Tapping Into Your Magical Hiring Powers

As a Career Coach, I come across questions or discussions from job seekers “looking for recruiter who can get them a job“.

From the way these statements are worded, it seems that all it takes for the job seeker to get a job is finding a recruiter with magical hiring powers.

But, is it really true?

Do recruiters have hiring powers and how much of the success or failure of the job search depends on the recruiter’s magical hiring powers?

In this post, I will clarify the recruiter’s role and show you how to tap into the magical hiring powers available to job search candidates!

1. Recruiters Are Gatekeepers
   

   Recruiters, staffing agencies or placement services simply screen and then forward resumes to employers / clients.

   A placement service will forward your resume to the client / employer if you have performed jobs in the past related to the job posting.

   If the employer is picky about resumes or complains about the quality / number of job candidates, the staffing / placement service will raise the requirements for submission.

   But keep in mind that recruiters do not exclusivity to job postings in a broad sense because you can always forward your resume to employers, have a staffing agency do it for you or do both.

2. Recruiters Are Lie Detectors
   

   Generally speaking, many recruiters in the Information Technology (IT) industry do not have a technical background.

   They have not worked with or used the tools listed on your resume / job posting and cannot really say whether you are qualified or not.

   So, what they do is check your resume to see if it will pass a very basic, unsophisticated lie detector.

   Recruiters want to know such things like: where you have worked, what titles you held and whether you are eligible t work for the client.

   Note: when working with recruiters, take the extra step of convincing them that your resume and background is a good fit, because they may not be able to tell the difference!

3. Can Staffing Agencies Claim Exclusivity?
   

   Generally, employers will use multiple staffing agencies and then use their own internal hiring team to narrow the pool of resumes down to a few candidates who would be interviewed or hired.

   An Employer may also decide to be discreet about the hiring process and use only one staffing agency.

   But even in this case, the staffing agency does not make a hiring decision. All the placement service can do for you is forward your resume to the employer.

4. Who Makes Hiring Decisions?
   

   In all cases, it’s the employer’s internal hiring team / manager that makes the hiring decision and not the placement / staffing agency.

   Recruiters do not have magical hiring powers and you cannot base your job search on claims of exclusivity by a recruiter.

   Remember that the job search process is a democratic process and that you, the staffing agency and the employer all participate or play active roles in the process.

Discover Magic In A Law Of Numbers

One of the most important laws in the hiring process is the law of numbers.

This law says that “the more resumes you submit and job interviews you take, the greater your chances of getting hired!”

The law of numbers gives you magical hiring powers because the more recruiters, staffing or placement agencies you submit your resume to … the greater are your chances of getting hired.

So, my advice is, don’t look up to recruiters, staffing / placement agencies instead, look-up to yourself by tapping into your own magical hiring powers!

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The Survivors Guide To Overcoming Unemployment

I realized right away, that what she lacked was an understanding of how the IT job / career market works. The sort of information that is generally omitted in schools because no one thinks it is important enough.

So, after she shared her story with me, I did some research and came to the startling conclusion that she was not alone.

I discovered that there was a big gap in our educational system and I am not just talking about schools, but staffing / recruiting / training agencies as well.

The problem was that all the players were in a hurry to make ends meet and no one really cared about the professional whose career or job was at stake.

For example, recruiters / staffing agencies will only work with you when your skills and experience matches that required on a job posting.

They will not think of helping you bridge the gaps in your skills, resume or experience or advancing your career further through coaching and mentoring.

So I started educating people on how to thrive or succeed in the Information Technology (IT) world and as a result this website (www.it-career-coach.net) was born.

Today, I have been giving another unique opportunity to help because a number of you are talking to me about their unemployment situations or asking for my advice or suggestions along those lines.

I want to say, thank you to everyone who has been talking to me about their unemployment situations.

I appreciate the trust you place in me and more importantly, your courage in talking about it!

