Coaching on How To Change your Career
Some of you have been asking about “how to choose the right career” or “how you can make a career change“.
You are searching for specific, practical step by step instructions for transitioning or making career changes.
The answer to this question is important to you because you spend the majority of your waking time at work.
So you understand that this question determines how happy or successful you will be for several years or until your next career change 
Career Tip For Senior BAs: Become The Lead BA
This post answers questions received from senior business analysts asking about
how to carve out an upwardly mobile career path in their company or organization.
The answers in this post are presented as tips, solutions or ideas for business analysts looking towards a better career path.
If you have a question about your business analyst career, be sure to post it as a comment on this post and I will be glad to answer it for you.
Here are the tips for business analysts looking for a better career path:
How To Handle Recruiters Phone Calls
Recruiters are the gatekeepers for business analyst jobs.
They are in touch with more employers, consulting or full-time engagements than most business analysts.
This post answers the question of how to handle or deal with recruiters calling about business analyst jobs.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to submit your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
If you enjoy reading this post, please be sure to … Share this Post with Friends
Highly Paid Business Analyst
You are reading this post because you are interested in learning or mastering business analysis for a number of reasons like
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You may have read the US Bureau of Statistics report which predicts that the business analyst role will be one of the fastest growing occupations through 2012
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You are a computer programmer or software tester who is getting burned out on the monotony of coding or testing
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You may be interested in learning business analyst because you will gain more visibility by interacting more with users and managers
Is Tunnel Vision Killing My Career?
It is characterized by the inability to see objects outside one’s center of gaze even though they are still within view.
But tunnel vision also refers to a frame of mind where one is either fixated on a specific answer or unable to see alternatives.
Consider that many Information Technology (IT) professionals evaluate their career options as though there a few choice careers mainly:
- Computer Programming
- Business Analysis
- Project Management
Cobol Mainframe Programmers Changing Careers!
COBOL Mainframe Programmers switching careers have to overcome several challenges including the fear of learning new programming languages.
In addition, cobol programmers have to pick the right programming language which is not an easy task considering the range of possibilities (C#, Java, C/C++, PHP, Python, Visual Basic, Perl, etc.).
Cobol programmers also have to brand their resumes to look like that of modern, object oriented software developers.
Considering these challenges, one is not surprised whenever a cobol programmer decides to stick with legacy programming skills.
How To Break The Unemployment Cycle
Sometime ago, Glendal (a project manager on this website) asked me to suggest a solution for the current unemployment crises facing the USA. While still working on an answer to that, the same question was again popped to me in a recent interview with Dice.com.
Since this is a question weighing on the minds of people … Today, it will be my pleasure to answer the question: “How To Solve The Unemployment Crises Facing The United States of America.“.
stay ahead of the technology curve
The Love – Hate Relationship With Technology
Most days, we are in love with technology and can’t seem to get away from getting work done on our iPhones, laptops and the Internet or watching hi-tech adventure movies like James Cameron’s Avatar on 3D
We have witnessed the rapid pace of technological change in the last 20 years … the advances in computers, video games and electronics and of course … the coming of the internet.
As IT professionals, we all seem to participate in this drama either as consumers, producers or enablers of technology.
How To Win Friends And Influence People
This is a real-life story taking from events in my life. Please read and share it with your friends
I stumbled upon “Think And Grow Rich” on my 17th birthday.
Shortly after reading Napoleon Hill’s classic, I also read “You Can If You Think You Can by Norman Vincent Peale” and got hooked on self help / motivational books.
A few years later, I read a really good book in that genre … “Awaken The Giant Within By Tony Robbins“.
healthcare data analyst job description
Data Analysts interested in learning about the right tools, techniques or skills for their job, should read this.
I am going to address the challenges facing a data analyst” starting a healthcare data analyst job.“
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask for help by posting a comment because I will answer it fully … just like I am answering this data analyst’s questions below!
How To Start A Healthcare Data Analyst Job?
Here is the challenging data analyst career situation:
how to: ace technical interviews and land jobs
This question was submitted by Vijay who needs advice on “how to ace programming interviews and land the next job!“
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering Vijay’s questions below!
Question: How To Impress Hiring Manager at Programming Interviews
Here is the question submitted by Vijay:
On my last job I was given a technical test to write nested SQL queries.
Choose Right!
If you are looking to start a new information technology career, you may be wondering about how to choose the right career.
This post helps you answer that question.
After reading this post, feel free to ask a question or discuss the topic by posting your opinion or comments.
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What do you love to do? start off by reviewing all the productive things that you love to do and then compile a list of careers from them.
For example, if you like repairing electronic hardware, you may consider becoming a hardware or network support specialist or if you like writing, you may consider becoming a technical writer or a business analyst.
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What do you have some background or experience in?: review your previous working experience or background for skills that you ca re-use in a new IT careers.
