Choose a Company with Employee Development

How important is a company’s dedication to employee development when choosing your career path? Although such training may not be in the fore front of your career decision making, consider the effect employee development may have on your overall job satisfaction.

Two decades of private industry and academic research, summarized in 2010 by Tim Lohrentz of the National Network of Sector Partners, confirms that employee development can improve employer bottom-line profitability by increasing revenues and lowering expenses.

Many employers are skeptical about investing in employee development. Why not, reason many executives, just hire employees with the strengths to fill the jobs? That is a common miscalculation.

The measurements come from a variety of methods including surveys, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, tests, observation and performance records. A review of the employee development literature reveals the links to profitability in the following five main ways:

• Increased ability to take advantage of innovation

• Increased levels of employee engagement

• Reduced rate of employee absenteeism

• Increased quality of work or service

• Increased productivity

Employee development can also make you a happier employee. In 2008, HR World magazine reported on a study conducted by Spherion Atlantic Enterprises LLC, a staffing firm, in which 6 out of 10 respondents who received development or mentoring said they were very likely to remain with their current employer for the next five years.

Independent research by a local employer of 21,000 confirms the national trends.

“At Qualcomm, we’ve conducted two separate metrics studies of employees who worked with our internal career coaches to align their development with natural talents, interests, and motivators,” says Ed Hidalgo, senior director of staffing at Qualcomm and chairman of the Workforce Investment board of the San Diego Workforce Partnership. “We were excited to find a positive impact on employee engagement and statistically significant increases in performance across two review periods, when these employees were compared against a control group.”

The Conference Board reported that in a survey of 500 CEOs, 98 percent reported at least one business benefit from workplace development. One-third reported a reduction in absenteeism and another 40 percent said that employee development led to increased employee retention.

Hidalgo adds: “The Gallup organization, for example, has gathered some pretty compelling metrics that Qualcomm has taken notice of: higher productivity, higher profitability, higher customer service scores, lower absenteeism, better safely records, etc. in its studies of 32,000 business units that focused on employee development that is ‘strengths-based.’”

Bottom line: companies that thrive do not solely rely on the strengths employees arrive with in today’s competitive business world.

Focus On Instructors: Al Whitley

“As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.” ~ Norman Foster

Al Whitley has taught for UC San Diego Extension for 25 years, and is a principal at WhitleyGroup, an architectural practice that provides specialized CAD and BIM support for commercial, biotech and government projects. He and his staff have received numerous awards for their work on project efficiency optimization, project documentation and computer visualization. He teaches an array of classes for UC San Diego Extension, including AutoCAD, 3DS Max, and Revit. We invite you to take a moment and learn a bit about Al and his work in the industry.

How did you get started in the CAD business?

I had just gotten out of the US Navy, as a Supply Corps Officer. Always wanting to be an architect, I put my resume on the street. An architect called me for an interview. We met–and he said, “I’m willing to give you a job, but you’ll be working on a computer, and using this new software program called AutoCAD.” Well, of course, I said “yes,” and started working on AutoCAD version 1.0. At the time, there were about seven firms in San Diego using AutoCAD.

What is your all-time favorite project and why?

Most of the work we do at our office involves BIM Facilitation, where we work closely with design/build teams, virtually (in 3D) resolving construction issues before the projects are built. My staff and the technology solutions we use are pretty amazing, and I’m thrilled to be involved in process–but my all-time favorite project is a retreat we recently completed in the local Cuyamaca mountains. The owners are “regulars” at the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. They enjoy the work of (architect) Gilbert Stanley Underwood and wanted their retreat to express the pleasure they experience when visiting the Ahwahnee and others Lodges that Mr. Underwood designed. So, I had to do my background research, and spent a few months traveling to Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Zion and at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to enjoy Mr. Underwood’s designs (not to mention hiking in those wonderful National Parks). The project in Cuyamaca uses the “Parkitecture” vocabulary–and I was able to use the technologies we have on hand at the office to show the clients their retreat before it was built; to get real-time design feedback using GoTo software to fine-tune the design while we were online together; to optimize energy efficiency, maximize views, integrate passive solar design, and to create many wonderful architectural details virtually–and then a few months later, to see those design solutions being built in the real world. Now that the project is completed, one of the coolest things is that the technologies we used are invisible–but when you visit the retreat, you are taken back in time, you enjoy a slower pace–and the fact that there are deer and bobcat living in the forest alongside the retreat makes the project very, very special.

