Importance of Early Career Success and Mentoring in Career Development

1
Importance of Early Career Success and Mentoring
in Career Development

• Georgia Tech Visit 4/12/07
• Eugene M. Roundtree

2
Overview

• What I Do for ExxonMobil
• Job History How did I get to this position?
• Getting off to a good start in the workplace
• Success factors
• Mentoring

3
What do I do for ExxonMobil?

• I am a Licensing Manager in the Technology Sales
  Licensing Department of ExxonMobil Research
  Engineering Co.
• Chemical Engineer Distinguished Engg Associate
• 32 years of experience with EMRE
• As a Licensing Manager my role involves
• Marketing and licensing of proprietary refining
  technologies
• Refining technology development and portfolio
  management
• Project management of basic engineering for
  refining projects
• Chairman of the Professional Development
  Committee of the Black Employee Success Team
  (BEST)

4
Career History How did I get to this position?

• B.S. ChE from Northeastern University in Boston
  (1975)
• Selected NU for co-op program, near home and
  mentor in faculty
• Co-oped for 4 years with Arthur D. Little
  (Consulting Research)
• Developed a passion for engineering management
  and research
• Joined Exxon Corporation in 1975
• Had the option of working in a refinery or
  research engineering
• Selected research engineering in N.J.
• Exxon internal management development was key
  factor for me.

5
Career History

• 1975 1978 Hydroprocessing Section
• 1978 1980 Planning Engineering Coal
  Utilization
• 1980 1983 Fluid Cat Cracking Licensing
  Group Head
• 1983 1985 FCC Specialist in London
  Office
• 1985 1987 Planning Engineering
• 1987 1989 Fluid Cat Cracking Licensing
  Group Head
• 1989 1991 Gas Processes Section
  Section Head
• 1992 1996 Coking Section Head
• 1996 Present Technology Sales Licensing

6
Getting Off to a Good Start in the Workplace

• Keys to managing the transition from academic to
  professional life
• Recognizing key differences between college and
  workplace
• Developing an personal transition plan for the
  first year
• Identifying key success factors in your new
  organization

7
Key Changes from Academic to Professional Life
8
A Twelve Step Process for a First Year Plan
9
Learning an Organizations Success Factors is a
Key to Achieving Success

• FACTORS IMPACTING SUCCESS AND CAREER MOBILITY AT
  ERE (Findings of Upward Mobility Survey)
• Projects / Assignments
• Company priority / significance Financial /
  Bottom Line Impact
• Clearly defined early assignments in one's area
  of expertise
• Scope, timing, sequence
• Communication
• Written Writing Skills
• Oral / presentation Skills
• Developmental options Communication Skills /
  Organizational Savvy
• Visibility and Exposure
• Being seen by others (e.g., upper management,
  professional organizations, affiliates)
• Seeing others Role models, exposure to others
  in meetings and work settings

10
Success Factors (Contd)

• Recognition
• Timing and method of performance feedback
• Accuracy and consistency
• Promotions and career development
• Mentorship / Sponsorship
• Relationship (presence or absence)
• Nature and timing of guidance
• Knowledge of organization and opportunities
• Social and Political Interactions
• Support groups Presence or absence of network
  organizations,
• such as BEST, GOAL or WIN
• Formal / informal Doing business in the
  office/traveling and in social settings
• Acceptance / non-acceptance in social circles

11
The Benefits of Being Mentored

• Benefit from another persons vision, experience
  and learning
• Gain insight into the organizational culture
  appropriate behaviors
• Continue personal learning growth
• Be more involved in whats going on
• Get help focusing on career plans and career
  moves
• Experience a non-threatening climate to test
  ones ideas, skills and viewpoints
• Become energized by achievement, mastery and
  personal growth
• Grow in personal power, ability and confidence
• Remain mentally alert and valuable to the
  organization

12
BEST Mentoring Program

• Vision
• To assist the personal and professional
  development of each member through mentoring and
  provide an avenue for them to successfully mentor
  others based on their own experience and
  expertise.
• Benefits
• Provides an opportunity to build relationships
• Provides an opportunity to have a direct impact
  on another employee (share learnings)
• Increases our ability to recruit and retain
  employees within ExxonMobil

13
Mentoring Program Approach

• Structured
• One year duration (formal)
• Defined mentor/protégé pairing process
• Clear roles and responsibilities for mentor
  protégé
• Suggested discussion topics
• Action Plans

14
BEST Mentoring Career Stages
15
Suggested discussion topics for monthly meetings

• Goals of relationship
• Tentative schedule
• Personal and career growth
• Understanding ExxonMobil
• Organizational trends and culture
• Unfamiliar parts of organization
• Company values, norms, preferences
• Formal and informal lines of communication
• Behaviors that contribute to success
• Advice on acquisition of professional skills
• Assimilation and/or transition issues

16
References

• Key Resources for this presentation
• How to Succeed in Your First Job by Elwood F.
  Horton III and Sharon S. Naquin
• Making the Most of Being Mentored by Gordon F.
  Shea
• Other useful references for early career success
  and mentoring
• How to Be a Star at Work by Robert E. Kelley
• Mentoring by Gordon F. Shea
• Making Mentoring Happen by Kathy Lacey

17
How to Be a Star at Work
18
Questions and Group Discussion