LEARNING - CONTINUED

 

    One last point that you must know about learning is keep your eyes open to any new product which is  likely to be launched by your company. Get to know the product in its pre launch stage. If you  can manage to see the product as it is given the finishing touch by the R & D and the production Engineers you must try to get familiar with the new product, its features, its installation procedures, set up and operation. You must bear in mind that once the product is going into the market, surely you can be the Service Engineer called to accompany the Development team to  help install and demonstrate the functionalities to your customer. As you gain more confidence with the new product, and the development team is confident of your capabilities you will be the chosen one among your whole lot to do the special job. With this the senior executives in your Company will come to know of you. When the time comes for revision and hike in your salary, you will surely be at an advantageous position and you will get your reward.  

TOOLS  & EQUIPMENTS  
 

       Ask any professional Service Engineer, about the secret of his success. One of the high lights will be the best tool kit he will carry when is going out on his daily rounds. To do an effective job either in the field or in house, you must have the best set of tools to do a professional job. Without them, you will feel handicapped.

       

        A good set of tools will include the diagnostic tools and the tools required to dismantle, rectify, re-assemble and test the equipment. Obviously, in an in house facility you will have access to a greater range, sophisticated, high end and expensive tools  which you may not be able to carry during the field service.  But make sure you carry the essential ones. Before you step out for the day, do a quick check of your tool kit. Check whether all the essential tools are there in your suit case.

        In case you find that some of the  tools are worn out and require replacement,  place a demand with the Stores in Charge and your  supervisor to help get the replacement.

         When you finish your job at a customer’s site and start packing up to leave his premises,  make sure  that you have taken all your tools and  left behind some thing important. If you have missed out and you discover it much later, you have to make a return trip to the customer’s place which is not only a waste of time and pain in the neck, but also  embarrassing to face the customer and will show you  in poor light, if your supervisor comes to know about it !

           Talking about the Tools and Equipments, it may not be wrong to remind you that useful circuit diagrams, flow charts, service manuals, a pocket book with details of some specific settings and measures can prove to be very useful. Carry them when you are moving out for the day’s work.

QUALITY OF WORK

         Quality of work will set you apart from the crowd. A quality work by any professional Service Engineer will be a joy to watch. If you are such a Service Engineer or if you see one working, you will understand what  I  mean.

         Your approach to the whole job will be so professional. From the initial phase of the Service call when you talk to the customer to find out the nature of the complaint, your initial diagnosis, dismantling, checking, rectification, re-assembly, testing and the final delivery.

           Do a self evaluation of your style of work and its quality level. Compare it with the best in your field. Can you pick up some good hints from him and adapt it into your work procedure? Do it. It will do a lot of good to your job .

           Quality of work, means quality at every stage of your work. It is not something which you will think of only during special occasions or for VIP customers. When you dismantle the equipment, use the right tools, when you are checking the equipment use the right instrument to diagnose the fault, when you are rectifying the equipment use the right tools.

          When you have completed the work and about to leave, do not leave behind a mess. It will spoil the whole show. A few minutes of caring effort from your side will leave a lasting impression with the customer. By change he happens to give this positive feedback to your management, it can help fatten  your pay packet. Find a waste basket and dump all the waste material into it. Do a quick clean up of the table you used to do your job.

           One final piece of useful input to you. Do not  take up a service call, when you are in a hurry or ready to wind up for the day, because you will do a bad job. You will do something which is half complete and if the customer notices it, he will surely feel bad and lodge one more   complaint with your service centre. If you decide to do a job give it your full attention and complete it properly, otherwise do not touch it.

LEARNING ON THE JOB - CONTINUED

    Talking about learning, be clear that the responsibility to learn is only yours, not of  anybody else.  One of the first point that you must realize during the start of your career is that you must decide to be a continuous learner. Once you have landed a job it does not mean that it is the end of your learning phase. IT MUST BE THE BEGINNING!

     

      Many a times you will find that some aspect of your job is not clear. You are in two minds whether to ask somebody about it! Your dilemma is probably, How do I ask about such a silly thing?” “Will it expose my ignorance?” Both questions may seem very valid. The best thing is, just go ahead and ask. Many a times even your colleagues may be struggling with the same doubt.

      

      Make sure that you are knowledgeable about all the products in your range of service. Further develop a good rapport with the R & D team members. In case you are not getting any clarification on a technical issue with your colleagues, contact the R & D team members. In addition  keep track of all new or revised version of  your products and their features.

      One last point about learning, start from day one, on the job. First impression is the best impression ! Prove your technical competence and superiority right from the start by action, not by words. If you spoil it, probably it is done for a long time, may for many years of your career.

IDENTIFY LIKE MINDED COLLEAGUES

     One useful style you must develop in your professional life is to identify colleagues who are like minded. Those who are having a leaning to learn and do a good job. Those who would take pride in doing a good job and are always willing to learn some thing more.   Those who are technically oriented. 

    While you enjoy the company of your colleagues, who over a period of time may also turnout to be your friends, set aside some time for learning and sharing about your work related issues.  This would prove to be a very effective and informal mode of learning. 

  
  Preferably set aside some time in your daily routine to review the day's work and specifically identify the learning which you did today. Make sure that at least one new point of learning occurs, every day ! As you step into a new day, go with a mind set that today I am going to learn some thing new ! Keep your antenna up and on !! I sue you will be able to latch on to some thing new. If you are tuned to seeing and listening, what you want will come into your focus. Try this out. You will be really surprised with the regularity it works.