SVC YMC and Workshop Introduction

• Goal setting for the day
• Icebreaker prompt: "What do you want from your PVD career?"

Segment 1: Career Mapping & Self-Management

Objectives:

• Understand different roles available in the surface tech ecosystem
• Build a personal roadmap for the next 3-5 years
• Get tools for better time and task management

Activities:

• Career pathway exercise (map where you are, where you could go)
• Personal productivity tool demo (Notion, Trello, etc.)
• Seeking mentors

Segment 2: Becoming an effective communicator

Objectives:

• Learn basic commercial and technical vocabulary (margin, ROI, value prop, cost drivers)
• Learn how to talk about your technical work in a clear, engaging way Knowing your audience in communication
• Learn to communicate clearly with customers, managers, and cross-cultural teams Downward, lateral, and upward communication
• Understand how to show up professionally in meetings and group work

Segment 3: Self Promotion and Outreach

Objectives:

• Create or improve a high-impact LinkedIn profile
• Understand the basics of networking digitally and in-person
• Learn how to outreach for professional collaboration or career development

Activities:

• Group roleplays: "Bad vs. good email response", "Technical update for a customer"
• Real-world scenario solving: "Your boss misunderstood your data - now what?"

Wrap-Up and Takeaways

• Final reflection: "What's one thing I'll do differently next week?"
• Optional: certificate of completion, digital resource pack
• Build LinkedIn connections in the room right away

Target Audience: Early-career professionals (0-7 years experience) in surface engineering, PVD, thin films, R&D, applications, or sales.

Takeaways and Benefits:

• A personalized and polished LinkedIn profile tailored to the surface technology field
• A clear understanding of how technical skills create business value
• Stronger communication skills to navigate internal teams and customer-facing roles
• A 3-5 year career roadmap with milestones, mentors, and strategies
• Experience with professional tools for productivity and project planning
• New peer connections and an expanded professional network in the PVD community
• Confidence to show up as a well-rounded technical professional at future SVC events