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Building Your I.T. Career: A Complete Toolkit for a Dynamic Career in Any Economy, 2nd Edition
- By Matthew Moran
- Published Feb 25, 2013 by Pearson IT Certification.
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Description
- Copyright 2013
- Dimensions: 7-3/8" x 9-1/8"
- Edition: 2nd
- eBook
- ISBN-10: 0-13-297825-3
- ISBN-13: 978-0-13-297825-5
Building Your I.T. Career
A Complete Toolkit for a Dynamic Career in Any Economy
Second Edition
Break in. Move up. Earn more. Stay on top.
Get the I.T. career edge you need right now!
“They” say it’s tougher now to build a great career in I.T. “They” complain about outsourcing, cutbacks, and the tough economy. Don’t complain: act! Right this minute, outstanding I.T. jobs and careers are out there: You just have to know how to get them! This 100% I.T.-focused, up-to-the-minute toolkit delivers all the insider skills and insights you need to get your next great tech job now—and build lifelong success in the industry. It will help you plan your career, set achievable goals, organize them into practical action items, and make it happen!
Totally updated for today’s newest hiring trends, Building Your I.T. Career, Second Edition is packed with examples from real I.T. pros and hiring decision-makers, it will help you get in, get promoted, get raises, and stay in demand—one easy step at a time!
-- Focus on the I.T. careers you'll be happiest and most successful in
-- Discover what opportunity looks like today—and how to take advantage of it
-- Adopt the proactive attitudes associated with I.T. career success
-- Master the personal communication skills you need to get a job—and succeed when you have it
-- Develop more effective cover letters and resumes, and interview brilliantly
-- Break in to I.T. for the first time
-- Build your social media and offline networks, and use them to supercharge your job search
-- Negotiate salary and employment agreements that get you what you deserve
-- Learn (and do) what it takes to get promoted
-- Take advantage of telecommuting and consulting options
-- Move into management (if that's what you want)
-- Use mentors and career coaches effectively
-- Become a high-priced hourly consultant
-- Gain the personal financial discipline that liberates you to choose your best career options
-- Make yourself nearly indispensable
Sample Content
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I: Your Career
Chapter 1: The Toolkit Approach to Career Development
Justifying the Need for an I.T. Toolkit
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 2: Career Building Defined
The Danger of a Tool-Driven Mindset
A Job Is Not a Career
Perspectives on Career Development: Careers Are Nonlinear
Perspectives on Career Development: A Working Plan Makes Tedious or Unrewarding Jobs Bearable
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 3: Information Technology: A Great Career
Why I.T. Is a Great Career
Options
Performance-Based Advancement
Opportunities for Continuous Learning
Pay and Perks
What About Outsourcing?
Outsourcing Is About Value, Not Costs
The Jobs That Won’t Be Outsourced
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 4: Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and Desires
Considerations in Your Career Choice
Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Needs
Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Desires
Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Skills
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part II: Filling Your Toolkit
Chapter 5: Self-Assessment
The Power of Self-Assessment
The Dangers of Self-Assessment
Four Questions of Self-Assessment
The Origin of the Four Questions
Question 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 Personal
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 6: Attitude
The Effect of Attitude on Your Career
Positive Mental Attitude
PMA Is Not a Panacea
PMA and a Plan
Beware: Two Pitfalls of Attitude
Unrealistic Expectations
Skill Deficits
The Role of Attitude
What You Think of Your Employer
The “Us Versus Them” Mentality
Management Got There by Luck or Schmoozing, Alone
Your Coworkers
Humble Arrogance: The Attitude of Personal Value
Ownership
The Myth of the Self-Made Man
Attitude Checks
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 7: Communication Skills
Defining Communication Skills
The Benefit of Communication Skills: An Effective Communicator Is Viewed as More Intelligent
Written Communications
General Guidelines
The Letter
The Well-Crafted Paragraph
The Well-Crafted Page
Online Presence/Social Media
Verbal Communication
Conversation
Presentations and Training
Don’t Wait Until You Are Asked to Speak to Learn This Vital Skill
Cover No More Than Three to Five Main Points
Work from an Outline, Not a Script
Maintain Eye Contact with Your Audience
A Brief Note on Listening
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 8: Technical Skills
Your Technology Skills
The Role of Learning
The Fear of Obsolescence
Another Perspective: Transcendent Skills
Reducing the Parts
Tips to Speed Up the Learning Process
Start with Concepts
Don’t Study What You Know
Don’t Worry About Catching the Latest Trend
Focus on Solutions, Not Technology
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 9: The Cover Letter
The Purpose of Your Cover Letter
Three Vital Ingredients in Your Cover Letter
Gratitude for the Opportunity
A Significant Accomplishment
Your Interest in Becoming a Producer
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 10: The Resumé
Your Ambassador to the Professional World
The Purpose of Your Resumé
Determining Who Is Looking at Your Resumé
Busy Employers
Disinterested Employers
Resumé Basics
Length: Brevity Is Key
No Paragraphs
Bulleted Lists
Documenting Your Professional Experience
Guidelines for Writing Your Resumé
Writing Your Resumé for Electronic Submissions and Online Optimization
Video Resumés
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part III: Putting Your Toolkit to Use
Chapter 11: Breaking In to I.T.