What are the key elements to include in a robust CAD portfolio?

My first question is “What is CAD?” If you think of CAD as only 2D project documentation (Computer-Aided Drafting), you’re really selling CAD short. CAD is “Computer Aided Design.” The technology itself is robust–and its breadth includes drafting, documentation, building information modeling (BIM), design visualization, energy analysis, simulation and virtual design and construction (VDC) solutions. Today, a CAD-literate person knows AutoCAD, Revit, 3dsMax and many other CAD-based programs. Autodesk, the parent company of AutoCAD, has done an excellent job of evolving and standardizing the user interface across all of their programs–once you learn the interface in one program, you feel at home in their other programs. If you want to learn CAD, start with AutoCAD–as you gain more exposure to the technology, you’ll understand how you want to increase your skills with other Computer Aided Design technologies.

What are three key pieces of advice you’d give to aspiring CAD students?

Pay attention to detail, practice, and keep an open mind–to maximize your use of the software’s potential. The people who take our AutoCAD, Revit and 3dsMax classes have professions which are quite varied. The people who succeed using CAD are detail-oriented. CAD is a tool. You use CAD to convey your design. If you are in the construction industry, you need to understand construction and use AutoCAD and Revit to communicate your design. If you’re in theatre design, then you’ll want to learn 3dsMax to convey the lighting you’ll be using on stage. CAD is applicable to many professions. Some of our students are mature, and they bring some significant non-CAD experience to the table. Their strength is their professional experience–and CAD is the tool they are using within their profession. Think of CAD as part of your professional development. The technology will always be evolving and you’ll always be learning.

Learn more and enroll >

An Algal Bloom in the Biofuel Industry

San Diego is widely recognized as one of the world’s leaders in biofuels research and development. An analysis, conducted by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), found that for the algal biofuels sector alone, the industry provides the region with 410 direct jobs and $56 million in direct economic activity and $108 million in total economic activity annually.

Yes, algae, the substance known to many as “pond scum,” may one day be the fuel that powers U.S. automobiles.

“That’s what petroleum is – it’s ancient algae,” said Dr. Stephen Mayfield , a professor of biology at UC San Diego and director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology. “Algae already makes oil that looks like crude oil. The oil we extract from algae goes directly into a refinery and gets converted into diesel or gasoline.”

If algae is to be the solution for America’s pain at the gas pump, more trained workers are needed to make that a reality. Educational opportunities exist for those that are interested in an entry level job (see MiraCosta College’s options) and those with experience in chemistry or biology that are interested in laboratory-based work or in positions supporting this growing industry (check out UC San Diego Extension‘s biofuel certificate).

“These programs not only train workers for new jobs in the local economy, it will eventually help our nation become less dependent on foreign oil,” said Mayfield. “The bioenergy sector will eventually be creating millions of jobs nationwide. Our biggest challenge will be to keep those jobs in California.”

“It’s critical that we build the research and development infrastructure for the biofuels industry here,” said Mayfield. “Right now, we have a head start on the rest of the world and we can’t afford to lose that.”

Career Info Nights Featured at Science and Engineering Festival

By Henry DeVries

”It’s never too late to fall in love with science and engineering,” says Steve Briggs, a plant biologist and faculty member at UC San Diego, who started out as an English major until a botany class convinced him to switch his focus.

Briggs has also served as the chief scientist for The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering (formerly known as the San Diego Science Festival), which features interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and dynamic speakers to engage kids and families in science and engineering.

