where shall I find fitting words with a punch to express myself?" Read the ads of Kop-pers Co., Dow Chemical, Du Pont, Mon­santo, Commercial Solvents, Universal Oil Products Co., in the various journals published by the A. C. S. and you will find pungent copy with a nomenclature which you can understand. They are prepared by a highly trained staff of practical specialists.

Sources of Specialized Industry Listings

Specialized listings are available through all trade journals. Besides the A. C. S. Directory, there are the local section list­ings. There is the Food Technologist Register, the Cereal Chemist, the Oil and Qas Journal. The American Society for Metals, National Research Council's Bul­letin 103, the Chemical Engineering Catalog, and Chemical Industries Buyers' Guide. They may be found in any science library.

Helpful Tools for the Personal Interview

Helpful tools for personal interviews are two notebooks, size <& X 6 inches, which fit in your pocket. One should be alpha­betically arranged. The books can be purchased at any lO-ccnt store. Be sure to have a peu with imkand a pencil with a point. Many job seekers come with a tiny notebook or urabound sheets. Con­duct yourself i n an orderly manner and it will pay dividends.

Reams could be written, about person­ality, or the lack o»f it, particularly for scientifically trained people. Personality is that intangible something which makes a homely girl attractive or a gangling six footer an earnest and interesting speaker. The first characteristics an interviewer notices are those of appearance, facial ex­pression, voice, size?, nca/tness, and car­riage—ail are components of personality.

Since first judgments are hard to change, the prospect who makes a favorable first impression has a goo»d start toward favor­able consideration. Good grades are of course necessary. They are part of the basis of choice and arc a yardstick of ability. Your academic record serves as an index of your scholastic ability, but is not the whole story o»f placement.

Suggestions (or Your Interview Prepare yourself a s if you were going to

see your best girl. Bathe and put on a neatly pressed suit, a clean shirt with a starched collar, anci a barmonious tie.

Have your shoes shincd, your hair cut, and your finger naails clean. Let your dress bespeak confidiencc. In connection with clothing, I should say our women chemists are way ah«ead of men. A voice of pleasant quality which, speaks under­standable English is an asset. I t may be just the right touch to attract the atten­tion of the man abotat to interview you.

What the Personnel Man Wants to Know

The personnel placement man is a pur­chasing agent of ma-npower. He is look­ing for the best buys in chemists and laboratory help. Often applicants are overcome with frigfa*. Tlie first thing to remember is that the interviewer is human. Look him squarely im tho eyes. Tell your story straight, make it snort and to the point. B e sincere. Talk forcibly and clearly. Tell the trath arid know when to stop talking.

Salary Scale—Past, Present and Fufcure

If asked about salary at your interview state an amount whdeh you consider fair for a person of your degree and qualifica­tions. From 1930 to 1935 salaries for various grades of chemists were at a very low point.

I t was not unusual! for a, B.S. to start at $60 to $80 per monteh—an M.S. could get

1332 CH E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S

up to $125, if and when jobs were avail­able. PILD.'S were in a particularly bad spot as so many industrial organizations had discontinued research and dismissed many of the old as well as the new men. In 1936 the wage scale advanced and be­cause of a heavier demand and an indus­trial up-swing in 1937, salaries for all grades took a decided jump. At this time the average was $120 for a B.S. while an M.S. received $150 to $175. Ph.D.'s were averaging $210, starting salary. At the St. Louis meeting, salaries actuated by demand rose and at Memphis, B.S. men with some experience received as much as $200 starting salary. M.S. and Ph.D/s at present can just about name their own salaries. As many as 10 jobs have been offered to one candidate. Conditions such as these can never be considered healthy. On the other hand, it would be a pity to return to the low wages and bad condi­tions surrounding the chemist in the gloomy 30's. I t is interesting to observe that whenever and wherever the chemist has become the superintendent, manager, or owner of a business, whether large or small, wages and working conditions for laboratory workers have defim «ly improved.

What the "Research Director Expects from Scientifically Trained He lp"

A resume, given by Dr. Whitmore, Sept. 10, 1936, at the A. C. S. Pittsburgh meeting* describes the qualities desired in technical employees:

1. A good member of an organization. All relations of the chemist to other mem­bers of the statT, even down to the jani­tors and nontechnical men, should be tempered with restraint and a sense of fair play. Common sense is a prime requi* site. The chemist must have tact, but not be a yes-man. The golden rule must be observed by all.

