3 . Characteristics of an excellent scientist

The Free Dictionary defines(定义) a scientist as a person having professional knowledge on one or more sciences, especially natural science or physical science.     1     Let’s look at some characteristics of an excellent scientist.

Curiosity.

    2     Scientists such as Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse discovered things mainly because they wanted to know how things worked. If a scientist doesn’t have the drive to ask questions or even wonder, then he/ she never gets to the first stage of the scientific process.

Patience.

    3     There are very few jobs that take longer than this one. Even if you think you have received some education on science, you still have a lot of scientific research to do. If you’re an instant-gratification (及时满足的) type of person, this may not be the best choice for you.

Ethical (道德的)qualities.

In order to truly discover and use knowledge for the greater good, a scientist must have a desire to improve people’s life as well as the environment, since they are linked and they can affect each other in the long run. A scientist must report findings honestly regardless of personal or outside commercial (商业的) interests. Sticking to an old belief contradicted(反驳)by evidence is dishonest.     4    

Working habits.

An excellent scientist even takes notes of the smallest observation, keeping it in mind and recording it.     5     He/ She also needs to communicate thoughts on paper and verbally. Networking skills connect him/ her with colleagues working on similar projects where he/ she may discover something new.

4 . Run! Lunch­Delivery Men!

It’s lunch time, and Guo Ziyang is on a mission: deliver seven hot meal orders in an hour.

He dashes into a downtown high­rise, carrying a plastic container of hot beef noodles. There is no time to wait for the right elevator. He hops into the first one that opens, jumps out at the last stop and begins running up the stairs. After a quick handoff to the customer, he races down 20 flights.     1     Across China’s biggest cities, the scene has become as familiar as crowded subways.     2     Meals appear with just a few taps on a smartphone. With the major delivery services offering similar pricing strategies and food choices, the burden of competition has fallen largely on the speed of the delivery people, popularly known as Waimai Xiaoge, or “Brother Takeaway”.

Guo said he wolfs down four or five steamed buns before starting work every morning. “You’ll need the energy for various delivery missions, ” he said. “Sometimes, the buildings you deliver to don’t have elevators.     3     Then, you have to climb ten flights of stairs.”

Guo works around Shanghai’s central business district. He joined Eleme only last year.     4     With a food­warmer box tied to his scooter, Guo tears through traffic, rushes past pedestrians and avoid bumps that might spill soup dishes. In less than two hours, he has made stops at a hospital, a hair salon, a hotel room and several high­rises. Six orders an hour is the norm for the lunchtime rush, but Guo said he is sometimes called upon to deliver ten meals. “    5     You just have to apologize, ” he said.

Nevertheless, Guo said he thrives on deadline pressure. “I’m the kind of person who likes challenging work, ” he added.

6 . Career coach Angela Copeland encourages job seekers to think beyond the normal barriers or unspoken rules. “It’s always been my philosophy that you have to think outside the box.     1     because then no one is going to know who you are,” says Copeland, author of Breaking The Rules & Getting The Job. The best jobs, she says, go to those who try harder, who are creative and who break the rules in their job search. By challenging yourself to think differently and to take risks, you will be ahead of your peers, she adds.

Copeland offers her top four tips while looking for a job.

The standard line is to apply for a job online. Copeland suggests finding other ways to apply, whether it is in person, via a headhunter or through a friend inside the company.     2    .

Know that potential employers will Google you and look through your social media profiles.     3    . But also use social media to meet new people. Many senior executives manage their own accounts online, and it’s good to engage with them when possible.

Network with people in your industry. Attend events and reach out to people by email or phone. Out of 10 contacts, you may only have three who respond. But one of those could lead you to your new job.

If you want to learn a new skill set, figure out how to train yourself. Stay current in your industry by taking the initiative.     5    

9 . An interview is a process in which a potential employee or a candidate applying for a job is evaluated by an employer for potential employment in their company, office or organization.     1    . The process can help an employer gain an understanding of the attitude and character of the applicant.

Many people try to apply for the job after seeing simply a short job advertisement that gives only the general title and basic requirements for the job.     2    . It is also for the candidate to decide whether the job is right for him or her.

    3    . Often, an interview is one of the last steps in the hiring process, after applications and CVs have been presented. An employer may choose to interview all of the candidates, or a few top applicants that seem to be the most experienced or capable. Interviews may be conducted over the phone or face to face. Phone interviews may be done to narrow down the range to only a few candidates. Since the interview process may take place weeks or months after applications are submitted, phone interviews allow the employer to know whether the applicant is still interested in the job. In-person interviews permit the most detailed examination of both the candidate and the employer.     4    .

During the interview process, the employer may ask a variety of questions about the applicant’s motive, ambition, experience, education and personality.     5    . Some employers may rate or grade applicants on the basis of their answers. Ratings and grades may be weighed depending on the employer and the job. After all interviews are completed, the employer will usually give the job to the person with the highest weighed rating.

10 . Many questions can be expected in advance and it’s wise to have some well-constructed answers that you can tailor more closely in an interview. Remember to always try and make your answers positive.

Q1: Tell me about yourself.

A1: This is just to get things started, but it is a very common question. Write a script, and practice it so that it sounds natural. Spend a maximum of four minutes describing your qualifications, career history and your range of skills.     1    

Q2: What have been your achievements to date?

A2: Again, this is a common question, so be prepared. Select an achievement that is experience-related and fairly recent.     2    

Q3: What do you like about your present job?

A3: This is a straightforward question. All you have to make sure is that your ‘likes’ correspond to the skills etc. required for the job on offer.     3     After all, you are leaving?

Q4: What are your strengths?

A4: This is the one question that you are definitely going to get.     4     Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four explanations of how they could benefit the employer. Strengths to consider include technical proficiency; ability to learn quickly; determination to succeed; positive attitude; your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above, so be prepared.

Q5: Tell me about the most difficult situation you’ve had to face and how you handled it.

A5: This can be a trap!     5     It would be better if you can quickly explain it in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note.