I am dedicating the “FREE Survivors Guide To Overcoming Unemployment” below to those of you who are out of work..

Please download and read this career guide and learn how to survive unemployment or get productive by earning an income again.

I retain all the copyrights to this career guide. However, you have my permission to distribute it or share it with anyone (friends, strangers, colleagues, etc) or post it anywhere.

Download The Survivors Guide To Overcoming Unemployment Below

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What Is Your Personality Type?

One of the reasons why professionals struggle with their careers or under-perform at their jobs is that their work or career does not match their personality!

When hiring someone to do job, it’s easy to see what skills and training they have acquired or what types of jobs they’ve previously performed from their resume.

What is not so easy to see is how that same person’s personality traits will fit in with that of other employees or how their personality will thrive on a daily basis after you’ve have hired them.

That is why you need to take a personality test … an instrument that is used to measure or assess the characteristics of your personality.

Personality tests are sometimes more accurately referred to as a personality inventory since the use of the word “test” implies a right or wrong answer must be given.

However when it comes to personality test, there is no right or wrong assessment but rather an objective, independent assessment of suitability for a career or a job.

Personality tests are simply a series of questions designed to gather information used in assessing general personality characteristics.

When administered properly, personality tests are effective for building successful teams.

The results from a personality test can give you good insight into what personality types work best together and what type of work is more effectively done by certain types of people.

Please note that: personality tests are not guaranteed to be accurate and people can change or adapt overall personality … even though that is not easy!

So, Is there a personality test that is accurate?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test was first developed in 1943.

During the more than 60 years it has been used, it has been perfected as an accurate personality indicator and when the more accurate, complete version of the test is administered, the results can be alarmingly accurate.

The MBTI groups uses 4 Type letters to distringuish16 unique and different personality types based on the answers to a Myers-Briggs personality test.

What are these 4 Type letters and what do they mean?

• (I)ntrovert/(E)xtrovert
• (S)ensing/(I)ntuivite
• (T)hinking/(F)eeling
• (J)udging/(P)erceptive

The idea that someone is an introvert vs. extrovert does not necessarily mean one is extremely outgoing and the other extremely shy. But rather, it implies from which perspective they tend to view situation: From within, or from without.

Sensing vs. Intuitive is similar to the introvert/extrovert in that it implies whether decisions are made based upon the physical senses or an intuitive knowing from within.

Thinking vs. Feeling suggests the process of thought and decision making as to whether it is done by concrete thinking or logic or based upon a feeling.

Judging vs. Perceptive describes if a person comes to conclusions based upon a logical criteria or based upon an inward perception.

Here are the 16 personality types based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for use in determining how suited you are for a career or job:

ISTJ Personality Type – Introvert Sensing Thinking Judging

To the ISTJ personality type, order and schedule is of utmost importance. and no sacrifice is too great to an ISTJ when it comes to keeping unity.

Even though they tend to have difficulty expressing emotions and what they think and can come off as being uncaring, they tend to develop strong and loyal relationships with others.

The ISTJ easily takes on responsibility. Because of this, they fit in well with any aspect of the IT profession in planning and inspecting, management, scheduling, auditing or accounting.

Spontaneity and abstract thinking is not a plus to the ISTJ personality and the ISTJ will remain consistently strong in everything they attempt.

ISFJ Personality Type – Introvert Sensing Feeling Judging

To the ISFJ, work is very important.

In terms of the IT Professional, they effectively fill the roles of protecting and supporting though they will work hard at any position as they have a strong sense of duty.

They may even remain silent or let others take advantage of them just to avoid conflict. This can be beneficial in business as they tend to put up with complaints for the sake of harmony.

INFJ Personality Type – Introvert Intuitive Feeling Judging

Inspiring and insightful, the INFJ personality tends to do well as a developer.

INFJ often inspire others and tend to succeed in creative situations.

This personality type does not enjoy tension and can come off as quiet or even disinterested. But, don’t be fooled. Beneath this unassuming exterior is a ton of ideas waiting to come forth and when these ideas are properly tapped, they come alive.