For example, if you have a background in marketing and sales, you may consider becoming a technical recruiter and if you have a background in programming electrical circuits you may consider going into computer programming.
Beggars Can't Be Choosers
One of the bigger issues facing IT professionals is: “the challenge of building experience“.
This challenge exists because employers still require experience for hiring, even when you need their jobs to build experience!
It’s the classic Catch-22: “chicken or egg which came first challenge” that may be solved through internships or full-time jobs.
However, internships are getting increasingly competitive (Read More …) and employers are still insisting on handson experience before making job offers.
Why Internships Are Hard To Get
For a while, internships helped provide the missing handson experience to IT professionals learning new skills or transitioning careers.
Jack Reacher
Technology is always changing so IT professionals have to stay ahead of the technology curve or risk losing their jobs or careers!
So you have to constantly update your skills through self study, coaching or training.
This post discusses how you can stay ahead of the technology curve using self study.
Contrary to what you may think, self study requires a considerable investment of time, money and effort.
Jobs for College Graduates
Whether you’re launching your career or trying to change its direction, you can get around the Catch-22 issue (“You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job.”) with humility.
The solution is to get some humility because today’s shifting job market requires everyone incuding young job seekers and older workers with years of experience to continously reinvent their careers in order to stay marketable in a competitive global economy.
The lesson is that careers, skills and workplace environments will continute to transition and there is nothing we can do about that because what is marketable and in-demand today may not be wanted tomorrow.
Is Education A Problem?
This series is devoted to those who want to learn the principles required for success in Information Technology (IT) Careers.
While the IT Industry is a goldmine for those who have learnt to navigate it, it is a maze for others trapped by myths, half-truths, outright lies and misconceptions.
Not to worry, in this series, I will uncover the myths and presents the principles required for success in every situation.
Get a Job Regardless of your Educational Qualifications
So, one principle is this: don’t let your formal education or the lack of it, stop you from pursuing your dream IT career.
Become your Hero
Randall Jones, founder of Worth Magazine and author of The Richest Man in Town, says that in regard to Personal Branding, “the most successful, wealthy people had very successfully branded themselves in relation their industry”.
In an interview by Dan Schwabel, Randall says that all RMITs (Richest Man In Town) have found their “perfect pitch”- the thing that they are most personally gifted at doing and secondarily they have found a way to monetize their perfect pitches“; Click here to read the rest of the interview
starving artist wolfgang amadeus mozart
This article is one in a series on creating or establishing your personal brand and becoming a leader in your industry.
While creating your personal brand is not easy, the benefits speak for themselves; other professionals begin to seek you out, ask for your assistance or offer you compensation in exchange for your help, services or advice.
Creativity is sometimes frowned upon in the workplace because you are expected to follow orders!
Perhaps you’ve neglected using your creative forces in the past because it forces others to think or so that you can keep your head down and stop others from following you!
Stay Ahead of the Curve!
Have you ever wondered how some people stay ahead of rapidly changing technologies while others seem to let their skills become extinct like the Dodo?
Well, apparently, someone in Dubai, U.A.E. wants to know the answer so badly that he sent in his question by postal mail!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
older workers good for business
If you’re over 40 and you’re changing careers or looking for work, you’re probably concerned about how age discrimination affects your career.
In conversations with older workers, the common question I’m hearing is “how will age based discrimination affect my chances of keeping a job or getting hired or transitioning to a new career?”
Some say that age is the determining factor in not getting a job and that’s even when one demonstrates the required skills!
So, is age discrimination really that common in hiring? And what can you do … if you find yourself a target?
Business Analysts Learn Computer Programming
Are database development, computer programming, data analysis or web development required skills for Business Analysts?
Perhaps you’ve seen, heard about or applied for jobs asking for a broad or seemingly impossible range of skill sets?
Like those job descriptions for business analysts requiring computer programming skills or those for PMP Certified Project Managers with 5 years of software development experience!
This post addresses “how to bridge the gap between business analyst skills and unfair job descriptions written-up by Information Technology (IT) departments”
Develop Your Personal Brand - Become A Leader
Develop Your Personal Brand And Become a Leader
This course teaches you how to develop and use your competitive advantages in the workplace, job market and industry using the PULL method.
You will learn how to become a leader in your industry by developing and taking advantage of your personal brand using PULL techniques.
By the end of this course, you will have learnt how to select the best leadership projects for your industry based on your background, skills, education, training, job history and interests.
Ask IT Career Coach
Po Bronson, author of “What Should I Do with My Life?” listened to more than 900 people who dared to be honest with themselves about their line of work or careers!
In the end, he discovered that it comes down to a simple gut check: “You either love what you do or you don’t.“
With that in mind, here’s question posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”.
highly paid corporate programmer
Transitioning careers to Microsoft .NET programming may seem like a daunting or impossible task because you need solid Hands-ON experience which is hard to get without a full-time Microsoft.NET job!
