There’s a revolution under way in the IT job market. Employers are desperate to find professionals with expertise in high-demand areas like mobile app development, cloud computing and business analytics. But they also need well-rounded individuals with sharp business acumen and well-developed communication and interpersonal capabilities.
How can you become this ideal candidate?
Yes, there is an IT skills gap. But it’s not necessarily limited to a lack of technical skills. It also involves strategic skills, which managers are increasingly demanding of everyone in their departments. These include:
- Business analysis.
- Relationship building.
- Understanding the value of IT to the entire enterprise.
- Navigating internal politics.
In addition to having the right education, training, certification and experience, you need to build all these into your career management strategy. If you do it right, you’ll have your choice of places to work.
Be a Lifelong Learner
Successful IT experts never stop learning. Your academic degrees are only the beginning. Companies will train the technical staffs for what they need. It’s up to you to be sure you get what you need to stay current and continually advance along your chosen career path.
- Differentiate yourself. For instance, pursue a Bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and then a Master’s in business administration. Be a tech savvy generalist who also is highly knowledgeable on the business side.
- Pursue professional certification. In addition to Project Management Professional (PMP), options are available in myriad IT specialty areas, from storage, programming, mobility and Big Data to IT governance, virtualization, wireless networking, Linus, and information security.
The Downsizing of Corporate IT
Since the Great Recession, corporate IT departments have shrunk and there’s no indication that lost positions will be replaced in the near future, if at all. A current trend calls for a core group of A-list generalists to work in house, supplemented by a league of contractors and freelancers who may comprise up to 75 percent of an organization’s total IT workforce.
- Are you an administrator or an engineer? Ask yourself: Would you rather write software, create and maintain databases and develop apps or install software and manage systems or remote access solutions? Administrators focus more on mechanical and problem-solving duties, are more visible, and tend to wind up managing teams or performing some type of consulting service. Engineers develop applications for systems and databases rather than concentrating on the workings of a system itself. They’re more introverted, typically content to work within their own group and make a cube or office their home.
As you decide the direction of your IT career, your Magellan recruiter will work with you to match your personal goals and values with the position that best suits you. Read our related posts or contact us today to learn more.