Whether you’re a long time IT professional with a proven track record, or a newly minted tech talent with plans to go places, we’ve got some friendly career advice that will keep you moving ahead to reach your goals and give you the edge in a job hunt for new opportunities!
During our time matching top candidates with the best opportunities, we’ve run across an ‘operating system’ of best practices used by some of the most successful tech professionals in the field. We wanted to take a little time to share them here, because anyone can develop these skills. Read on for a top five list of best practices for any professional at any stage of his or her career:
1) Play up your skills outside tech. It is vitally important that you are able to articulate and highlight your strengths. Interpersonal skills can make or break the deal when you’re networking, during an interview, or while you’re working on the job after the hire. That’s why it’s so important to spend a little time thinking about what your strengths are: Are you organized? Would others say you’re an effective team or project leader? Do you have outstanding creative skills, or are you an analytical thinker that can diagnose problems with accuracy and objectivity? Whatever you’ve got, play to your strengths on the job. Then find a good example or story from your work history and be sure to highlight it when you’re out on a job search.
2) Keep your tech skills sharp and up to date. This is great advice for job seekers, and anyone who wants a long and productive career in tech. Most coders, developers and engineers are already doing this because they’re naturally curious, but we just wanted to share a friendly reminder that the best way to stay on top in your field is to stay passionate about it. So read books and join online communities. Try to carve out a little time to take on additional responsibilities at work, or a few classes. Decide to specialize or generalize in your area of expertise. Take whatever approach you think will contribute to your professional growth and keep you excited about coding.
3) Cross some boundaries. Sometimes, even the most analytical thinkers among us need to get creative and shake things up. Maybe your job search is stalling because you’re not trying new approaches, such as social networking or checking out the listings on a new IT job board. Or, maybe you’ve gotten too specific and need to inject some fresh life in your search by researching new companies and opportunities. On the job, are you sticking to the same routines because they’re comfortable, instead of branching out from your usual area of expertise? Sometimes the best thing you can do is to see the problem from a new perspective.
4) Keep networking. Connections with other people are so important. Networking is the best way to find work, advance in your career and even to improve your professional skills. You’ve got to cross-pollinate with other professionals to get to ideas that lead to solutions at work – and even in your personal life. Always maintain your contacts, especially when you’re not looking for work. For some great tips on how to network, check out our Market Street blog here.
5) Stay on top of the developments in the market - even when you’re not job hunting. How will you effectively network, or know where to invest your time learning new skills if you’re not in the know about what’s happening in your field? You should be spending a little time each week reading industry articles. Participate on social media. Do your homework, and keep yourself connected.
Bonus tip: If you’re searching for the right new opportunity, get connected with Market Street Talent. We invite you to learn more about the current opportunities available and get in touch. We want to hear from you!