Secrets To Getting That Dream Job In IT
hether you are looking technology.
for that dream job or are
just trying to get a pay 1. Get involved
raise or promotion, there are 10
things you can do to improve your This is a big one. Find out what
chances. In general these 10 professional IT organizations are
things fall into 2 categories; in the area and attend some
the first is building your meetings. If you find some of
portfolio and the second is in them particularly valuable, step
building your network. forward and offer to help.
Did you know that most of the
While technology is causing rapid best jobs aren't advertised in
change in most industries and for the paper or on a job board? If
many jobs, it is changing even you spend all your time
faster for Information Technology responding to help wanted ads in
(IT) workers. You may not want to the paper and on job boards and
hear this, but as a result of sitting by the phone waiting for
this rapid change, you may need that call; then you will miss out
to put in more work and effort on the truly great jobs.
than you can squeeze into a 40
hour work week. Are you already You must get out and network with
putting in long hours? If not, others. Attending professional
would you be willing to if it meetings is one of the ways to
could help you find that dream develop a network. Now that you
job, get promotions, and pay are attending meetings, why not
raises? If you aren't willing to volunteer to help with some
put in that extra effort and aspect of the organization? This
time, you might need to rethink keeps you from being just a face
your career path as you won't be in the crowd and gives you even
able to keep up with the changing more opportunities to interact
with others in the group. Getting appropriate
certifications in your desired
However, if you volunteer for field is especially important if
something, be sure to follow you have no experience. It shows
through or you will leave people that you have put in some extra
with a negative impression. effort and at a minimum have the
Others will assume that you would aptitude to do the job.
fail to follow through this same
way in a work environment. If you are fortunate, the company
you are working for will cover
2. Be selfless some or all of the costs
associated with certifications.
Being selfless ties in with the In the case that they don't, what
first item above. If you join a should you do? Do you sit around
professional group; don't join and complain and wish that they
solely for the purpose of getting would; or do you do something
a job or it will be obvious to about it in your own time?
the others. Join because you Ultimately, it is you that is
enjoy doing what the group does responsible for your own
and get involved for this reason. professional development. Take
There is no need to torture control. You don't have to go to
yourself attending meetings that that $3000 class. Get a book or
are painful to you. If you find some self study material and
that attending these professional study on your own. Does your
meetings are painful, then maybe local professional group offer
you need to evaluate whether this any kind of training or study
is the right career for you. groups? If not, can you get one
started?
3. Get certified
4. Get experience
site and try to sell or give this
Many employers are only looking product away. Now add this link
for employees experienced in the to your resume along with a
area they will be working. They description.
are afraid to hire someone, spend
time training them, and then have Yes, this requires a good deal of
them decide that they are not cut work on your part, but think of
out for the job or that they will how much you have learned, as
gain the experience and move on well as what you are showing
to a higher paying job. How do prospective employers. You will
you get experience when you are stand out from all of those other
right out of school or trying to students or developer wannabes
move from another occupation into because you put forth that extra
IT? effort and learned something
about software development in the
Sounds like catch 22, doesn't it? process. This also shows that you
Actually, the answer is quite love doing this type of thing. A
simple (though not easy). wise employer is looking for
Volunteer to do something related people who love what they are
to the position you are looking doing and go above and beyond
for. If you want to write VB.NET what they can learn in a 40 hour
or C# software, then write some work week.
programs. One suggestion is to
approach a non-profit group and 5. Write articles or books
find out what type of program you
might write for them to automate
their processes and become more If you are a beginner, this is
efficient. You could also write a probably not where you would
program that you can either sell start. However, if you have some
or give away. Then put up a web experience and are looking to
move to the next level, here is needs with the technology, you
an outstanding way to do it. won't be as successful.
Think about the people you
consider experts. Haven't most of 7. Help on forums
them written articles or books.
Writing a book is hard work that This is closely related to #2
can take up a lot of your time, above on being selfless. By
but it is a sure way to gain answering questions for others in
credibility and be seen as an forums, you are honing your
expert. If you don't have the skills and developing a
time for a book, you can write reputation as being someone who
articles and post them to the big knows what they are talking
IT article sites. You can find a about. You never know when that
list of some of these sites here. person you help may be hiring.
8. Don't hog the knowledge
6. Read
Technology is changing so I am sure most of you have worked
rapidly, that you must figure with someone that was so insecure
some time into every day for about their job that they tried
reading. One attribute of the to keep what they do and know a
ideal candidate is a voracious secret. To make themselves
appetite for knowledge; and they invaluable, they write a program
will spend the time reading or set up a process, but don't
technical articles and books as let anyone know how they do it.
well as business oriented ones. These individuals are no fun to
It is great to have the technical work with and hurt the team as a
knowledge, but if you can't whole. They also can't take
figure out how to meet business vacations without causing great
pain for the employer. If you minutes when a 5 minute test will
share the knowledge, your tell you the truth.Now, after
coworkers will appreciate you for having done the tests to prove
it. Your boss probably notices which theory was right, publish
which type of person you are, and your results. This way you know
if they have any sense, they will what the answer is and you can
promote the person that plays accomplish several of the above
well with others over the lone items at the same time.
cowboy. Besides, if you share
your knowledge you will be able 10. Let your network know
to enjoy your vacations.
While you don't want to sound
9. Be willing to listen and like you are begging, let people
learn from others in your network know that you are
looking for a new position and
Technology is moving too fast for what type of position you are
you to be the expert on looking for. If you have been
everything. This doesn't mean selfless and helped them in the
that you have to accept past, they are more likely to
everything someone says as truth. return the favor. If you are
However, if someone tells you currently employed, be sure that
something you don't believe, your network knows to be
don't call their bluff right then discreet. If you enjoy working
and there. Instead keep an open for your current employer, be
mind, go and research the topic, sure that you communicate your
run a few tests if appropriate; professional desires to them so
and then based on the data decide that they have the chance to
what is correct. In other words accommodate you before you go
don't stand around and argue over looking outside.
each other's viewpoints for 30
The bottom line is that if you open all sorts of doors and will
have not done any of items 1 be extremely successful in what
through 9, you won't have much of you do. Note that this process
a professional network that you takes time and consistency. The
can tap into. If you surround keys to all of the above are to
yourself with other successful build relationships, trust,
people and follow the advice in knowledge, and skills. This
the 10 points above, you will doesn't happen overnight.
About the Author:
Joe Walling has over 20 years of experience in IT and management. He is the president of Walling Info Systems, http://www.wallingis.com, a software development company and is co-chair of a local developers guild, http://www.gspdevelopers.org.
Source: www.isnare.com |
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