For those interested in science and business careers, the festival offers a free career development week.  There will be three free open house information events sponsored by UC San Diego Extension from 5 to 8 pm March 26-28. The events take place at the UC San Diego Extension University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Drive, near the Governor Drive exit off I-805.

Tuesday, March 26 will be Life Sciences and Healthcare Night. The event will feature a recruiter’s roundtable on the life sciences and healthcare industries. There will be panels on careers in substance abuse counseling, healthcare IT, clinical research and regulatory affairs, industrial biotechnology, biostatistics and case management.

Wednesday, March 27 will be Business Night. There will be panels on careers in business management, project management, fundraising, finance, facilities management, human resources, six sigma, sustainability and accounting.

Thursday, March 28 will be Information Technology and Engineering Night. There will be panels on careers in digital arts, computer and cyber security, systems engineering in medical device product development, mobile software development, industrial and environmental engineering, energy efficiency and building automation systems and data mining.

To find out more or to register for a career development night, visit the website at http://extension.ucsd.edu/events/openhouse/

Because there is a nationwide shortage of college graduates entering science, technology, engineering and math careers, the mission of The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering is to inspire San Diego’s youth and career changers to get involved in these rewarding fields. Through interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and engaging speakers, the festival shows people of all backgrounds that they have the potential to become tomorrow’s leading innovators.

More than 55,000 kids, parents, scientists, educators, job seekers and community members participate in annual festival events. Hundreds of community businesses and organizations present more than 35 events throughout the county March 16-28, highlighted by an Expo Day at Petco Park from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, March 23. Details are on the website at www.sdsciencefestival.org.

Going Green is the New Gold

Green is the gold standard in modern business, as industry leaders look for new and improved ways to implement sustainable strategies into their day-to-day operations.

The green economy is growing and includes 3.1 million jobs in America, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. California had the highest amount with 338,400, followed by New York (248,500) and Texas (229,700). The report noted that manufacturing hires in the green economy account for nearly 500,000 jobs, “the most among any private sector industry,” according to BLS.

So what exactly does it mean to go green? For business, going green means changing the way you provide products and services to reduce the negative impact to the earth. It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the concepts of climate change, environmentally sustainable (renewable) resources and being held accountable for the human resource aspects of your activities.

For many companies, green is a journey, not a destination. To help with the decisions along the way, UC San Diego Extension offers a Sustainable Business Practices certificate that focuses on the new three Rs of green jobs: reduce, reuse and recycle.

“No matter what your industry or area of expertise, there are various steps you can take to reduce the negative impact of your business on the environment,” says Vicki Krantz, assistant dean at UC San Diego Extension. “We see sustainability as the marriage of wanting to be good stewards of the planet and making a profit.”

San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies continues to create job training and education for the green workforce with its four green-related online certificate programs. They include Green Building Construction, Green Energy Management, Residential and Commercial Sustainable Practices, and Water Management and Landscape Sustainability.

For more information on the green programs offered through SDSU, visit www.NeverStopLearning.net/green or email wevers@mail.sdsu.edu.

Career Strategy Session—Negotiating What You Want at Work and in Life

UC San Diego Extension’s Center for Life/Work Strategies is offering a new quarterly series to help professionals succeed in their careers. These free Career Strategy Sessions will feature a series of subject matter experts speaking on a variety of topics around job and personal growth.

According to the Harvard Business Review only 45% of people are satisfied with their jobs. The majority need to know there are ways to feel happier with work.

Everyone is faced with opportunities to negotiate on a regular basis.

On January 15^th at 9:30 a.m. at UCSD Extension’s University City Center, career coach and Extension instructor, Camille Primm, will lead a career strategy session on negotiating how to get more of what you want at work and in life.

Primm brings to our attention that “everyone is faced with opportunities to negotiate on a regular basis.”  Her workshop will teach tips for collaborating that can be applied in any work or life scenario requiring give and take. Primm’s practical approach walks you through scenarios where you have the opportunity to negotiate and collaborate. You’ll learn skills to become a better negotiator and boost your confidence along the way.

