How can IT managers stay ahead and be valuable in the industry

In today's dynamic business environment, it is important to stay relevant with the economy. IT as a field has been undergoing many changes leading to jobs lost and new jobs created.To adapt and accept new job roles and environment is crucial to one's career path.

1: Individual Roadmap

It is important for every IT professional, including IT Managers to draw up their individual career roadmap which acts as a framework and helps to define and measure career objectives, goals, and achievements in a timely manner over the years.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Which organization or industry would you like to work for?
Which area of Information Technology would you be keen to pursue?
What are your short term and long-term career goals? Do you aspire to be the Senior IT Manager, IT Director, CIO, CTO, etc within the next 2-3 years?

2: Staying Current

Be in tune with latest developments in technology,trends,business and market development and pay strong attention to the latest development and trends in IT outsourcing, application development, disaster recovery/co-location, wireless networks, VOIP, 64-bit computing, Internet security, etc.

3: Staying Connected

A lot of us work long hours with little time left for much else.However,to stay marketable it is critical that we stay connected to the industry we work in. Attending networking events or seminars allows you to stay in touch with your peers, monitor industry trends and also enhances your visibility with potential employers. Join associations and memberships in relevant societies.

4: Track Record

Most of us associate track record with the number of years one needs to stay in an organization. It goes beyond that.Staying a long time in a job is no guarantee of a greater market value.Today's economy is more dynamic and ever changing. Organizations are constantly re-inventing themselves to stay ahead and be competitive. Being an old timer does not ensure that you will have a job when you leave. In today's business environment, having a credible record means having a combination of achievements, fulfilling commitments to your employer and staying abreast of current and emerging technologies and trends.

5: Be Business Savvy

In today's competitive market environment, organizations cannot afford to have their IT personnel isolated from the day-to-day business operations and strategies.IT managers need to develop their business acumen and be more savvy in their overall contribution to the organization, be able to propose meaningful technology solutions or deploy technology as a strategic tool to bolster business potential and growth. The IT Manager's role as a strategic business contributor cannot be underestimated.

6: Upgrading IT skills

In a rapidly changing IT industry, it is important that we constantly upgrade our skills. If you are a programmer who would like to move into a systems administrator role, taking a CCNA or a DBA certification would increase your market value and open doors to new opportunities. If you are a Java professional looking to upgrade your skills, you may want to go for additional Java certification. IT skills can also be acquired through hands-on experience. Exposing yourself to new technical skills within your current work environment can also enhance your potential market value.

7: Continuous Learning

In addition to keeping abreast with technical knowledge, IT Managers need to get familiar with other key business areas such as Accounting, Budgeting, Profit & Loss, Financial Statement Analysis, Business Strategy, Human Resources, Marketing,etc.In their future capacity as a CIO,CTO or IT Director, they would need to display competencies in these vital areas.

8: Be Proactive

Many of us tend to think that being proactive would leave us with more work and less pay. Look at it from another perspective. By being proactive, you are seen as a team player with initiative. We tend to overlook the fact that when one takes on more roles and actively volunteers time and energy to ensure projects are completed, we are also increasing our value personally. Volunteering your time and efforts can also help you unleash a skill that you may think you do not have.

9: Soft Skills

Most technical professionals have a tendency to neglect their soft skills. With sufficient time and effort given to the development of their soft skills, you can give a boost to your interpersonal, presentation and communication skills, people management skills and in the handling of difficult tasks or issues. This goes a long way in enhancing your market value and career options.

10: Being happy

Love the work you do and you never have to work at all. Many times, we think of our job as a chore,something you must do to pay the bills.Your lack of enthusiasm reflects in the way you contribute to the organization. If you show enthusiasm in any tasks that you set out to do, you will do it better. You will be more creative and innovative. You will enjoy the time at work and find it more fulfilling. When others can see the enthusiasm, you come across as a dedicated worker that would be an asset to any organization.

Conclusion

Remember, to remain constantly marketable, you need to be clear about what you want to achieve. Once you have clarity, everything you set out to do will lead you to your own professional and personal success.

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