Correcting Perception
I.T. Happens Outside of I.T.
Other Avenues into I.T.
Interning
Ask for What You Want
Ask for Advice
Beware Your Online Persona
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 12: Building an Active Contact List
Enjoy People
Develop a Personality
Have Other Areas of Interest
Engage in Conversation
Track and Remember Your Contacts
Share Opportunity
Professional Networking and Social Media
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 13: The Job Search
Getting What You Want Requires Wanting Something
Defining the Job Search
Remember: Looking for Work Is Work
The Toolkit Approach to Finding a Job
Job Search Outline
A Job-Search Comparison
Method 1: The Standard “Passive” Job Search
Method 2: The Proactive Job Search
Method 1 Versus Method 2
A Word About the Out-of-Town Search
Social Media and the Job Search
Gentle Reminders
Don’t Overfocus on Social Media
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 14: The Interview
Practice Your Interview Skills
Be Prepared to Answer Difficult Questions
Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
After the Interview
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 15: Salary Negotiations and Employment Agreements
Start Early
Know What You Want
Understand the Employer’s Perspective
Be Creative
Be Firm
Your Worth to the Company
Negotiations Never Fail
Be Flexible
Employment Agreements
Seek Legal Counsel
Assumptions
Deliverables
Bonuses and Performance Perks
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 16: On-the-Job Promotion
On the Job
Maintaining and Building Your Network
Identifying Areas for Success
Attitude
Working for a Tyrant and Other Joys
Determine Whether Your Boss’s Actions Are Personality or Personal
Understand That People Are “Where They Are”
Take an Objective Path to Evaluating What They Say
Handling Criticism
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 17: Your Career and Social Media
Social Media/Social Network Definition
Privacy Concerns
What Is Your Use of Social Media?
Just Personal
Just Business
The Crossover: Business and Personal
Not a Professional Networking Replacement
The Seven People You Cannot Be Online
The Angry Individual
The Conspiracy Theorist
The Party Animal
Vulgar Vicky or Lewd Larry
The Unwanted Kisser
The Used Car Salesman
The Family Strife Poster
How to Use Social Media Effectively
Share Knowledge
Share Opportunities
Put Relationships In Context
Assessing Your Use of Social Media
Social Media Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part IV: More Options to Build Your Career
Chapter 18: Telecommuting
Careers That Lend Themselves to Telecommuting
The Benefits for the Employee
The Benefits for the Employer
The Concerns for the Employee
The Concerns for the Employer
Conclusion: Next Steps
Keys to Successful Telecommuting
Project-Based/Free-Agent Mindset
Apply Discipline
Clear Expectations
Technologies for the Telecommuter
Resources for the Home Worker
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 19: Consulting
The Consulting Life
The Benefits
Respect
Schedule
Exciting Projects
Compensation
The Pitfalls
Business Planning: Taxes, Legal
Billing
Trading Time for Dollars
Schedule
Ongoing Marketing
Resources for the Consultant
Online Supplements for the Consultant
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 20: Management
Leadership
Process and Time Management
Critical Skills You Need Now
Presentation and Meeting Skills
Team-Building Skills
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part V: The Value-Added Toolkit
Chapter 21: Make Yourself Indispensable
A Word About Value
Being Proactive
Understanding Technology’s Role in the Organization
Maintain a Business-First Mentality
Create Standards, Automation, or a Programmer’s Toolkit
Create a Peer Knowledge Network
Be Known as the Go-To Resource
Be Ready and Willing to Take On the Necessary Responsibility
Have Experts You Call On for Your Organization
Be Passionate About Something!
