Jump-start Your Career

If you ask Susan Gerbeth-Jones how to get ahead at Duke, she says, "feet first."

Gerbeth-Jones, who recently accepted a new position as assistant dean for information technology at the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, used her feet to describe her small steps and big leaps in life during a meeting of Duke Toastmasters Club, an organization that helps people become better public speakers.

"In my new role, I have to make more presentations and speak in front of groups, and I wanted to be ready," she said.

So Gerbeth-Jones took another step, this one for professional development. She joined Toastmasters, where she makes speeches, receives constructive feedback and practices conducting meetings.

Professional development is on the minds of many at Duke: it's a recurring theme in the Women's Initiative report; it's cited among the top reasons for coming to Duke; and it crops up in questions at gatherings such as Primetime, last November's employee forum.

Primetime with Clint Davidson

Where is your career headed at Duke? Explore professional development resources available at Duke with Clint Davidson, vice president for human resources, and other HR leaders during Primetime. The employee forum, sponsored by Working@Duke and Duke Today, is at noon Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Bryan Center's Griffith Theater. Refreshments provided.

Duke has expanded programs and benefits to promote professional development. In 2003, Duke launched the Professional Development Institute (PDI) with specialized programs to prepare employees for expanded roles. In 2005, the university introduced a new performance management process that creates goals and a development plan for each employee. And last fall, Duke announced a new tuition assistance benefit that provides up to $5,000 in reimbursement annually for classes at Duke or other accredited schools in North Carolina.

"We have so many inherent resources and opportunities for professional development," said Clint Davidson, vice president for Human Resources. "The challenge is helping people understand and connect with what's available."

Sally Allison, manager for PDI, said professional development is much more than taking a class or attending a conference.

"It can be reading the newspaper every day to broaden your understanding of issues, or it can be sitting down once a month to talk with your manager to get feedback or discuss new responsibilities," Allison said.

The majority of staff members who come to PDI feel they have more to offer and want to advance at Duke, she said.

"I tell people that one of the best ways to advance at Duke is to be the best at your current job," Allison said. "So much of your reputation is based on the impressions you make on the people you work with."

With a new year upon us, Duke Human Resources offers the following tips to jump-start your career:

1. Make a map

It's hard to know how to get there if you don't know where you're going. Take stock of accomplishments, skills and abilities. Consider where you want your career to go, and then determine what experiences will get you there. Discuss with your supervisor how to update your professional development plan.

2. Let's talk

Managers are central to professional development, and they will benefit from knowing and discussing your interests and plans. Set aside time regularly to talk about career goals, ideas about how you can help and options for professional growth.

3. Take the money -- it's free

Duke reimburses employees up to $5,000 annually to take classes that support professional development. Classes can be at Duke or other accredited colleges or universities in North Carolina.

Melissa Ventevogel, research analyst at the Human Vaccine Institute, returned to school part-time in August 2005 for a master's degree in immunology. She qualified to receive up to $1,000 for the current semester. "Anything is a huge help when you're paying for school by yourself," she said. "I did not want to take out loans."

4. Read

The more you explore, the more you learn. Check out books, CDs and videos from Duke Libraries. Use the Internet to research professional development topics. And visit the online or on-site PDI Resource Center. The new PDI Book Club meets monthly to discuss professional development books.

Patricia Bumpass, pediatrics staff assistant at Duke Hospital, was immediately interested in the PDI Book Club when she saw the first title on the book list -- "I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work."

"The book makes you think about where you are and where you want to go," said Bumpass, who will receive a bachelor's degree in organizational psychology this year.

5. Seek a guide

You can probably recall an influential person who has helped you along the way. Formal or informal workplace mentors provide resources for advice, feedback, brainstorming and insight. Serving as a mentor is also a rewarding development activity.

6. Speaking of --

According to polls, fear of public speaking ranks higher than fear of death. Being able to communicate well with groups is an essential part of being successful in many jobs. Face your fears, get out of your comfort zone and join Duke Toastmasters Club to learn how to speak effectively, organize and conduct meetings and motivate others.

7. Learn from others

One of the best ways to learn is by example. Shadow co-workers or supervisors to see how they handle responsibilities. Or become an understudy to colleagues and fill-in for them when they are out.

Meha Ballard, clinical nurse at Duke Hospital, was interested in a leadership position. She applied and was accepted for PDI's First-Time Supervisor Program. When Ballard's manager went on maternity leave, Ballard filled in as interim nurse manager.

"The experience made me further realize that I want to be a leader," Ballard said. "I learned what my areas of weakness are as a manager, so now I can work on that. I know what I do well and what I need to improve."

8. Try something new

Learn how to create Web pages, master Excel or practice techniques for delivering feedback. The classroom is still the best way to learn some skills through hands-on practice and interaction. Many classes are offered through Duke's Learning & Organization Development.

9. Get involved

It's good to get together with other people who face similar issues and challenges. Conferences help you with trends, best practices and new approaches to problems, but participating in campus events or volunteering for committees and activities extends your network. Consider joining groups such as Duke's Administrative Women's Network or the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Becky Tench, webmaster for the Pratt School of Engineering, has been a member of the WebCom group since October 2004 when it began. The group, comprised of computer and Web programmers and administrators, meets monthly to discuss new technologies and techniques. "It's a nice place for people to be able to expand their abilities and make friends and contacts with others in the same field," Tench said.

10. Membership has its benefits

Join a professional association to take advantage of the experience of others in your field. Talk with your supervisor about associations that contribute to your professional development.