They will also jump at any chance to learn and broaden their horizons.

INTJ Personality Type – Introvert Intuitive Thinking Judging

The INTJ is very independent and may be perceived as being arrogant.

They may even appear to be argumentative, but this is the way they learn.

They like to see change for the better and can be intolerant of stagnation.

They do well in work environments where systems are set up to achieve maximum output.

They do well in management, consulting, computer programming and as Directors.

ISTP Personality Type – Introvert Sensing Thinking Perceptive

The ISTP personality may take charge in fixing a problem.

They are ready to try anything at least once.

They are spontaneous and do not like others to control them.

They do not enjoy routine work such as that of an administrator or researcher.

They shine in problem solving spontaneously with a tangible goal such as Analyzer or Operator.

ISFP Personality Type – Introvert Sensing Feeling Perceptive

The ISFP personality tends to be non-imposing.

They fear standing still and enjoy a challenge when working with people.

They do well when they can produce new thought patterns.

They do well in fields that involve composing and producing.

INFP Personality Type – Introvert Intuitive Feeling Perceptive

The INFP Personality type tends to bring harmony and clarification to the table.

They do not like conflict at all. In fact, there’s very little an INFP won’t do to avoid conflict.

They do have a desire to help others. Teaching and training is an excellent position for the INFP.

They also do well with research, design and human resources and they tend to crave working hard in whatever position they are placed.

INTP Personality Type – Introvert Intuitive Thinking Perceptive

The last-minute planner, the INTP adapts well to fast changes.

They need to find a challenge in their work. If they don’t find a challenge, they will grow discontented and depressed.

They are excellent at problem solving and theorizing.

They are excellent at strategic planning, writing, computer programming and design.

ESTP Personality Type – Extrovert Sensing Thinking Perceptive

The ESTP Personality thrives on being the center of attention.

They have a lack of order and tend to never plan as they see planning as a waste of time.

They love daily changes and refuse to get stuck in a rut.

In terms of the IT profession for the ESTP, they do well as an executor or in a role where they can be the promoter.

ESFP Personality Type – Extrovert Sensing Feeling Perceptive

The ESFP personality lives in the moment and does not make plans easily if at all.

They can be viewed as hyper or shallow as they push for excitement.

They do not like confrontation. They do, however, make great motivators or presenters or any position that provides instant gratification.

ENFP Personality Type – Extrovert Intuitive Feeling Perceptive

The ENFP personality tends to be extremely loyal and will look for the best in others along with always looking for new possibilities.

They can appear to be over positive or insincere.

They have a need and a desire to work with people and they want to have fun in their work.

They make for great human resource development trainers, designers, and advocates.

ENTP Personality Type – Extrovert Intuitive Thinking Perceptive

The ENTP personality thrives on enthusiasm.

Though they will become excited enough about ideas to promote them, they don’t always follow through on these ideas.

They like to be challenged and stimulated in their work. Computer science, financial advising, teaching, computer or systems analyst are great career choices for the ENTP.

ESTJ Personality Type – Extrovert Sensing Thinking Judging

The ESTJ personality is a born manager.

They are dependable but tend to volunteer for more work and responsibility than others.

To an ESTJ, everything must have a plan.

They tend to fix what is broken and do a job correctly.

They tend to be loyal to the company. They make great managers as well as supervisors.

ESFJ Personality Type: – (Extrovert Sensing Feeling Judging):

The ESFJ is seen as a scheduler.

They are usually neat and enjoyable to be around.

They do well where organization is involved and they also make great listeners and are loyal.

They like to serve, facilitate and be the caretaker. Jobs in computers, science or consulting can be stressful to the ESFJ personality.

ENFJ Personality Type – Extrovert Intuitive Feeling Judging

The ENFJ personality tends to be known as a communicator and have an understanding of other people.

They are drawn to situation where they can interact with others who will challenge them.

