Successful technical careers don’t happen by accident. They are planned by professionals who understand the fast-changing pace of their field and the factors that influence its growth and development. To plan your own IT career, keep these tips in mind:
Get ready to play the game.
“Gamification” is the rising buzzword in tech recruiting. The technique places candidates in specific creative or technical challenges to evaluate their performance against one another. In the workplace itself, managers are taking hold of gamification to break down work tasks, encourage friendly competition and cooperation, and to improve productivity.
Build your soft skills.
Twenty or thirty years ago, technical expertise was enough to thrive in the IT world simply because nobody had them. Today, however, it’s not enough to simply understand Java or coding, even if you’re a master at them. To unlock the best job opportunities, you’ll also need to build your transferable or “soft” skills, like leadership, project organization, and communication.
Communication is particularly prized in companies that require staff to be able to explain their work in simple terms to a variety of audiences. Brushing up on your speaking or writing skills here can pay off in both the short and long term.
Think globally.
Technology makes it possible for companies to expand from a regional to a global-based system. Many are doing precisely that – and developing their IT teams accordingly. Fusing global applications, processes, and networks requires finely honed technical skills, and the ability to communicate across departments to develop a clear understanding of what is needed and what is possible.
Start seeking out projects and opportunities that let you demonstrate your ability to transfer a workplace from a regional to a global system. Focus not only on your technical skills but also your accomplishments at “getting inside the heads of” regional users to predict their most likely challenges on a global system and ways to reduce the difficulty or stress during a transition.
At Burnett’s Staffing, our experienced recruiters can help you plan and prepare for the IT career of your dreams – and find the employer who will support your endeavors. Contact us today to learn more about our technical staffing services in Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond.
Burnett’s Staffing