The Career Strategy Session is free to attend, but pre-registration is recommended.
Register now

Camille Primm is an award-winning career and performance strategist. She is author of Learning the Ropes: The Insider’s Guide to Winning at Work; and contributor to Discover Your Inner Strength. Camille is a graduate of Longwood University in Virginia and her training and consulting practice, Primm and Partners, is based in San Diego, CA.

The Center for Life/Work Strategies is committed to providing resources to help individuals think about their career success and satisfaction, and take control of their future for a rewarding life.

Career Boost Camp Inspires Professionals to Seek Best Job for Their Skill Set

UC San Diego Alumni and UC San Diego Extension’s Center for Life/Work Strategies have teamed up to offer an inspirational and eye-opening “Career Boost Camp” that will take your career to the next level. Executives, managers and recent grads will gain a new sense of control and a conviction to energize their work style, create unique value and build a blueprint to take control of their lives.

The Career Boost Camp will take place Saturday June 2nd, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the UC San Diego Institute of the Americas conference hall. Registration is $10 per person and includes breakfast and a raffle ticket for books and Extension workshops. Parking is free (recommended parking at N. Torrey Pines and Pangea Dr.).

Kicking off the morning session is Associate Vice Chancellor, Armin Afsahi, which will be followed by keynote address from Will Marré, Co-Founder of the Covey Leadership Center and Emmy-Award Winner.

According to Marré’s research, only 19 percent of professionals today are truly satisfied with their careers. He will share with you ways people are thriving in today’s job market by turning their talents and passions into value to maximize their opportunities, earnings and fulfillment.

A panel of entrepreneurs and UCSD alumni will share their journeys to building successful businesses. The experiences of these innovators range from career entrepreneurs to an alumnus who decided to start his own business after years in industry. Moderated by Lisa Gordon, San Diego Small Business Ambassador, the session will include stories from Erik Maki ’08, Founder of Maki Longboards, Joon Han ‘96, Business Strategist, and Elizabeth Kaplan ‘88, Founder of The Pure Pantry.

U-T San Diego Job & Career Columnist and Co-Author of Closing America’s Job Gap, Henry DeVries, ’79, will discuss how to grow companies and land good jobs in the age of innovation. Interviewer Elizabeth Gibson, Advisor to UC San Diego Extension’s Career Transition & Development for Professionals Program, will share her perspective along with Henry on what it takes to secure a job along a successful career path.

The event’s closing session will feature Christine Didonato, Director, Talent & Organizational Development, Sony Electronics. She’ll address the tough questions many professionals experience today: how do you get developed and promoted in a time when organizations are in the midst of constant change and have limited resources?  Through her 7 Must-Have Mindsets™ Didonato will help you to understand the unspoken beliefs to give you an edge and accelerate career progression.

To register for this thought-provoking and insightful Career Boost Camp event, visit http://alumni.ucsd.edu/careerboost.

Questions? Contact ksears@ucsd.edu or (858) 534-8178.

Free Workshops at Career Development Night, 3/22

UC San Diego Extension will host its 4^th annual Career Development Night, where attendees can sit in on free workshops, meet Extension program managers, and learn how they can advance their careers. The event takes place this Thursday, March 22^nd, 5:00-7:30 p.m. at UC San Diego Extension’s University City Center, off the I-805 at Governor Dr. (map).

Will Marré, inspiring thought-leader and co-founder of the Steven Covey Leadership Center, will teach you how to tap into your potential to land a successful career you love in his 5:15 p.m. session. Today only 19% of us are satisfied with our careers, but you can change that. Discover how people are thriving in today’s job market by turning their talents and passions into value to maximize their opportunities, their earnings, and fulfillment. Take Marré’s Career Quiz to see if this session is right for you. Or, sign up for his 3-session class, which starts Thursday, April 12^th: How Your Unique Design Will Help You Reboot Your Career.

Phil Blair, CEO of Manpower will be speaking at 6:30 p.m. on Strategies for Success: What HR Won’t Tell You. His pragmatic, insightful and entertaining presentation will address the three essentials you need to know for every job search and interview. As one of San Diego’s most visible and respected business leaders, Blair will share with you how to read between the lines and discover what HR is really looking to find.