Never Blame, and Always Have a Corrective Plan
Adopt Concept Over Process
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 22: Concept Over Process
What to Expect
What Not to Expect
COP Objectives
COP Origins
What Is a Process-Driven Mindset?
The Role of Technology
Moving from Process Driven to Concept Driven
A Concentric View
A Note About Time
Developing Proactive Solutions
A Warning/Suggestion
COP Is Not About Technology!
Start with the Goal of Business
Understand Your Objective as an Employee
What About Mission Statements?
From Goal to Analysis
Understand the Industry
Understand the Business: The Organization’s Role in Its Industry
Understand the Workflow
Understand the Relationships: Interactions/Dependencies
Workflow Analysis
Project Definition
Congruencies: What Currently Works
Incongruencies: What Currently Does Not Work
Omissions: What Is Currently Excluded or Not Addressed at All
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 23: The Role of Mentoring
Mentor Characteristics
Mentoring Others
What Qualifies Me as a Mentor?
The Role of Mentor Is Not a Power Position
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 24: Career Coaching
Career Coaching Topics
What to Look for in a Career Coach
What to Expect from Your Career Coach
A Methodology or Approach
Coaching Styles
An Initial Assessment
A Positive Attitude
Clear Communications
The Limitations of a Career Coach
Fix Irresponsible Career Mistakes
Improve Your Skill Set
Land You a Job
Individual Coaching Versus Group Coaching
Group Coaching
Individual Coaching
How Coaching Is Structured
How Much Does Coaching Cost
Coaching as a Career Path
The Traits of an Effective Career and Business Coach
The Benefits of Being a Career Coach
Getting Started as a Career Coach
A Final Word on Coaching
Topics of Discussion
Chapter 25: Financial Control
The Impact of Finances on Career Building
Financial Control Creates Options
Financial Control Is Largely Mental
Money Is a Tool
Debt and Spending
Some Basics of Financial Planning and Stability
Defining a Basic Budget
Creating Your Budget
Cash-Flow Summary: A Weekly Plan
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 26: A Professional Blog
What Is a Blog?
Really Simple Syndication and Notifications
How Do Blogs Work?
Why You Should Blog
Sharing Expertise
Search Engine Ranking
Be Positioned As an Expert
Blogging Basics
Schedule
Quantity or Length
Multipart Blog Post
What to Write About
Writing Style: Tone and Voice
Blogging Multimedia
Energy, Energy, Energy
Using WordPress
Content Management
Hosting Options
Domain Registration and Hosting
Themes (Layouts)
Plug-Ins
Sidebar Widgets
Customizations
Getting Started with WordPress
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 27: 12 Weeks to Profitable Consulting
About 12 Weeks
A Week-by-Week Overview
Your Starting Point
What Does Profitable Mean?
The Profitable Consulting Toolkit
A Website/Blog
What You Need on Your Website
Home
Services
About
Transition from Selling You to Selling the Company
Contact
Other Web Content
My Website: MatthewMoranOnline.com
Business Cards
Mailing List/Newsletter
Don’t Advertise, Teach
What to Include
Newsletter Distribution
Your Services
Exercise 1: Why Do You Want to Be a Consultant?
Exercise 2: What Can You/Should You Be Paid For?
Sales and Marketing Basics
The “I’m a High-Value Solution” Perspective
Developing Your Pitch
Your First Case Study
The Case Study Framework
How to Use Your Case Studies
Tools for Tracking Your Business
Managing Your Time and Tasks
It Isn’t the System But Being Diligent with a System
Clarity and Reduced Mental Noise
Establish a Routine: Your Ideal Day/Your Ideal Week
Using Google Calendar
Pre 12-Week Kickoff: Getting You Ready
Let’s Hang a Shingle and Win a Client
How to Use the 12 Weeks
Review Constantly
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 28: Be Proactive! Be Positive! Add Value! Share Opportunity!
No Job Makes a Career, No Job Breaks a Career
Adversity Happens
Overcoming Adversity
Talk to Someone
Look at What You Can Be Grateful For
Set a Schedule
Find Someone You Can Be Accountable To
Find an Easy Success
Staying Engaged with Your Career
Always Have a Pet Project
Surround Yourself with Positive People
Take a Leader to Lunch Once in Awhile
Spread a Little Bit of Passion or Excitement About Technology to Youth
You Make a Difference
Where Do You Go from Here?
Appendix: My Reading List
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