So, the question is, “How Do You Gain Hands-On Experience For Microsoft.NET Corporate Programmer Jobs Outside Regular, Full-Time Employment?“
How To Get An Entry Level Corporate Programming Job
You can transition from a Mainframe to a Microsoft.NET Software Developer Career in phases which allows you to achieve career success in manageable steps or phases.
Become A Leader-Get The Job You Want!
Become a Leader And Get The Job You Want!
Getting a job by sending out resumes to employers is known as the push method because it depends on you pushing the employer to hire you!
The problem with the traditional method of getting a job is that everyone who is out-of-a-job is probably doing the same thing … pushing their resumes to hiring managers or employers!
Getting hired in a competitive job market doesn’t mean … “do what other job applicants are doing” … it means “do more than your competition!“
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to overcome obstacles posed by employment gaps in an Oracle Programming Career!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Beat the Recession
You’ve got a
college degree, a
good looking resume and an
impressive listing of Information Technology (IT) skills but can’t seem to find an IT job.
Finding a Job doesn’t have to be a traumatic, nerve racking or frustrating experience filled with rejection, fear and pain!
Just follow this article series to find out what’s wrong or get back in control of YOUR job search.
microsoft.net software developer job
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a Microsoft .NET Developer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using “This Link”.
By Sharing This Post you are helping your friends receive valuable information or succeed.
Here is the Reader’s Question:
First, a little bit about myself.
Michael Jackson, King of Pop. August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson discovered his musical strengths early in his career, developed into a musical genius and then dedicated his life to serving humanity with music.
What we know about legends or superstars like Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson is that they are the best at what they do.
But the reason why we love the Michaels’ (Phelps, Jordan, Jackson) is: “we are just like them way down or deep inside of us”!
Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a computer programmer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Here is the Question:
hi
Ask a Burning Question
In reply to a question by a Statistician transitioning to a data analyst career, I posted the article Are Statistics Or SQL Skills Required In Data Analyst Careers?
My reply also included a Skills Gap Analysis for Statisticians or Mathematicians who want to become data analysts.
I got a comment from another Mathematician / Statistician which I have posted below.
Let me know if you have a comment or opinion or feedback on this issue … here is my reader’s comment:
Jonathan’s Opinion:
I just read through the article entitled ARE STATISTICS OR SQL SKILLS REQUIRED IN DATA ANALYST CAREERS?
Ask a Burning Question
This post answers a question about how to improve soft skills (communication, leadership, time management, presentation, team skills) for a Database Developer.
If you have a Burning Question or a Challenge that you need help with, be sure to ask your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering the question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Performance Based Careers
To become a medical doctor or a lawyer you need training, internship and finally you get a license or certification to practice.
However, there is no such path to starting an IT Career! There is no legally binding qualification or certification for becoming a computer programmer or a business analyst or a data analyst or a database developer!
The path to becoming an IT professional is littered with myths and misconceptions because the emphasis is really on you to prove that you are as good as you say you are!
Ask a Burning Question
This post answers a reader’s question about the educational requirements for becoming a computer programmer.
If you have a Burning Question or a Challenge that you need help with, be sure to ask your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering the question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Ask a Burning Question
Dear Friend,
What is the “Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career Right Now“?
Your toughest challenge may be about how to get a business analyst job or how to improve your computer programming skills or how to become a database developer
Perhaps your challenge is about how to move out of a dead-endbusiness analyst or computer programming or database developer career. Whatever they are, go ahead and ask your question and I will answer it for you.
Ask a Burning Question
This post answers a reader’s question about how to become a competent or highly skilled software developer.
If you have a Burning Question or a Challenge you need help with, be sure to ask your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering the question below!
Finally, don’t forget to participate in the “Tell a Friend” program because you earn either points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Top Paying Skills in High Demand
Read How to Protect Your IT Career or Gain In-Demand IT Skills or Critical Hands-ON Experience Sought After By IT Managers …
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You Can Enroll for IT Training Easily
- You can enroll for training at anytime because our training is provided online through videos, a web based training software and live course instructors who help you gain critical hands-on project experience
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Our Training Software Helps You Manage Your Study Time
- You can enroll for one or more training programs at the same time because our web-based training software manages, schedules or keeps tracks of your progress on each training course
As hiring managers are cutting costs and reducing staff size they are also hiring hiring professionals with a broader range of skills
As workers are laid off, the lucky ones left behind are asked to work longer hours or work on a broader range of tasks
IT Managers are now hiring for a broader range of skill sets. Business Analysts are being asked to perform light programming jobs and software developers are being asked to perform light business analysis tasks
How To Achieve In Your Career
I am dedicating this article to answering a question posted by an independent contract business analyst. If you have a question or challenge about your business analyst career, post it as comment at the end of this article and I will answer it for you:
Here is the question posed by the independent contract or consulting business analyst:
… I got hired by a consulting firm. I was under the impression that I was with a company with a team-oriented environment. By this I mean that I thought I would be working with project teams etc.
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