10 TOP DO'S AND DON'TS FOR YOUR IT CAREER

1.DO PLAN AND EXECUTE YOUR CAREER IN A PROACTIVE MANNER:

It is not enough to work or to decide that you want a career in IT. Set your career goals and determine the steps you should take to realise your goals. Don't approach your career in an unplanned manner by simply hoping for the best. Askyourself these questions: where are you? waht are your goals? how are you progressing, and how do you want to progress? take an honest look at your situation and take control. review trends in the It industry and your needs. The plan should be based on information gathered from credible sources. Be realistic by setting attainable goals.And make sure you execute the plan.

2. DON'T FOCUS ON IT CAREER AND TRENDS:

New products and fads are the order of the day in the IT industry, especially in the career sector. Examples are new certificated and the latest taining programmes. IT professionals need to observe these trends to remain relevant. However, though training and certification have their uses, they should not be your focus. training, formula education and certification should not be pursued without regard to your career goals. Use them as stepping-stones to where you're going. Employ training certification or other career tools if and when they align with your career- goals short and long-term. It doesn't make sense to aim for a 'hot' certification that won't help your career growth.

3. DO HAVE A PASSION FOR IT:

Do you enjoy what you do in IT? An IT career is just like choosing any other career. If you have no talent for it and no interest in it, don't bother with it. It is not for everyone. The course, degree or certification you take is of no effect if you are not excited about what you do. You will find it easy to motivate yourself when you enjoywhat you do. When you have a passion for IT, you find it easy to learn and make yourself better at what you do. Consider the nature of the job, stress factor and work environment, as well as work requirement. You must love what you do to reach high levels of achievement.

4. DON'T BUILD YOUR CAREER ON UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS:

The'get rich quick' belief is the most unrealistic expectation of many who opt for It careers. If money is your sole aim, you won't last under the intense workload and incredible ate of change. IT is professionally and financially rewarding if you focus on acquiring practical skills and building your career rather than on immediate benefits.

Also, don't confuse training and certification with a career. Education and certification will gave you skills and knowledge, but you still need experience and attitude. Certification, training and experience have different roles to play. It is your responsibility to know which from of expertise you require as you progress on your career path.

5. DO FOCUS ON GAINING USEFUL EXPERIENCE:

There's no substitite for the experience of solving real world problems. Much of the skills and knowledge of an IT professional is gained through practical experience. However, experience is not just about the number of years you've spent on the job. It is about job effectiveness and capability. The quality of your experience is reflected in your ability to provide solutions quickly and creatively. Sometimes you may need to volunteer or take less what you feel you deserve to get the experience you need.

6.DON'T BURN BRIDGES:

When you change jobs, don't burn bridges you might need tomorrow. Despite any misgivings you might have, make sure you are learning on a positive note. Be professional in handling issues such as notice of disengagement, hand-over of work and relation with your colleagues and ex-employer. You never know where your paths might cross in the future. It alsohelps to build up good references from ex-employers. You've also able to build your own personal network fo individuals on whom you can rely for advice, job leads, tecnical assistance and other helpful support.

7.DO DEVELOP SOFT SKILLS:

You may need to bring one or more of the following soft skills to the table: communication skills teamwork skills, organisational skills, leadership skills, sales skills, presentation skills and bussiness skills. Can you motivate teammates to perform? Do you interact succesfully with customers? Do you understand the business issues driving the IT solution you provide? Hoe do you give value(tech and non-tech) to your clients and employers?

8. DON'T RUN FROM CHALLENGES:

Rather than running from challenges you should look for ways in which the challenges will make you a better IT professional. Tackling challenges requires resourcefulness on your part. You may need to do the research and interact with more experienced colleagues. Often challenges can offer you the highest growth potential. The more you can do, the more valuable you are. The challenges might be an oppurtunity to develop you soft skills or it might be an oppurtunity to conquer a difficult area and carve a niche for yourself.

9.DO KEEP ON LEARNING:

Knowledge and experience come first in the IT industry. What is the level of your expertise with current tecnologies and your knowledge of new and upcoming technologies that might affect your career? Lifelong learning is essential for IT professionals. What is in demand today may be obsolete tomorrow, especially in IT. Stay current with the latest trends through seminars, training, e-mail newletter and, of course, the web. But note that you must have the willingness to learn.

10.DON'T NEGLECT PROFESSIONALISM:

Professionalism has to do with your attitude to your job, employer, colleagues, clients and society. A bad attitude can render your skills, knowledge and experience ineffective. You need to make professionalism a habit by imbibing the values of honesty, fairness, tolerance, repect for others, ethics, politness and integrity. Professionalism is about the total package of soft skills, tech skills and attitute. Be dependable, be supportive and perform above expectations.

Just as there is no mystery to developing your career, there is also no magic formula. The aim of these do's and don'ts is to make you aware of the things you should and you shouldn't do so that you can avoid costly career mistakes.