book

The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit

by Matthew Moran

December 2004

Beginner

312 pages

6h 13m

English

Cisco Press

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Dedication
Who Should Read This Book?How to Use the ToolkitWhat Is the Toolkit Approach to Career Development?How This Book Is OrganizedThe Supplemental CD-ROM
Justifying the Need for an IT ToolkitActions & Ideas
The Danger of a Tool-Driven MindsetA Job Is Not a CareerPerspectives on Career Development: Careers Are NonlinearPerspectives on Career Development: A Working Plan Makes Tedious or Unrewarding Jobs BearableCareer Building ConclusionActions & Ideas
Why IT Is a Great CareerOptionsPerformance-Based AdvancementOpportunities for Continuous LearningPay and PerksWhat About Outsourcing?Outsourcing Is About Value, Not CostsThe Jobs That Won’t Be OutsourcedConclusionActions & Ideas
Considerations in Your Career ChoiceFactors to Help Decide Your Career Path: NeedsPayInsuranceTrainingCommute and Travel TimeWorking Conditions (People, Culture, Environment, Hours)Future Growth PotentialFactors to Help Decide Your Career Path: DesiresFactors to Help Decide Your Career Path: SkillsBeware: Analysis ParalysisConclusionActions & Ideas

The Power of Self-AssessmentThe Dangers of Self-AssessmentFour Questions of Self-AssessmentWhere the Four Questions Came FromQuestion 1: Do I Make My Employer’s Job Much Easier or Much More Difficult?Question 2: If I Gave Notice Today, Would My Employer Have an Instant Sense of Relief or Dread?Question 3: Do I Perform My Job Better Than My Employer Could Perform My Job If He/She Needed To?Question 4: If Asked How I Can Improve in My Job, Do I Cite External Factors—People and Resources—or Do I Take Responsibility?Conclusion: Making It PersonalActions & Ideas
The Effect of Attitude on Your CareerPositive Mental AttitudePMA Is Not a PanaceaPMA and a PlanBeware: Two Pitfalls of AttitudeUnrealistic ExpectationsSkill DeficitsThe Role of AttitudeWhat You Think of Your EmployerThe “Us Versus Them” MentalityManagement Got There by Luck or Schmoozing, AloneYour CoworkersHumble Arrogance: The Attitude of Personal ValueOwnershipThe Myth of the Self-Made ManAttitude ChecksConclusionActions & Ideas
Defining Communication SkillsThe Benefit of Communication Skills: An Effective Communicator Is Viewed as More IntelligentWritten CommunicationsGeneral GuidelinesThe LetterE-MailThe Well-Crafted ParagraphThe Well-Crafted PageVerbal CommunicationConversationPresentations and TrainingDon’t Wait Until You Are Asked to Speak to Learn This Vital SkillCover No More Than Three to Five Main PointsWork from an Outline, Not a ScriptLook at the AudienceA Brief Note on ListeningConclusionActions & Ideas
Your Technology SkillsThe Role of LearningThe Fear of ObsolescenceAnother Perspective: Transcendent SkillsReducing the PartsTips to Speed Up the Learning ProcessStart with ConceptsDon’t Study What You KnowDon’t Worry About Catching the Latest TrendFocus on Solutions, Not TechnologyConclusionActions & Ideas
The Purpose of Your Cover LetterThree Vital Ingredients in Your Cover LetterGratitude for the OpportunityA Significant AccomplishmentYour Interest in Becoming a ProducerConclusionActions & Ideas
Your Ambassador to the Professional WorldThe Purpose of Your RésuméDetermining Who Is Looking at Your RésuméBusy EmployersDisinterested EmployersRésumé BasicsLength: Brevity Is KeyNo ParagraphsBulleted ListsDocumenting Your Professional ExperienceA Note About Certifications/Degrees on Your RésuméGuidelines for Writing Your RésuméConclusionActions & Ideas
Correcting PerceptionIT Happens Outside of ITOther Avenues into ITAsk for What You WantAsk for AdviceConclusionActions & Ideas
Enjoy PeopleDevelop a PersonalityHave Other Areas of InterestEngage in ConversationTrack and Remember Your ContactsShare OpportunityConclusionActions & Ideas
Getting What You Want Requires Wanting SomethingDefining the Job SearchRemember: Looking for Work Is WorkThe Toolkit Approach to Finding a JobJob Search OutlineA Job Search ComparisonMethod 1: The Standard “Passive” Job SearchMethod 2: The Proactive Job SearchMethod 1 Versus Method 2A Word About the Out-of-Town SearchConclusionActions & Ideas
Practice Your Interview SkillsBe Prepared to Answer Difficult QuestionsWhat Professional Accomplishment Are You Most Proud Of?What Do You Feel Is Your Greatest Strength? Greatest Weakness?Why Are You Leaving Your Last Job?Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?After the InterviewConclusionActions & Ideas
