Technology still reigns as king of opportunity and is increasing in opportunity. However, a high level of skill is usually required to garner top dollar positions. Technology professionals with networking skills, application development and internet development skills are in demand. Technical people have to be very careful, though in building a solid base of in-demand skills which often require additional training.
Technology professionals will want to keep an eye on developing and keeping other skills in the forefront to ensure opportunities are maximized. If an individual is viewed as too technical or not flexible, this person could be in danger of being outsourced by a contractor and may not be considered for management positions. In the field of information technology there is constant change and although there may be many jobs to choose from, people in this field should always be preparing for their next move or what they might do if they are suddenly without employment. People who have been in the business for a while may also want to consider if they will want to be doing the same type of work 5 - 10 years in the future. The frequency of technology jobs being on a contract basis and prone to outsourcing favors the flexible and those who really know their craft. Negotiation is a skill that can help in maximizing contract work. The following are key tips for technology professionals:
1. Take a realistic assessment of your skills including skills gaps.
Many professionals are self-taught in addition to formal training. Gaps may also result from the rapid change that occurs naturally in technology. In order to be honest and realistic, make sure you talk to others in the industry. Your peers, gurus you respect and potential hiring managers can easily tell you where they feel your strengths and weakness are.
2. Based on your skills assessment, put together a current profile of skills.
This isn't a resume, but a checklist or grid of the pertinent skills and how they can be used. Include all languages along with an experience level.
3. Based on the current profile, put together a short term (1 -3 year) and longer term (3 -5 year) strategy for improving weak areas, increasing areas of depth or learning new things that will augment your profile.
Include one area that you feel may not be prominent today but could be in demand in the future. In this way you can establish your core skill sets while betting on one potentially profitable skill set. Many pros simply meander through the learning process and let the projects they're working on dictate this path. Being more proactive can benefit your resume, hold your interest and spark better opportunities for growth.
4. Approach your current management with a professional development plan for additional education and training.
Make sure that you have justification for the expenditures in terms of company projects and goals. Whether these are classroom courses or bootcamps, online training or manuals - make sure they fit into the strategy you've developed in #3. Create a budget from your own pocket for professional development whether you receive any help from your company or not. While it's nice to know if they are interested in developing you for the future, you can't afford to wait and see if they will.
5. Improve your communication skills.
Better skills in every area (verbal, non-verbal, interpersonal, written) of communication is important. Companies still struggle to find technology people who understand the business and business people who understand the technology. Having exceptional communication skills can provide project management or even sales opportunities and the ability to be seen by important players in your company. Having great communication skills, especially in writing, can also help you generate a great side income in technical writing or helping clients plan technology development projects.
6. Develop a side career and income with your skills.
During times of change and career transition, it is nice to have a way to create income while you search for the right position. Your skills and abilities can help you garner positions teaching technology or contract positions developing products and applications. Having additional experience is always valuable and has the possibility of turning into a whole new career opportunity.
7. Aim high, avoiding assumptions
Being intimately involved in technology can make you disdainful of new ideas, concepts or possibilities. Avoid the temptation to assume you know where products and technology services are going or the temptation to stick to your specific point of view. Some professionals struggle with this in trying to get their organizations to adopt certain standards or protocols or in trying to migrate from a purely technical position to a blended or management position. Being a proactive, enthusiastic and positive problem solver is an asset to any company no matter what your professional skill.
8. Be organized and expand on known methods for communicating technology and technical solutions to others
Business development and sales positions are always in demand for proven leaders. However, sales professionals should avoid highly leveraged positions and unrealistic quotas. Depending on the product, company reputation and industry penetration / saturation the task could be a thankless one. Technology professionals are naturals for sales positions if they possess good communication skills.
Healthcare is an expanding industry that is expected to grow dramatically in the next few years. Many companies will naturally look for experience in healthcare first. However, technology professionals can capitalize on the growing need for technology systems to manage the huge amount of data collected and managed by healthcare professionals and institutions.
Education is a fantastic field for technology professionals due to the emergence and maturing of the elearning field. Technology professionals with superior communication skills can always find work as technology instructors. It you have good writing skills, there are also freelance opportunities for technology professionals who understand technology and can explain it in writing to others. Technical writers can create technical manuals and documentation for end users and administrators.
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