Additional speakers at Career Development Night include, Tom Greifendorff from Mitchell International, James Gharib, Senior Director of Technology Development from NuVasive, Natasha Balac, Director of Data Applications from the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and Recruiters from Time Warner Cable, ESET, HD Supply, Life Technologies and SAIC.

Career Development Night attendees will receive vouchers for $25 off a spring course enrollment.*

*Discount restrictions apply: Discount valid only for those who attend the event (attendance is recorded at check-in table).  Discount applies only to Spring 2012 courses in the following areas of study: Business, Engineering, Law, Leadership and Management Development, Life Sciences, and Information Technology. Expires Friday, March 30, 2012.

To sign up for Thursday’s event, visit extension.ucsd.edu/careernight.

Quiz: Is My Career Right For Me?

By Will Marre

Research confirms that your career is the cornerstone of your personal well-being. Yet sadly less than two in ten people are fully engaged with their work.

Take this short, 10-question quiz to see if your career is right for you. This spring’s new course, “How Your Unique Design Will Help You Reboot Your Career,”  course could transform your life.

Discover where to invest your time and energy to attain your best future.

Quiz:

1. Do you find yourself looking forward to going to work?
   Yes, frequently
   No or very rarely

2. Do you consistently engage yourself in new activities that make your work more fulfilling and enjoyable?
   Yes, every week or every other week
   No or very rarely

3. Do you work with good friends that you trust and encourage you?
   Yes
   No, not really

4. Are you actively developing your strengths and talents to get more out of work and life?
   Yes, consistently
   No

5. Do you have a low stress work style that is enjoyable in terms of its pace, variety, and growth?
   Yes, usually
   No, rarely

6. Do you usually have high energy and feel fit and healthy?
   Yes, usually
   No, not as often as I’d like

7. Are you in a highly satisfying relationship with your boss that makes you feel valued and affirmed?
   Yes
   No

8. Are you frequently coming up with and taking action on new, creative ideas to make both your work and your life better?
   Yes, frequently
   No, rarely

9. Are you clear that the career you’re investing yourself in is the right one for you?
   Yes, I am clear and happy
   No, I often wonder about it

10. Do you have an excellent coach or expert friend that helps you make great decisions about your work and your life?
    Yes, I talk to him/her every week
    No, I try to figure it out on my own

Score:
# No
# Yes

This quiz is based on the forces of the new science of Life Harmony, which studies human thriving when our careers, relationships, and lifestyle are aligned.

Understanding Your Score

• If your Yes score is 9 or above: Congratulations.  You are in the top 10% of people who are thriving in their work and consistently taking action to keep their life progressing in a fulfilling and rewarding direction. Why you should take the class: As a hungry learner your thirst for development will be maximized by the quick and efficient tips, techniques, and insights you will receive over three fast paced sessions.  And you will likely enjoy encouraging and inspiring others to achieve what you’re achieving.
• If your Yes score is 7 or 8: Be encouraged.  You are very close to having self-inspiring career.  Your score means you have a lot of things right and just a series of small, consistent changes may add up to a big change in how you feel about your career.  Your score may reveal a certain area you can focus on that the new skills and science based know-how that you will learn from the course will help you conquer.  You are close.  Join us.
• If your Yes score is 6 or below: You are a member of a very big club of the vast majority of people who are suffering every day with stress and uncertainty wondering what to do.  Our “Reboot” course is designed to free you from the little, invisible mistakes you are likely making and give you the power to change your work, improve your performance, and remodel your career into a more fulfilling, and enjoyable one virtually every day.  Our Career Center is a growing community of people just like you that are making positive, life-fulfilling changes every day.  There will never be a better time to free yourself from whatever is in your way.

