JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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WHAT INDUSTRY EXPECTS OF CHEMISTS A. I. JOHNSON Shell Development Company, Emeryville, California
ITTAKES all kinds of people to make a world and it takes all kinds of chemists to make the industrial world, hut whatever kind of chemist you are or expect to be, industry expects you to do a first-class, top-notch job of it. Industry takes for granted, once you have entered its ranks, that you come well-grounded in science, and although it would be possible to use this time for discussion of college curricula, I prefer to discuss what is expected of chemists other than a good knomledge of science, which we will presume they have already learned upon entering our profession. What industry expects beyond this scientific knowledge is that you will fit in and be a valuable member of the team; that you will develop and utilize your natural abilities and strive t o overcome your deficiencies; that you will think constantly; that you will think straight and think in advance; that you will express yourself clearly, pointedly, and objectively; that you will show initiative and follow through; and that you nil1 be loyal to your company and your associates. I n short, industry expects you to bring to the organization the lift that comes from a high standard of character and performance realized from day to day. Let us take these points in turn. To fit in you should be adaptable, considerate of your associates, reasonable, and fair. These qualities should be used to make you popular in the high sense, the sense of reciprocal give and take that makes the industrial world tick. Strive a t all times to be admired by your associates for more than your brilliance or knowledge of chemistry alone. These personal attributes are equally as important as the adequacy of your scientific training. As individuals, we must work with our natural endowments, but we can build upon our strong points, our special abilities, and take stock of our shortcomings to overcome them as far as possible. You are expected to take a fair assessment of your own abilities constantly end to recognize your deficiencies as well as accept the
assistance of others to improve yourself. Above all, recognize what you are best suited to do and make every effort to use this in its most constructive form in improving your productivity for the company. Straight thinking is the key to sound action. Industry desperately needs thmking men. As a chemical engineer, perhaps I may be permitted to use someone's bitter definition of an engineer as "a man with a slide rule and a formula t o substitute into." That remark is a warning that we must be mentally alert. New situations constantly arise and must be met by straight basic thinking which goes beyond a mere application of known scientific knowledge. The formula of the past probably will not work. Thinking in advance is especially important. It is essential to the proper presentation of ideas. Much has been said of the art of writing reports; arrangement of subject matter,-form of tables, etc. I n our organization we are not greatly concerned whether a man has been exposed to this specialized training; we can teach him our own practice after he comes to us. We are, however, greatly concerned that a man develop the clear, straight thinking necessary t o any presentation either oral or written. To do this it is most important that he be able to express himself well in speaking in order to convey his ideas well. He should be able to present a problem and develop new material logically and pointedly, with proper consideration of all the aspects and possibilities, and to arrive objectively a t his conclusions. The practice of continued thinking is a means of exploiting your scientific knowledge. The man who has a lot of encyclopedic scientific knowledge hut does not use it is valueless. The use of the mind as a Fort Knox for knowledge is not half so important as accumulating a small fund of knowledge and investing it to advantage -day by day. The returns are far greater. You can become a good carpenter with simple tools, and although they seem to you not very high-powered, they will serve
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you well. You should use them often and they will he yourself. Do not ever expect to boost yourself or your sharpened rather than dulled by constant use. profession by fulfilling prescribed duties only. One Perhaps the most difficult of all characteristics to other quality is especially worth mentioning: followidentify in a member entering our profession, prior to ing through, or seeing to it that every job begun is actual trial, is his capacity for work, and it is probably brought to a prompt, successful conclusion. No ball one of the most overlooked requirements in training for games are won by players left on third base, and no your profession. Everyone should strive to achieve industrial plays amount to much if the answers are not greater amounts of successful accomplishments by accurate, complete, and available when needed. Conschooling himself in objective and clear thinking. It scientiousness is thus another expression of loyalty and seems to me that decisiveness and confidence are two carries the same reward; you are identified with suctools we must exploit the most to obtain maximum ca- cessful work in the minds of all concerned. And most important, loyalty can be thought of as respect, esteem, pacity for work. Initiative is a quality often lacking and often con- and even affection, for the company that employs you; fused with personal ambition. Initiative is associated it is a family relationship that identifies you with the with loyalty: it gives more than is asked, it unfolds the organization as a responsible member. I n this identijob, putting something new and valuable into it. By fication you think, "we," not "they" or "it"; and if for using initative you associate yourself with the progress some reason you cannot have this feeling, it is unlikely of your company and industry, and thus move ahead that you can fulfill what your company expects of you.
