The best ways to advance your IT career are to add value, offer solutions, enhance your skills and network.

Add Value

Your value comes from being a reliable and top contributor. You can increase your value by volunteering for projects that focus on increasing revenue or reduce costs within your organization.

Often IT professionals are the ‘unseen’ hero. Unfortunately, this trait is not rewarded in many corporate cultures. It’s important to be seen and heard by others.

There’s a balancing act of being seen and not being boastful. One option is offering to present a project summary or outcomes assessment to the company or stakeholders on a project you participated in or led.

Focus on Solutions

IT professionals are problem solvers. Pair problems with potential solutions when addressing your team or supervisor.

Avoid being perceived as someone always talking about problems and obstacles. Try focusing on what the desired outcome of the solution is, such as better user experience, faster payment processing or increased sales.

Enhance your Skills

Technical requirements of an IT professional are always evolving. To advance your career, it’s soft skills that will get you promoted into a management role. Communication skills, business acumen, and empathy are the skills that will separate you from artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic replacement.

Enhancing your soft skills is a lifelong pursuit. Practice listening to others and then asking questions to ensure you understand the meaning, intent, and emotion of what is being said. Work to understand your entire business, not just the function of the IT department. And above all else, express empathy. People want to be surrounded by people they like and that understand them.

Networking – Especially When You Have a Job!

Professional recruiters, like Open Systems, see this scenario often. You get the job of your dreams and then you drop off the face of the earth.
Networking with your peers, mentors, and former colleagues is actually easier when you are not looking for a job.

Also, keep your LinkedIn profile updated, continue to reach out to new contacts and connect with Open Systems.

Moving Forward

Often in order to advance your IT career, you need to move onto a new company. This is when the experts at Open Systems can guide you to your next IT role. We have IT job opportunities in a variety of industries and at all career levels. Contact us today to learn more.

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The Top Signs It’s Time for A Change

 You Have More Bad Days than Good Days

If you’re having more bad days than good days, then it may be time for a change. There are many times when a professional becomes dissatisfied with their position or job responsibilities. When this occurs, most of the time the only resolution is moving on. Before moving on, however, make a list of what really makes you unhappy with your current situation. What would improve your mood and career satisfaction? By performing this intake, you will ensure that your next job will improve your happiness and will not just be a temporary placebo of being ‘something new.’

You Aren’t Being Promoted 

While the sting of being passed over for a promotion hurts, it may be a sign that you need a change. Whether the reason is based on skills or personal relationships, it is best to accept that this situation probably won’t improve and now is the time to find something new. If your skills are at the heart of the issue, participate in some training and possibly earn certifications to get your skills up-to-date. With updated skills in hand, it’s time to get your resume out and start finding a new role where the slate is clean.

A Robot May Soon Be Filling Your Chair

With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), many companies are automating some positions. Roles in cloud and platform technologies are especially vulnerable. For professionals who find themselves competing with AI, it may be time to invest in some new training. It is also best to do a little research and discover new roles that are in-line with your past experience and which have a bright future ahead without too many robots in the competition pool!

Moving Forward

A professional’s career is a long and varied road. At times, there are signs that a big move could increase personal happiness and professional growth. When the times comes to make your next big move, contact the experts at Open Systems. At Open Systems, we place tech professionals in all stages of their careers. Contact us today to learn more!

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Moving Forward: Keep Learning and Growing

IT professionals should be utilizing a blend of training, certifications, and mentorship to reach their goals. While these actions require work, they are an investment in the future.

Training

Training is arguably more critical in the IT field than any other field given the pace at which technology changes. IT training can stem from both online and in-person training programs. It’s best to look for programs that will not only strengthen current skills but also broaden skill sets for future applications.  Additionally, learning new programming languages or hardware types is crucial. Technical training is not cheap. When deciding on which training to take, it’s best to think about the future and look at the skills that people in your desired job possess. Also, looking to trends is vital. For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a considerable force in IT so one should consider brushing up on data mining and analytics which are at the heart of AI.

Certifications

Depending on the role, certifications may be essential for some IT professionals. For example, for IT security professionals the CISSP and CISM are practically required for most positions. If an IT professional seeks a management position within the IT world a PMP (Program Management Professional) may be a worthwhile certification to obtain. While certifications are time-consuming and expensive, they can pay out in the long run. However, it’s important to note that preparing for certification exams is like any other test and people should stick with the method that works best for them and this can include lesser expensive tools such as books, podcasts, and YouTube videos.

Seek Out a Mentor

Professionals who seek out mentors do better than those who don’t. When looking for a mentor, it’s best to look for someone who occupies your desired future role. This formula allows for career modeling. Having a mentor also provides a professional with a great industry resource, one with whom they can confer on difficult situations. When looking for a mentor, keep in mind that many companies have in-place mentoring programs that will make a match and introduction among employees.

Keeping Up to Date on Industry Practices

In order to advance in IT, one must possess the most up-to-date industry knowledge possible. Attending industry conferences is a great way to stay connected to the latest developments in the industry and is also a great networking opportunity. In addition to industry conferences, spending some time reading publications and blogs can help sharpen any professional’s skills and keep them abreast of future trends.

Career Assessment – A Look Toward the Future

IT professionals must always know where they want to go in the future. Where do they see themselves in the next 5, 10, 15 years? In addition to regular promotions, consider lateral moves and possible industry transitions (going from retail to financial) in the future to maximize your possibilities.

Planning Ahead

When in doubt about outlining the path ahead, it’s a great idea to consult a professional recruiter.  Industry-specialized recruiters are well-positioned to see the future of your practice area. By sharing your career goals and objectives, recruiters can take your career path plan and set you on the right course for long-term success.

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