What are the best ways to develop skills and experience in a research or development role?

If you are interested in pursuing a career in research or development, you need to demonstrate your skills and experience in solving complex problems, creating innovative solutions, and communicating your findings effectively. However, it can be challenging to find opportunities to develop these competencies, especially if you are new to the field or working in a competitive environment. In this article, we will share some of the best ways to develop skills and experience in a research or development role, regardless of your level of expertise or industry.

1 Find a mentor

One of the most valuable ways to learn and grow in a research or development role is to find a mentor who can guide you, challenge you, and support you. A mentor can be someone who works in your organization, in your field, or in a related discipline, who has more experience and knowledge than you, and who is willing to share their insights and feedback with you. A mentor can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, set realistic and achievable goals, and access relevant resources and opportunities. To find a mentor, you can ask your manager, network with colleagues, or join professional associations or online communities.

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Mia I.

Career Advisor @ Pepperdine | Operations @ Girls Who Listen | Arts for LA: ACTIVATE Delegate |
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Students at all levels are encouraged to tap into their academic network to seek out mentorship opportunities. In some cases, alumni networks may have established mentorship programs that can connect you to a leader in your industry! Make sure to take advantage of your educational resources while you can, and pay it forward once you reach success in your career.

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2 Seek feedback

Another way to develop skills and experience in a research or development role is to seek feedback from different sources, such as your peers, your supervisor, your clients, or your stakeholders. Feedback can help you improve your performance, learn from your mistakes, and discover new perspectives and ideas. To seek feedback, you need to be open-minded, curious, and respectful. You can ask specific and constructive questions, listen actively and attentively, and thank the feedback giver for their time and input. You also need to act on the feedback, by making changes, applying suggestions, or following up with the feedback giver.

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Mia I.

Career Advisor @ Pepperdine | Operations @ Girls Who Listen | Arts for LA: ACTIVATE Delegate |
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A great way to create the first touchpoint with your network is to ask for feedback on your work - Reach out to peers in your field with updated projects, portfolios, or ideas that you may be working on. They may be able to offer your advice, encouragement, or share ideas on the topic from a new perspective.

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3 Take on new projects

A third way to develop skills and experience in a research or development role is to take on new projects that challenge you, stretch you, and expose you to new situations and problems. New projects can help you acquire new skills, expand your knowledge, and showcase your abilities. To take on new projects, you need to be proactive, flexible, and enthusiastic. You can volunteer for tasks that are outside your comfort zone, propose new ideas or initiatives, or collaborate with other teams or departments. You also need to manage your time, resources, and expectations effectively, by setting priorities, planning ahead, and communicating clearly.

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Jeslyn Xie

CHRL, Prosci Certified HR Practitioner
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Actively seeking out opportunities that push boundaries and introduce fresh challenges has not only broadened my skill set but has also been instrumental in showcasing my capabilities. Being proactive, flexible, and displaying enthusiasm for novel initiatives has opened doors to projects outside my comfort zone.

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Mia I.

Career Advisor @ Pepperdine | Operations @ Girls Who Listen | Arts for LA: ACTIVATE Delegate |
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Collaborating with your peers is a great way to build interpersonal skills that translate into measurable accomplishments on your resume. Both in an academic and professional setting, taking initiative on a project can serve as a testimony for your teamwork and project management skills, in addition to your technical proficiencies. Think about what drives you about your work, and seek out opportunities to build projects that center these ideals in your current role.

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4 Learn new tools

A fourth way to develop skills and experience in a research or development role is to learn new tools that can enhance your productivity, creativity, and quality. New tools can include software, hardware, methods, frameworks, or languages that can help you perform your tasks faster, easier, or better. To learn new tools, you need to be curious, adaptable, and willing to experiment. You can research the latest trends and developments in your field, enroll in online courses or workshops, or ask for recommendations from your peers or mentors. You also need to practice and apply the new tools, by using them in your projects, sharing your results, or teaching others.

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5 Document your work

A final way to develop skills and experience in a research or development role is to document your work in a clear, concise, and compelling way. Documenting your work can include writing reports, papers, articles, or blogs, creating presentations, videos, or podcasts, or building portfolios, websites, or apps that showcase your projects, achievements, and learnings. Documenting your work can help you reflect on your progress, improve your communication skills, and demonstrate your value. To document your work, you need to be organized, accurate, and engaging. You can use templates, tools, or guidelines to structure your content, use data, evidence, or examples to support your claims, and use stories, visuals, or humor to capture your audience's attention.

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Dr. Susanne SVENSDOTTER

CEO & Co-Founder | Director of R & D | NED | Board advisor | Trustee | Aerospace and Energy specialist | STEM | 100TopWomen in Aerospace 2022
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Documenting your work is essential if you want to be a researcher. And you have to document really everything, from your hypothesis, your methodology, your data acquisition method, your analysis, your conclusions and much more. Your documentation has to be good enough to publish, because as a researcher, your credibility is linked to the number of publications you write.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Allison Peck⚡️

Career Development Advisor | TedX | Author | LinkedIn Learning Instructor | Mechanical Engineering Manager
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Gain experience in Research and Development by exploring, trying, failing, learning, pivoting. Constantly. And then the cycle repeats.

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What are the best ways to develop skills and experience in a research or development role?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Find a mentor

2 Seek feedback

3 Take on new projects

4 Learn new tools

5 Document your work

6 Here’s what else to consider

Career Development

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What are the best ways to develop skills and experience in a research or development role?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Find a mentor

2 Seek feedback

3 Take on new projects

4 Learn new tools

5 Document your work

6 Here’s what else to consider

Career Development

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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