2. Certain spiritual and mental quali­ties. The chemist must face facts hon­estly. He must do his own thinking and maintain a critical attitude on data, es­pecially his own. He should be loyal to ideals and to the group. A "sense of humor and proportion should be developed. He must get rid of complexes. He must be versatile, use common sense, develop a cost sense, learn to accept responsibility, and cultivate originality. Optimism should be controlled. Neat habits in work, thought, and dress are important. He should seek accomplishments and be a self starter with enthusiasm and driving power.

3 . Technical skill is necessary in lab­oratory work. A chemist must compile accurate and complete data and present oral and written reports with accuracy, clarity, and judgment. He must learn to write at least fairly concise English; punc­tuation often has helped the meaning tremendously.

4. What about knowledge? A well-organized amount of knowledge must be maintained in a readily usable form as correlated facts, not just theories. The chemist must use common sense. The ideal chemist is a person of health "who works hard and intelligently.

Postwar Problems

Dislocations are bound to occur after the war is won and we must begin to plan now. There are people who say we can­not afford to have our attentions diverted from the serious business of winning the war. I cannot follow this line of reason­ing. In a democracy we should not be like the ostrich with his head in the sand. We must plan and make provisions for the future. It is this hope of something better which actuates all our moves.

After the war hundreds of poorly and partially trained chemists and technical men should be prepared to go back to col­lege for a better education. Many of our munitions plant laboratories are manned with junior college youngsters working a t fantastic salaries. Some so-called chief chemists are men with one or two years of college training. They will be a problem. Statistics prove that a master's or doc­tor's degree in the various branches of chemistry for the man who has what i t takes, will pay dividends.

No one knows how long the war will last or how fast industry can reabsorb idle chemists. Slack periods will occur. This '-as always meant throwing men out of work. In some industries the transition may be faster than in others.

What of Women Chemists? In past years the question of women

chemists has been a difficult one. During the present emergency many have been taken on as analysts and technicians. Many undoubtedly will be retained, but in many instances the factors of former years are bound to prevail. I have made a point of asking directors of research, "What will happen to women chemists in the slack seasons we are sure to have?" The reply has been unanimous and in­variably identical. "They will find some man on the staff they like and 50 per cent or more will get married." That is what they say, and out of many years' experi­ence I can suggest that it is a fair answer to the question. This is a changing world, however, and my guess is that more women chemists will be retained by indus­try than in former years.

T N THESE unusual days a new employ-ment situation has developed, a sort of

"seller's market" in technically trained manpower. Under such circumstances the chemist seeking a job may find himself with three or four good offers of employ­ment. This article suggests a list of points which may be considered in comparing jobs.

Much has been written under the head of vocational guidance to help one select

Every A. C. S. Section, whether large or small, should appoint one* man or a com­mittee, to be concerned with the problems of employment. Oncoa year at section meetings, one speaker, preferably a per­sonnel director from industry, might give the address of the evening. If preferred, an Employment Symposium could be organized. The food tcchuiologists recog­nized the pressing need for this type of discussion and had a symposium of six speakers at their Minneapolis meeting on "Educational Requirements for Food Chemists and Technologists".

Also, a t every spring and fall meeting o the A. C. S., personnel and research direc­tors could state their requirements on kindred subjects in the seaxch for scientific personnel.

The pressing problem o»f adjustment is the reorganization of the structure of pro­duction for the transfer of goods and services. It i s precisely here that new-frontiers of American life* will be found-Older fields of activities may be reshaped as new products and materials come for­ward.

If we can figure out a way of financing what our fathers thought were luxuries,, then the job of producing necessities will take care of itself. To d o this we need more and better trained people and tools.

I t is a criminal folly to avssume that war materiel production is a permanent factor of our economic life. It will come to an end, and when it does the slump will be extremely serious. If the chemical indus­try has mapped out a plan for research in the service industries, we may take up some of the dangerous slack. Many lines will be in the doldrums. INot even manu­facturing in industry will experience an evenly spread improvement. We must continue to seek a desirable future and we can do more than that. We must invade the unknown. Be valiant, chemists. Be unafraid, but above all things be prepared.

r The two preceding papin vr«rapresented as a symposium over which Fraralc C. Whitmore presided at the Detroit Mtttliks of the Ameri­can Chemical Society, April 1 2 , 1 9 4 3 .

a life work; say as between research chemist and traveling salesman. There are like­wise many published aids *»o self-analysis, how to sell oneself, how t o get a job, etc. But there is very little of assistance for the man who, during the current scarcity of chemists, is faced with the pleasant prob­lem of choosing the best of several good jobs offered.

So long as the national emergency exists, the first consideration of every worker

Choosing between Jobs L. WAYNE DONALDSON

2680 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich.

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