The IT industry has more rapid changes and dynamic progression than almost any other vertical. Hardware is generally out of date less than a year after purchase and most software requires perpetual updates.
However, no matter what you do or how well you do it, there’s someone who is doing it better than you. So, what are you going to do about it?
Learn from them.
If you don’t have someone who is consistently coaching you and building your progress, you’re selling your future and your career short. Look for a career mentor; someone who is either a senior in your position or a few rungs up. It could also be someone one that you worked for at a past internship or just someone in your network that you look-up to. It will benefit you to shell out a few bucks on coffee every once in a while in order to pick their brain.
Having a mentor is also one of the quickest ways to learn the ropes on a new job. They can also help you hone your leadership style while looking towards upward mobility. Or simply have someone to candidly point out your weaknesses out so that you can improve.
They are not your boss.
Mentors are usually someone other than your boss. This allows professionals to accept what they say and learn from them quite differently than a boss. People tend to accept the validity of a mentor based on merit and relationship, rather than authoritative rule. This means professionals are more willing to make changes to better their performance.
Finding an IT mentor is not difficult – chances are you already have one, you just don’t think of them that way. Develop that relationship into a more specific purpose, whether it’s learning a new computer language from them or just getting their stance on new industry trends.
Work with a recruiter.
Recruiters can often act as a type of career mentor. Recruiters get to your know your career aspirations and can help you achieve them. Especially when your recruiter specializes in IT recruiting. They will know the hottest skills and certifications being sought after, as well as have established connections at top IT companies. In addition, recruiters have a lot of professional connections, who can help you network as you move up the career ladder.
At Cutting Edge Recruiting Solutions, we do just that. We can assess your skills and help place you on the path to achieving your IT career goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you succeed and open IT positions in Fort Lauderdale.
