Professional development is so important for IT people. We’re part of an industry that attracts some of the best and brightest minds, and is on the forefront in developing and maintaining the systems that define how we live and work. That’s why we want to recommend that everyone – from new candidates at the beginning of their careers, to established professionals with years of experience – commit to refresh their skills and stay on top of the learning curve at each stage in your professional life.
Are you in a rut? It’s easy to get a little too comfortable in your work. Many of us only start to think about updating our skills when we’re faced with a change in job description, or when we start to think of looking for new opportunities. Here at Market Street Talent, we specialize in matching the best IT candidates with great new opportunities. We know that some of the best people we’ve seen are committed to staying current and cultivating in-demand skills. That’s why today, we’re presenting you with a list of suggestions that can help anyone to identify areas for learning and growth:
1) Read up on the latest trends. Stay informed by reading respected trade and industry publications. If you have a social network of professional peers, check out the articles and information they’re sharing. Also do your homework about where the newest jobs are. (You can start by checking our jobs page.)
2) Don’t have a professional network? You need to develop one to continue your professional growth. Find a mentor. Join an online community, such as GitHub, a meet-up group, or start working with other coders on a personal project. This is a great way to work on new skills, learn from other participants, and get a feel for what other members of your professional community are doing.
3) Already have a job? Study up on the technologies that are complementary and / or integrated with your company’s latest software and systems. Anything that you can learn about how to enhance its usability will make you an asset to your team and increase your transferable skills if you choose to leave the organization.
4) Check out the competition. Learn about applications used by major industry organizations in your field. Also think about the skill set possessed by the latest team hire, or the colleague you work with that you most admire. How can you emulate or adopt the strategies that are working for your most successful peers?
5) Choose a “hard skills” area that you need to develop. Are you an expert in virtualization, cloud systems, mobile management, SQL, .NET, Java, Hadoop, database administration, software engineering, or systems management? No one knows everything. Pick an area or new language that complements your existing skill set and get learning.
6) Window shop for new skills by checking out the online coding websites to try out languages and programming techniques outside your area of expertise. Take an online class, if you can. Or, learn by doing. Start up a pet project at home, or get ambitious and ask your current employer for new opportunities to learn.
7) If you’re employed for a company that isn’t using the latest versions and staying up to date, find out if you can load and test the software upgrades to learn about it for future reference. You come off as a self-starter, become an invaluable resource for the future and have a great learning opportunity stay current with the latest tools out there.
8) Develop your “soft skills” and business intelligence. Whether you’re an ambitious fresh face with a lot to prove or an experienced coder, you’ll want to acquire the top interpersonal skills that will keep you in-demand. Practice communicating clearly with other departments, meeting deadlines, staying cool and pragmatic under pressure, and working well with team members. Stretch outside of your comfort zone every so often by taking on the project no one wants. You’ll earn a positive reputation and gain experience that will mean as much to your future success as your tech skills do.
Finally, build your career by maintaining a high degree of flexibility. The ability to adapt and problem solve is so important for tech people – don’t ever lose your edge. And if you want to find out more about the latest skills in-demand, check out our jobs page or contact us at Market Street Talent. We want to hear from you!