Maybe you’ve reached a point where you’re looking for a new job. Likewise, you may be trying to get a promotion with your current employer or are looking to change departments. Regardless of your exact scenario, you’re trying to further your career in IT.
Even if you’re not trying to land a new job, the importance of taking the necessary steps to position yourself better in your career development should not be understated. With the many technological changes happening all around us, it’s unwise to expect that the position you currently have will remain the same for a long time to come. That said, here are several tips on how to improve your career as an IT professional.
Develop Soft Skills
When it comes to career development in the 21st century, probably nothing is as important as having soft skills. While automation is taking over many technical or hard skills, soft skills are gaining more and more prominence.
By soft skills, we are talking about people/interpersonal skills like attitude, communication, creative thinking, networking, work ethic, time management, motivation, teamwork, conflict resolution, decision making, flexibility, critical thinking, and problem-solving, among others.
While you may be extremely good at what you do, without these skills, you are missing out on many opportunities for career advancement and development.
Network
While on the topic of soft skills, expanding your network of contacts in the tech world and beyond is never a bad idea. In fact, this is where most opportunities will arise. As far as social platforms are concerned, LinkedIn is great for professional networking in a digital environment. You shouldn’t neglect your personal branding either. Another great way is to attend conferences and workshops. Many companies send out their senior IT employees at these events, allowing you to meet with experts and even participate in hands-on training.
Learn a New IT Skill
Almost no other industry at the moment is in as constant a state of change as Information Technology. As a professional in this field, you should always be on top of emerging trends and developing your IT skills. Otherwise, you risk becoming obsolete. As such, you should never stop learning as new opportunities are always on the rise. If you’re among the first to develop an emerging skill, you can be sure that advancement is not far behind.
Get Your Certifications
Last, but not least, are your IT certifications. These are a great way of backing up your learning by having more to add to your resume. Learning a new skill is great, but being able to attach a certificate or a title to it is even better, particularly in terms of your career development. You can be sure that a certificate will carry more weight with a potential employer than just experience alone.
That said, you don’t have to learn an entirely new skill to get certified. For instance, if you’ve been working in security for years, it’s probably time to get your IT security certificate.
With MyComputerCareer, you will be able to earn valuable IT certifications from leading organizations such as Microsoft, Cisco Systems, CompTIA, and EC-Council. We offer quick programs with flexible scheduling that include IT certifications, lifetime career services, and job placement for graduates. Contact us today for more information.