Start EarlyKnow What You WantUnderstand the Employer’s PerspectiveBe CreativeBe FirmYour Worth to the CompanyNegotiations Never FailBe FlexibleEmployment AgreementsSeek Legal CounselAssumptionsDeliverablesBonuses and Performance PerksConclusionActions & Ideas
On the JobMaintaining and Building Your NetworkIdentifying Areas for SuccessAttitudeWorking for a Tyrant and Other JoysDetermine Whether Your Boss’s Actions Are Personality or PersonalUnderstand That People Are “Where They Are”Take an Objective Path to Evaluating What They SayHandling CriticismDetermine Whether What Someone Is Saying Is TrueDetermine Whether It Is Something You Need to ChangeTalk to Someone About a BehaviorDon’t Swallow Your Pride—Control ItConclusionActions & Ideas
Careers That Lend Themselves to TelecommutingThe Benefits for the EmployeeThe Benefits for the EmployerThe Concerns for the EmployeeThe Concerns for the EmployerConclusion: Next StepsKeys to Successful TelecommutingProject-Based/Free-Agent MindsetApply DisciplineClear ExpectationsTechnologies for the TelecommuterVPNsIM ServicesResources for the Home WorkerConclusionActions & Ideas
The Consulting LifeThe BenefitsRespectScheduleExciting ProjectsCompensationThe PitfallsBusiness Planning: Taxes, LegalBillingCurrent WorkloadInaccurate RecordsTrading Time for DollarsScheduleOngoing MarketingIdeas on Getting PublishedThe Process of Getting PublishedResources for the ConsultantCD-ROM Materials for the ConsultantConclusionActions & Ideas
LeadershipProcess and Time ManagementCritical Skills You Need NowPresentation and Meeting SkillsTeam-Building SkillsGive Credit Where Credit Is DuePromote Your Team and Its MembersFoster an Environment That Allows for (Even Celebrates) FailureCreate a Project/Contract Mentality with Those You Report to and Those Who Report to YouConclusionActions & Ideas
A Word About ValueBeing ProactiveUnderstanding Technology’s Role in the OrganizationMaintain a Business-First MentalityCreate Standards, Automation, or a Programmer’s ToolkitCreate a Peer Knowledge NetworkBe Known As the Go-To ResourceBe Ready and Willing to Take on the Necessary ResponsibilityHave Experts You Call On for Your OrganizationBe Passionate About Something!Never Blame, and Always Have a Corrective PlanAdopt Concept Over ProcessConclusionActions & Ideas
What to ExpectWhat Not to ExpectCOP ObjectivesCOP OriginsWhat Is a Process-Driven Mindset?The Role of TechnologyRole 1: Storage and Retrieval of InformationRole 2: The Automation of Delivery of Product or ServiceMoving from Process Driven to Concept DrivenA Concentric ViewA Note About TimeDeveloping Proactive SolutionsA Warning/SuggestionCOP Is Not About Technology!Start with the Goal of BusinessUnderstand Your Objective as an EmployeeWhat About Mission Statements?From Goal to AnalysisUnderstand the IndustryUnderstand the Business: The Organization’s Role in Its IndustryUnderstand the WorkflowUnderstand the Relationships: Interactions/DependenciesWorkflow AnalysisProject DefinitionMyth of LimitationWhat If?Congruencies, Incongruencies, and OmissionsCongruencies: What Currently WorksIncongruencies: What Currently Does Not WorkOmissions: What Is Currently Excluded or Not Addressed at AllConclusionActions & Ideas
Mentor CharacteristicsMentoring OthersWhat Qualifies Me as a Mentor?The Role of Mentor Is Not a Power PositionEncourage and StretchPoint to Other Mentors or ResourcesConclusionActions & Ideas
The Impact of Finances on Career BuildingFinancial Control Creates OptionsFinancial Control Is Largely MentalMoney Is a ToolDebt and SpendingSome Basics of Financial Planning and StabilityDefining a Basic BudgetDefining Your Core NeedsEstablishing Your Spending HistoryCreating Your BudgetCash Flow Summary: A Weekly PlanConclusionActions & Ideas

Content preview from The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit

Chapter 4. Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and Desires

Defining What You Do by Defining What You Are

Although many are excited about the prospect of a career in information technology (IT), many do so for the wrong reasons. Using income as a primary objective, while ignoring your ability to maintain the level of performance required in the hi-tech sector, can lead to burnout and frustration.

On the other hand, income is a powerful motivator and should not be ignored when determining career direction.

Creating a comprehensive picture of your skills and desires allows you to more quickly make career decisions that emphasize those factors, in turn increasing your enjoyment and performance on the job.

You’ve probably heard the question your entire life: ...