{"id":19890,"date":"2019-10-30T11:00:54","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T09:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iristech.co\/?p=19890"},"modified":"2020-05-25T12:42:16","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T10:42:16","slug":"improve-your-it-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iristech.co\/improve-your-it-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Ways to improve your IT career now!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you want to improve your IT career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

With every day going by, technology is becoming a bigger part of our lives.<\/p>\n

It is constantly evolving, therefore the expertise required in the IT sector change quickly.<\/p>\n

In order to stay on top of your IT prospects, you should always learn and develop new skills.<\/p>\n

We have collected the best ways you can do that and have a successful IT career!<\/p>\n

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Introduction<\/h2>\n

The advices you are about to read are given by proven specialists with successful careers in the IT sector.<\/p>\n

Mary Shacklett who is the president of Transworld Data, a technology research and market development company.<\/p>\n

John Reed is the senior executive director of Robert Half Technology which provides a broad range of services such as systems integration, networking, database development and so on.<\/p>\n

Now we are heading straight forward to the recommendations of both professionals!<\/p>\n

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15 ways to enhance your IT career<\/h2>\n

Mary Shacklett<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Starting off with Mary Shacklett, here are the top 10 advices she could give everyone who wants to boost their career in the IT branch.<\/p>\n

1. Find advantage in every situation<\/strong><\/p>\n

To explain this, Shacklett gives an example with her own self.<\/p>\n

In the beginning of her career she wanted to focus on the technical side of IT but she has always been very communicative.<\/p>\n

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So, she got assigned to either training or documentation.<\/p>\n

In the process though she discovered her ability to understandably explain technologies and applications to users and businessmen.<\/p>\n

This skill helped her climb the ladder and become valued.<\/p>\n

2. Read about the business<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading corporate annual reports may sound terribly boring but according to Shacklett it would help you learn more about the business and understand it better.<\/p>\n

This way you will be able to get on top wherever you start working.<\/p>\n

3. Take a course in sales or marketing<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Yes, we have not forgot what we are writing about – it is still the same article about the IT sector you have been reading.<\/p>\n

But having the ability to talk decisively and sell your ideas is a key one and will surely serve you well.<\/p>\n

Another advantage of taking a sales or marketing course is that you will step out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n

As cheesy as it sounds, we all know it is true that there is no better way than that to improve yourself!<\/p>\n

4. Work on your communication skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shacklett advices to volunteer to make a presentation or a lead a meeting, no matter how terrified you might be of it.<\/p>\n

By doing this you will stand out as a leader and be prepared for a management role (if you are aiming for it).<\/p>\n

5. Engage with a failed project<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, it happens sometimes a project to fail.<\/p>\n

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However, you can challenge yourself and take on it in order to make it work.<\/p>\n

As Shacklett says, it has already failed and the only way it could go is up.<\/p>\n

Therefore you should not be afraid – take the risk and prove yourself, as well as your boss, that you can turn it into success!<\/p>\n

6. Look for mentors<\/strong><\/p>\n

In every sector there are skillful and creative people who you can learn a lot from.<\/p>\n

A mentor will always share both their knowledge and experience and will guide you when you feel lost.<\/p>\n

If you have the chance to have a mentor, get it immediately since it will help you not only professionally but also personally.<\/p>\n

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7. Remain present<\/strong><\/p>\n

The quick development of technologies overall makes it a bit hard to stay on the same place.<\/p>\n

It requires constant changes and new skills.<\/p>\n

So, it is good to take any courses, read periodicals or take part in trade groups in order to stay up to date.<\/p>\n

8. Connect<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Of course, this is valid not only for your professional but also for your personal life.<\/p>\n

When you have a lot of contacts, more people will be aware of your competences.<\/p>\n

This will make it easier for you to get into the business.<\/p>\n

9. Win-win for everyone<\/strong><\/p>\n

Individuals love to win and feel successful.<\/p>\n

A crucial skill every project manager or IT executive should have is the ability to make people work with passion.<\/p>\n

When the team gets along, there is a desire for work and at the end the project succeeds, every member of the group will feel accomplished.<\/p>\n

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10. Give more<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the last advice Shacklett recalls an event – a senior app programmer wrote each app based on the user\u2019s specifications but thereafter he added something a bit more he knew would be useful for the user.<\/p>\n

By giving more than you are asked to, you will please your customers and this is impossible to remain unnoticed!<\/p>\n

John Reed<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In turn, John Reed gives only 5 advices for ways to enhance your IT career but they are just as valuable! Some of them overlap with Mary Shacklett\u2019s, while others are a bit different and even – on the contrary of hers.<\/p>\n

1. Master a new skill<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Reed agrees with the old saying that you can not stand in one place – you are either going up or down.<\/p>\n

This is very accurate in the IT sector since technology is evolving all the time.<\/p>\n

In order to stay current, you have to develop new skills that correspond to the new needs.<\/p>\n

We live in a time when all kinds of classes and courses are available on the market, so you should definitely take advantage!<\/p>\n

By becoming certified you add a new asset in your CV and become more competitive.<\/p>\n

2. Take on more projects<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Shacklett advised to take on failed projects and turn them all around.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Reed\u2019s opinion is that you should volunteer for any additional projects.<\/p>\n

Surely, you will have to work extra but it will make you more qualified.<\/p>\n

This will result in your value for the company getting bigger.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the project you may also network with more people from your job which can always be beneficial!<\/p>\n

Last but not least, you will prove yourself as a person who can be trusted.<\/p>\n

Exactly in the third advice is the big difference between Mary Shacklett and John Reed.<\/p>\n

While she advises you to get a mentor, he suggests:<\/p>\n

3. Become a mentor<\/strong><\/p>\n

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It is an amazing professional recognition to get the opportunity to guide your heirs.<\/p>\n

You have to spread what you have learnt by your professional experience and help the mentees understand your motives, goals and the steps toward achieving them.<\/p>\n

It is guaranteed that you too will learn a lot of new things in the process.<\/p>\n

4. Comfort zone – jumped over<\/strong><\/p>\n

Always challenge yourself with what scares you the most.<\/p>\n

No matter if it is making a presentation, taking on a project or representing your company on a meeting.<\/p>\n

Jumping over your comfort zone will make you the better professional you dream of being.<\/p>\n

5. Look for feedback<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Be broad-minded and open for new ideas or suggestions for improving your work!<\/p>\n

It is important to know how your managers view you as a worker and how do they evaluate your skills.<\/p>\n

Once you have received feedback, you will be able to work on further development of your communication skills, ability to work in a team, approach to problems and their solving.<\/p>\n

Moreover it is a good idea to ask questions about your presentation over it is over – for example in what ways it was helpful for your audience.<\/p>\n

Most demanded computer skills<\/h2>\n

Next we will present you a list with the 6 computer skills that are in a very high demand these days.<\/p>\n