You’ve worked hard to establish yourself as an IT professional. You’re educated, experienced and dedicated. But is your career really progressing the way you envisioned? There are steps you can take to make the most of your career in the long and short term.
Consider the following benefits that you should be looking for in your IT career.
It’s not all about the Benjamins
Money is great, of course, but not if the price you pay is working at an unfulfilling job 40, 60 or more hours a week. Perform due diligence to assess your market value. No one is suggesting that you work for minimum wage , but consider quality of life and not just quantity of cash when deciding whether to take a job. An interesting job at an awesome company might be worth accepting compensation closer to the middle of your salary range than the top.
Management might be an option
Or maybe not. Are you a heads-down coder who’d rather put on headphones and work independently and undisturbed? Or are your tech skills accompanied by people and leadership skills? Can you see yourself leading teams, managing projects or mentoring young techies? If so, spend some time analyzing how you can close any skills gaps that would keep you off the management track.
Make a roadmap
What’s your long-range vision of what you want your career to look like? Are you cool with working a short-term, high-paying gig to build up your savings, and then taking some time off to travel? Do you envision yourself rapidly climbing the corporate ladder? Is there a target company you want to get into? A city you’d like to relocate to? It’s critical to have your destination in mind to put the pieces in place to get there. And remember, only you know what is right for you.
Get out of your comfort zone.
If you have the opportunity to try out something you haven’t tried before or to cross-train, accept it. You’ll never really know what you enjoy or what you’ll be good at unless you give it a try. Don’t be afraid to take a lateral move or even a step back if it can move your career in the right direction.
Need more advice on getting the most out of your IT career? Contact the IT recruiting experts at The Squires Group. We can help you line up project jobs or long-term opportunities that will move your career in the direction you want it to go. Contact us today to get started.
