ASQ Launches Career-Focused Podcasts

(ASQ: Milwaukee) -- As the economy continues to show signs of improvement, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) is leading an effort to provide career transition guidance to quality professionals. As part of this effort, a series of career focused podcasts is available to help those who are considering, or may find it necessary, to transition their skills to a new industry. The podcasts, which feature tips and strategies from ASQ members with experience in the career transition process, can be found in the resources tab of the Careers in Quality [1] section on the ASQ Web site.

The first two segments of the three-part series on career transition are now available with the final podcast set for release in early November. The podcasts feature ASQ members that have made the transition into leading fields such as automotive manufacturing, telecommunications, and health care.

The podcasts are titled:

1. "Tips on Making a Career Transition [2]" (MP3, 1.83 MB, running time 6:01) - Part 1 of 3: ASQ member Will LaFollette, of Louisville, Kentucky, discusses his transition from manufacturing to health care, offering tips for relating quality skills, background, and accomplishments to process needs, regardless of industry.

2. "Volunteering During a Job Transition [2]" (MP3, 2.0 MB, running time 5:39) - Part 2 of 3: ASQ member LouAnn Lathrop, of Howell, Michigan, discusses how she and several colleagues from the manufacturing industry have volunteered their skills within the health care industry. Lathrop relates how this experience has added to her skills, and how this activity is gaining interest and momentum throughout the United States.

3. "The Value of Certifications" (Coming soon) - Part 3 of 3:  What is the value of promoting certifications during a career transition? Listen to ASQ member Allen Wong, of Columbus, Ohio, on the value of certifications and how you should position them in a job interview.    

About the Experts

Will LaFollette has served on ASQ's board of directors and is currently a national director for the society. A program manager of Perfect Service Integration with Humana Inc., LaFollette has more than 20 years of experience as a quality management representative. He has worked in a variety of markets that include automotive/aerospace, telecommunications, health care, and insurance.  

Lou Ann Lathrop worked for GM for more than 25 years, holding engineering and managerial roles in quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, manufacturing, and product engineering. A senior member of ASQ, she is past chair (twice) for ASQ's Automotive Division and is a current member of ASQ's board of directors.

Allen Wong is currently a quality assurance program manager at Abbott Nutrition (a division of Abbott Laboratories). He has more than 20 years of experience in the quality sciences, along with medical devices and nutritional products. Wong has a master's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Wisconsin and is an ASQ-certified quality engineer, certified quality auditor, and certified quality process analyst. He is also a member of the ASQ certification board and technical program committee.