Will Marre’s next class, “How Your Unique Design Will Help You Reboot Your Career,” begins Thursday, April 12th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at UCSD Extension University City Center, 6256 Greenwich Dr., San Diego.  The class meets three times (4/12, 4/23 and 5/7).  Fee is $95, and includes eight assessments. Parking is free.

Will Marré is the co-founder and former president of the Covey Leadership Center where he translated the concepts of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into powerful leadership courses taught to millions of executives worldwide.   Today Will is an evangelist of socially strategic enterprise that transforms Corporate Social Responsibility into Corporate Social Opportunity. Will is founder and CEO of ThoughtRocket, a learning community systematically designed to center your life around your personal purpose so that you have enriching work, fulfilling relationships, and a lifestyle of full engagement. Read more about Will

UC San Diego Extension’s Center for Life/Work Strategies is a nexus of resources to help professionals manage their short and long-term career paths. As the job market has fundamentally changed, so must the way in which people approach their employment—it’s up to individuals to understand and build upon their strengths and develop a plan to meet their career goals.  Workshops, assessments, coaching and online careers resources are available at extension.ucsd.edu/careers.

Will the REAL Lean Enterprise Please Stand Up?

By Jerry Wright

It’s been nearly 3 decades since the continuous improvement management system known as “lean” really began in the corporate world. Lean essentially means without waste and seeks to create value for the customer. Anything that does not add value in the eyes of the customer is waste and should be eliminated or at least reduced. Initially, lean was heavily focused in the automotive industry but has since moved to all industry, the service sector and now even government and health care. This would sound great, but there’s a dark cloud in front of the silver lining.

Many supposed lean enterprises have done all of the right things: they have hired lean consultants to provide training, they have conducted Kaizen (Japanese for Continuous Improvement) events, completed workplace organization (known as 5S) and even created standard work. Yes, these are some of the key foundations of a lean enterprise. However, as most seasoned lean veterans will tell you, this can be nothing more than window dressing. One can visit numerous facilities and see what looks like a very clean, well-organized and seemingly disciplined business that calls itself lean. Upon further examination, you may find a sluggish set of processes that are still laden with busy work that really does not create any value for the customer.

So, how can you cut through the façade and understand if the business really is becoming lean? Well, the “real” lean enterprises will tell you that while they have made good progress, they still have much to improve. Lean is a “journey” and not a destination. That being said, dig a little deeper on some key measures. Are quality complaints trending downward? Are inventory turns improving? Are customer satisfaction measures collected, posted and are their issues being addressed? Is production based on actual customer demand (meaning do we only build to order or replace inventory only when sold)? Is the business actually profitable? If the measures are accurate, these can tell you a lot.

Last, let your eyes tell you the real story in the production or value-creating process. Is there only one piece of work or order in process per person? Or do you see “batches” of work being pushed from one person or area to another? The latter is undesirable, as you may guess. Do employees follow very specific work routines and almost appear as though they are choreographed or is it a little chaotic? Each day our work will have variation but we should have more of a theater production rather than a hockey game in our important business processes per quality guru and author Phillip Crosby. Both may be fun to watch, he states, but one has a rather predictable outcome and the other does not.

Would you like to be able to spot “fake” flow and understand what a lean enterprise really is? Attend a free information session about UC San Diego Extension’s Lean Enterprise Certificate Program on February 28, 2012.  The Spring 2012 program begins March 13, 2012.  Applications are now being accepted.

Register for the Lean Enterprise Information Session >
Learn more and apply for the Lean Enterprise Certificate Program >

Jerry Wright, MBA, PE, is the Academic Coordinator and Lead Instructor for UC San Diego Extension’s Lean Enterprise Certificate Program.  Jerry is currently the Vice President of Lean and Enterprise Excellence at the DJO headquarters in Vista, California. He was one of the key change leaders that helped to introduce lean thinking and transformed the company from a traditional batch and queue manufacturer to a world-class, lean enterprise.  He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.  Jerry is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California and the holder of one U.S. patent.  He is also the Chair of the Southern California Lean Network, an association of more than 50 companies that meet bimonthly to share best practices in lean, excellence and continuous improvement.