Like many other subjects, packaging is also one of the service functions and so just knowledge of packaging as a technology is not sufficient to succeed at work place. May a time professionals do many additional part-time evening courses or correspondence courses. The courses cover part-time MBA, supply chain, retail, finance etc. Really speaking all these additional courses are of little help to support the core function of packaging that we study and companies take us to perform. So we are neither here nor there.
So quiet often I had been asked what should young packaging professionals be doing to improve the success at work place as simple subject knowledge is not sufficient. Over the years, I had been observing and discussing it with other professionals too. And the list of skills that are essential to be an effective packaging professional is given below:
- Public speaking
- Basic knowledge of psychology
- Business writing skills
- The basics of design
- Proper grammar
- The art of persuasion
- Some other technology as hobby in addition to packaging
- Bit of acting & voice control (theatre skills)
- Good working knowledge of Excel/PowerPoint etc say Microsoft Office
- Some basic knowledge of database management like Microsoft Access
- Project Management skills
- Social networking skills
- Visibility management
- Some foreign language
- Any outdoor sports
- Some basic knowledge of softwares like photo shop, corel draw etc
- Know the art of storey telling
- Bring some spirituality in life as it pays
- Join some NGO kind of group to support social cause
- Learn to teach/coach
The moment you will start acquiring these skills, your chances would improve dramatically and you will be amazed with yourselves. Don't be satisfied with dissatisfaction, Just try!
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