They do not do well in careers that involve a great deal of detail or paperwork.

They do, however, make great mentors and envision well.

ENTJ Personality Type – Extrovert Intuitive Thinking Judging

The ENTJ is a natural leader.

They even enjoy confrontation and they tend to be the classic corporate type of personality.

They are not afraid to challenge old ways of doing things with more successful methods.

Business consultants and network integrations as well as strategists are careers where the ENTJ thrive.

My Final Thoughts:

Each of these 16 personality types will fit better into some Information Technology careers than others and that it’s where the Myers-Briggs personality testing can help you.

Regardless of how much you want a career or a job, you will find it hard to succeed if your personality does not match that required for the job and you don’t change your personality to match it!

• If you choose to change your personality for a career or job, you can hurt yourself in the process, which will negate the benefits of doing that job!

  so you may be better off choosing a career that suites your personality than forcing your personality to fit in.

• As a manager, director, project manager or human resources professional, you can place people in roles where they’re most likely to succeed alongside based on results from properly administered Myers-Briggs personality test.

  In the end, the proper use of personality testing can lead to more productive work place.

So, What Is Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type?

If don’t know the answer, follow this link to take your Myers-Briggs personality test..

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How To Boost IT Skills Rapidly Or Get Hired Fast

Learning a skill is one thing … knowing how to market, a skill a completely different thing!

That is why for example, some qualified business analysts fail to get a job that other less experienced business analysts succeed in getting.

Don’t assume that because you know a skill through self study, formal education or training, you can just go out and get a job … because there is more to finding a job than that!

Some people are really good at selling themselves … even when they know little about the subject at hand.

Others cringe at the thought of promoting themselves at job interviews and unfortunately, this works against them!

In a job interview, you will hardly get credit for your skills or experience, if you can’t prove or present it.

For example, if you know the answers to a question but you’re not sharp, detailed or timely enough in your reply … then you are assumed not to know it!

If you know the answers to a question but are slow or hesitant in answering the questions, you are assumed not to know it.

So, to succeed at job interviews, you have to be good at both your preparation and presentation.

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Here are three (3) great techniques that will help you ace your next job interview.

1. Be Timely: to succeed at your job interviews, don’t start your preparation a week before your interview … start three (3) months ahead of your job interview. That is how to start prepare excellently for your interview.

2. Be Smart: don’t depend solely on textbooks or videos for your job interview preparation.

   Use practice tests or quizzes!

   Your success at the job interview depends on how correct, comprehensive and timely your answers are.

   If you really want to blow your interviewer away, start preparing with quizzes, several months ahead of the job interview and your quality of preparation will shine through!

3. Be Confident: answer your interview questions confidently if you want the job!

   If you fail to believe in yourself and that shows through at the job interview, what makes you think that the hiring manager will believe in you?

   If you start preparing three months ahead of your job interview and you use practice tests extensively … then all that remains is to believe in yourself!

So, here they are … three simple but highly effective secrets that guarantee success at job interviews; be timely, smart and confident.

Just follow these three rules to get the job you want!

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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.

Now internships are hard to come by because employers are refusing the burden of hiring or managing interns. And here is the reason why:

1. Productivity: interns need to be managed by experienced employees meaning that productive time will be lost to employers.

   Productive time is lost when experienced workers have to show interns the ropes, supervise or assign work to them.

2. Risk: employers are unwilling to invest in interns because they are more likely to fail at completing their assigned tasks or duties.

   There is also the added risk of redoing the work done by interns when it fails to meet expectations!

3. Money: employers hesitate to pay interns because there aren’t sure of the immediate economic benefits and they refuse to hire unpaid interns because unpaid interns also cost money and time to supervise or train!

How To Build Experience From Scratch … Without A Job

The challenge facing those that fixate on getting experience through internship programs or full time jobs is that of becoming stumped … when they can’t get either.

