Study: Not all entry-level IT work headed offshore

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I would pick one major IT industry skill you have a passion for and maybe a couple minors ones and learn that inside and out....not a little of everything at once. At some point, we all know a little of everything from trying to solve problems on the job. Saying you know everything on paper and certificates mean nothing, in my opinion. Most people are looking for and expert in a specific field who can solve immediate business problems using that core technology and someone to do one general practice well. You will pick up the rest on the job, if you are a newbie. So I would focus all your energy into training in that area.

Build stuff for fun on your own using that skill, interact with people who do the same in your city, as well as online. Stay in school and build knowledge around a core competancy...like Network Engineering, Security, or Software Engineering. Meet people in community colleges with the same skill...they will get hired and recommend you. Make sure you just surround yourself with everything that has to do with one major IT interest and the people who have a passion for that....dont try and learn it all, despite what job boards say.

And just remember, there will be fewer people who "know it all" as those people become mediocre at everything rather than expert at a one. I know...I was the only engineer for a services firm some years back after layoff after layoff and helped them climb back from obscurity and being in the red after the dotbomb era, but it didnt help my core skill set killing myslef trying to know everything and do a little of everything. So, I would ignore job descriptions that say to have certifications and know all types of different industry technologies, as thats just a cover to weed out the bad eggs. If you have few certifications but have a solid long term experience in an arm of the industry with a huge resume where you can show you have built and engineered and solved solutions for corporations using various technologies, and were good at it and can show that in some way you have expertise in one core field, then you should get hired for a job in that field over a newbie who has lots of paper from many things but little experience. Any employer who does differently I would question. Unless those guys are looking for an army of Microsoft clones, I would think TALENT and INNOVATION in Information Technology is more valuable than knowledge workers. There is a difference! If you can show you have the energy and talent and skills to dive in and solve someone's problem immediately, who gives a @!&*# what your credentials say. Its all about the money!

So, that means take your specialty skill, work it, build smaller skills around it over time, then intern or network to get your foot in with a company that has any kind of basic position using that skill. Its the experience you need, so you need to start at the bottom...even if for free! Once you have that, its all up from there. Remember, its no different from any field...follow your "passion", not the money trail, and you will find your way. Do what you love!

Posted by: wildranger   Posted on: 07/16/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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