HIGHL IGHTS A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 4 9 EMERGING PROFESSIONALS Lessons Learned: What Students are Looking for in an Exhibit KennethHirscht, imagingapplications support engineer, JH Technologies As an undergrad research student, I attended about 10 conferences across the U.S. As a working professional, I have now been an exhibitor at two conference events. Some of these meetings occupied entire convention centers while others were held in nothing more than a banquet room at a hotel. What made great booths stand out above others wasn’t always towering signage and cool handouts, although those things helped a little. The standout qualities were interesting display items such as production samples or equipment, recognizable basic keywords on the signage that reminded me of interesting concepts from materials courses, and the excited buzz of energy that happens when scientists and engineers are “nerding out” over a cool product, process, or technique at a booth. The hardest part for a student is to feel relevant enough to the company to start a conversation. If you are an exhibitor, my advice is this: If a student attends a conference and fights the anxiety and uncertainty to shake your hand and carry on a conversation, they are already doing a lot more than their colleagues who sit at home and apply online. Match that effort with appreciation and encouragement, and let them know if you can offer any advice or opportunities. Don’t downplay the utility of meeting someone before you see their resume; you might be surprised by the talent you will find. If you are a student, a certain effort will be necessary to see results. As a student attendee, I would make a tremendous effort to strike up conversations despite being anxious. And I tried to carry the conversation by asking thoughtful questions. I would seek advice from veterans, and make my intentions known that I was looking for work. I found that some folks may be very kind and receptive to such questions, while others would express disinterest once they knew I likely was not going to be a sales opportunity. It was frustrating at times. Despite plenty of reasons to lose motivation and give up, I didn’t because I knew I was more than a resume, and a job offer would be more than a nice paycheck. With this method, I did come across the right people, and after five months I couldn’t have hoped for a better match. The field I work in is not what I would have expected, but I love going to work, and that goes so much further when the rubber hits the road. EMERGING PROFESSIONALS VOLUNTEERISM COMMITTEE Profile of a Volunteer Blake Whitley, metallurgical engineering consultant, Exponent, Phoenix Blake Whitley always had a gift for math and an interest in forensics, with its allure of examining a crime scene and solving a mystery. He uses those same skills as a consultant with Exponent, an engineering consulting firm providing solutions in a broad array of industries. Whitley focuses on failure analysis that ranges from oil and gas pipelines to planes, trains, and automobiles. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering at the University of Alabama, ASM’s Material Advantage chapter opened the door to an unexpected wealth of programming and resources, including a generous scholarship and role as a student member on the ASM International Board of Trustees. “I started attending meetings and learning about the enormous amount ASM offers—the technical content, opportunities, the number of members,” he recalls. “What impressedmewas the passion people have for ASM. You don’t often see a group of engineers get this excited! Members even take vacations to go to conferences.” Whitley marvels at the resources available to him as a consultant. “ASM has every alloy phase diagram in existence! No other organization has that. I need to add value at a technical level for all different materials and problems— from a pipeline failure to a hotel collapse or a biomedical device that failed—so having knowledge at your fingertips is critical.” Whitley heard about the Eisenman Materials Camp for high schoolers (“it sounded super cool!”) and asked to serve as a teacher/mentor in the camp based on failure analysis. “It was very rewarding. These students are good in math, but here they see practical ways to apply it. We make an impact that leads to a serious interest and often a lifelong commitment.” After earning his Ph.D. in 2017 at the Colorado School of Mines, Whitley engaged with ASM at the national level, including the ASM Heat Treating Society and several committees. “I enjoy keeping our ASM community healthy, since we run on volunteerism. It’s been a great professional help and only demands a few hours per month.” In building his career, Whitley looks forward to maximizing ASM for technical knowledge, growing personal connections with world class experts, and attracting new project opportunities. Hirscht Whitley
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