Are You Ready to Advance Your Career?

Those who have worked in the same position within the IT department often feel the urge to move on to bigger and better things, but many are unsure just how to make the move. For some the choice may be as simple as transitioning into a more senior position with the same employer, while for others the move may involve leaving one employer for one that is a better match, or even changing careers and job locations. It is important for each individual to carefully evaluate his or her choices before making such a move, and it is important to take the proper steps in order to position yourself for career advancement.

Internal Moves

For those IT workers lucky enough to like their employer, the simplest and most obvious move is to look for job opportunities within their current arena. Most large employers will post a list of their current job openings, either on a company bulletin board, or increasingly on the company intranet. Checking these job postings frequently is one of the best ways to find a new position with more responsibilities and higher pay.

Of course it is also important for employees to discuss their desires for career advancement with their managers and supervisors. Company managers and front line supervisors can be very helpful at helping their employees gain the knowledge and skills they need to move up in the organization, and this type of help tends to be an underutilized resource.

It is a good idea to workers wishing to advance their careers to look carefully at the job requirements of the postings in which they are interested, and to make the necessary adjustments in their qualifications and skill sets. If database administrators are in high demand at your company, perhaps a DBA certification would be helpful. If Oracle experts are needed, a refresher course in Oracle applications may tip the scales in your favor. Learning a new programming language can be a big plus as well with many companies. No matter what the career goals, showing a willingness to learn new things and take on new responsibilities is sure to be rewarded.

Workers wishing to move up in the organization should also make an extra effort to get themselves and their names recognized among the decision makers in the companies. Taking the opportunity to attend face to face meetings whenever possible, and to discuss a verity of issues with midlevel and senior management, can be a winning career move.

Looking Elsewhere

Those employees who are frustrated in their current position may have a bit more of a challenge on their hands. After all, it is difficult to leave a well paying job for an uncertain future, no matter how great the level of frustration. On the other hand, hunting for a new job without tipping off the current boss can be an exercise in frustration as well.

One great way to find out about other job opportunities that may be out there is to build a strong network of IT professionals at a variety of other firms. There are many opportunities to build such a network, including conventions, professional conferences and user groups. In addition there are a number of online resources job hunters can use to evaluate the job market and make inquiries, including online job boards, newsgroups, blogs and chat rooms dedicated to technical matters. By using these resources it may be possible to find out who is looking for those with your job skills and land that new job without sacrificing the security of your current position.

No matter what the job situation, however, it can be helpful to gain additional certifications before looking for a new and better job. Many IT workers like the flexibility and convenience of getting the training they need to pass their certification exams at their own computer, and that is why CBT Planet can be such an effective choice. CBT Planet provides self paced computer based training courses in a number of popular disciplines, including Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, CompTIA, Red Hat, Sun, IBM and others. CBT Planet also offers courses for Microsoft Office and for a variety of other popular desktop application programs. Contact CBT Planet today and let us help you toward a great new career in IT.