Really, when it comes to getting experience, the key is to stay flexible, creative or open minded because full-time jobs and internship programs are getting harder to come by.

How To Build Experience From Scratch By Keeping An Open Mind

• Focus on Smaller Projects: don’t fixate on finding big projects because you are more unlikely to get big project exposure with little or no experience.

  Start with smaller projects first, because that is where your current background, skills or experience is likely to be needed or appreciated.

• Build Up Experience Gradually: don’t expect to get a ton of experience in a short time. Instead, spread your efforts at building experience over a longer period of time.

  Overtime, the cumulative effect of all your project based work will begin to show and you will be rewarded for your hard work.

• Don’t Fixate on Money: don’t be too picky about your income when you’re still building up your experience because the ticket to getting paid more money is more experience!

  Start by building your experience first and then work towards a better compensation afterwards!

• Don’t Think Too Highly of Yourself: don’t be looking down on smaller projects because you’re thinking they’re beneath you and don’t be fretting over the size of your role, task or opportunity either!

  Always put your best foot forward and build up your experience at every turn. Because that is how to ensure that you qualify for bigger projects or even a full time job!

• Stay Flexible, Creative and Open Minded: be on the lookout for experience building opportunities that don’t fall under traditional internship or full-time jobs.

  For example, you may signup for unpaid, volunteer work or start your own consulting business (yes, you can consult on almost any subject) or register for Hands On IT Career Training (click here for more information)

Expect that you will always be learning new skills or transitioning careers because of the constantly changing face of technology.

Understand that staying open minded will help you discover more ways to build handson experience without a job or an internship program.

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Is Mindless Resume Submission Working?

Finding a job is just a numbers game, so submitting my resume to several job postings will get me hired … says a business analyst!

This is the mindset of some IT job seekers who approach the business of finding a job as if it is purely a numbers game.

But is a successful job search simply a numbers game or is there more to getting a job than that?

Why Resumes Get Tossed

1. Learn It First – Before you start submitting resumes, first learn how to do the job you are applying for.

   Getting the right knowledge and skills does more for your job search because it assures the attention of hiring managers.

   Yet some job seekers assume that they can get the attention of hiring managers by simply re-writing their resume without significantly improving their skills!

   In a real life example, a marketing and sales professional with no real world business analysis knowledge, skills or experience, just keeps rewriting or submitting resumes for business analyst jobs without taking the time to study or learn!

   There is danger when one conditions the mind to act reflexively without thinking.

   Applying for jobs is not meant to be a mindless task that one attempts like an unthinking robot.

   You be the judge of the job prospects of anyone who thinks that “finding a job is just a numbers game“.

2. Which Comes First Learning Or Doing – learning has always been the forerunner to doing. You always have to learn a career before you can start performing the roles, responsibilities or duties belonging to the career.

   As a basic rule, everyone has to first learn a skill before they can start producing or working with the skill.

   In some careers, the practice of learning before doing is regulated and enforced by law.

   For example, you cannot become a Medical Doctor without going though Medical school and training. And you cannot just assume that you are a Medical Doctor and start submitting your resume for jobs without first learning, studying for and passing medical examinations.

   In information technology careers, the practice of learning before doing is not enforced by laws or exams or any set of IT schools because it is enforced by the Information Technology (IT) employer.

   Employers want to know that you’ve mastered the knowledge, skills and experience needed for the job before you are hired.

   And when you think of the rigorous credentialing, certification and licensing standards applied to other non information technology careers, you will agree that IT employers are not asking for much!

   The good news is that, it is not how you learn new skills, careers or work that matters (self study, books, coaching, training, college is ok) but that you learn it well … in a rigorous, thorough, step by step way!

3. Learning Comes Before Finding A Job – employers don’t want to re-train new hires. In other words, job postings are written for those who will be productive from day one.

   What this means is that if you are looking for a new job, you need to take the time to learn or master the skills required for the job and not just shop your resume around.

