What steps do you plan to take in order to further your career this year? While there are plenty of resources available to help you advance yourself professionally, it’s often hard to know where to start.
Originally posted on Think IT.
Every New Year is an opportunity for a fresh start! Have you thought about what you would like to do differently in 2017? Maybe you want to switch to a healthier diet, become more involved in your local community, learn another language, save more money than in years past – the list could go on and on.
Most often, people think of how they can better themselves in their personal lives, but it’s also important to think of how you can improve at work. There are many ways in which you can improve professionally, such as learning new skills, increase your productivity and time management, or become a better organizer.
Now let’s take it one step further and not only think about how you can improve at work, but how can you advance in your IT career? What steps need to take place in achieving this? We’ve put together some suggestions to help you advance your career in 2017.
Learn the Business
As you move up the corporate ladder, those higher leadership roles will interact with departments other than IT within the organization. You can set yourself apart by having profound knowledge of the overall business and really challenge yourself to think about how IT can provide extra value for the organization.
If you’re not sure where to start to learn more about the business, you can start by meeting and talking with employees who work in other departments, or if you would prefer to learn on a more hands on basis, you can take a class related to the business.
Networking
It’s essential to network with others in IT, especially if you’ve worked with the same company for many years. Meeting fellow IT professionals has numerous benefits, but it can be overwhelming if you don’t have much experience doing so. In their article, Inc. offers tips to effective networking skills that are sure to make you a networking pro in no time.
Staying Relevant
Technology is always changing, so as an IT professional, you’ll want to be sure that you’re up-to-date with these industry trends. With the help of technology itself, it’s easy to be in the know of what happens in the realm of technology: utilizing Google alerts, reading online blogs and articles, social networking, etc.
Joining Groups
Participating in local groups can help you learn the business, network, and stay relevant on industry trends, AND can save you time by knocking each of these things off your list at once. There are hundreds of groups to choose from, depending on your location. Click here to learn more about our professional development association, Think IT, which offers groups specifically catered to your level in the IT industry.
What steps will you take professionally in 2017?
Posted By: Jaclyn Roman