Skills and Attributes that Contribute to a SuccessfulCareer as a Scientist, Engineer, Scholar, or Professional Intellectual Skills1. Honesty2. Curiosity3. Discrimination—ability to distinguish what is important from what is trivial4. Imagination and creativity5. Common sense6. Objectivity7. Intuition8. Skill in observation of natural, technical, or social phenomena9. Systematic problem-solving10. A good memory11. Capacity for logical reasoning, including abstract and theoretical reasoning12. Capacity to draw logical inferences from observational and experimental data13. Ability to conceive an explanatory hypothesis and design critical tests to evaluate itCommunication Skills1. Capacity to retrieve information from publishedsources2. Skill in learning by interview methods3. Capacity to communicate in writing4. Capacity to communicate orally5. Skill in use of computers and other information-processing devices6. Skill in graphic display of information and ideas Personality Characteristics1. Maturity2. Motivation and drive3. Self-confidence4. Dependability5. Independence6. Empathy7. Capacity to work effectively with superiors, peers,and subordinates8. Initiative and sense of responsibility9. Capacity for objective self-criticism10. Leadership and management skillsHabits of Work1. Efficiency in the use of time2. Persistence—ability to see things through to completion3. Capacity for sustained intellectual and physical work4. Orderliness5. Ability to meet deadlinesMechanical Skills1. Manual dexterity2. Skill in the development, selection, and use of appropriate scientific, engineering, or artisticapparatus, machines, and models