   Posting your resume mindlessly without first learning the required skills is a black hole that either sucks up your time and energy or brands you in a negative light as thoughtless to employers.

4. Take a Personal Inventory of your Skills – Do yourself a favor during this holiday season.

   Take a personal inventory of the skills required for your job. List all the skills required; (for example: UML, Use Cases, Requirements Management, SQL, Databases) and then rate yourself on a scale of one to ten on each skill.

   Finally, take the time to study, learn and improve on your weak areas because that is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself or your family!

This post discusses why most resumes get tossed by hiring managers. If you have a question or need some help with your career, post it as a comment on this page and we will be glad to answer it for you!

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How To Change Careers

You are brave, if you are considering leaving your career. Most people make themselves stay at jobs or careers they hate because they are afraid of the unknown.

However, knowing the difference between leaving a job and leaving a career can make your transition smooth and easy or painful to say the least.

You change careers when you are in the wrong profession or you are in a career that you’re not suited for. And, you do not change careers simply because you are unhappy at work!

Change your careers by first facing the reasons why you’re leaving, identifying the kind of work you are suited for and following through with a career transitioning plan.

The rest of this article presents 5 easy steps for changing your career:

1. Do you like your job?Be honest about the reasons why you’re leaving your current employment.

   Is it because you have lost or never had passion for your work or is it because you are looking for a better pay?

   Are you changing careers because you hate your boss or employer or because you consistently get low performance appraisals at work?

2. Change careers for the right reasons: Some of the issues you face at one job are likely to show up at other jobs.

   For example, if you are a business analyst who hates talking to senior management and you change to another business analyst job, you may find yourself facing the same issue again.

   However, if your issues are specific to your current boss or employer and you can’t resolve them … then changing jobs and not your entire career may help.

   For example, I once interviewed for a job and I asked the team lead the question: “how do you to communicate to a team member that, he or she is not doing a good job?“

   To which the team lead replied saying that he simply YELLS and SHOUTS at anyone who is not meeting his expectations.

   My reaction was simply to turn down their employment offer, since I could see that the team had management or personnel issues peculiar to them.

3. Take an inventory of your skills, interests, abilities, educational background and experience: If you have worked for at least a year, you already know a lot about yourself.

   So, start by taking an inventory of your personal abilities, strengths and aptitudes.

   • Do you like putting together a lot of technical documentation?

   • Do you like make presentations to team members, stakeholders or management?

   • Are you accustomed to and do you use a lot of SQL queries at work?

   • Do you like working on customer support issues?

   • Do you like writing small code snippets to fix buggy software products?

   It is important that you itemize all the skills and abilities you’ve used over your working life so you can get a better picture of what you are wired do.

4. Explore alternatives career paths before choosing: One of the issues facing IT professionals comes from having little to no knowledge of the career alternatives available to them.

   Simply said, there are a number of good IT career alternatives out there and there is no one career that is better for everyone.

   Some of the IT careers with good prospects include:
   

   • technical recruiting

   • pre-sales support

   • technical writing

   • software architecture

   • database development

   • software development

   • report writing

   • web analytics

   • customer relationship management

   • business analysis

   • project management

   • business intelligence

   Before deciding what career best suits you, first prepare the comprehensive skills evaluation mentioned in the last point.

5. Get hands-on experience outside work; Don’t be expecting to get a job without strong hands-in experience because that is like gambling with your time.

   You need to first improve your skills and hands-on experience while working on your resume.

   Determine exactly, how you will get the training, skills and hands-on experience required for each career you are interested in.

   Don’t be a professional whose effort at getting a job consists only of rewriting resumes to match job descriptions.

Remember, the IT Job Market is a numbers game that plays in your favor like a rigged lottery if you have the right skills, experience and background and not just a souped up resume!

Okay, we are interested in answering questions on how to change careers … to get yours answered,, just post it below as a comment!

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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!

Becoming a leader or creating your personal brand is not about following others but about using your originality and creativity!

Don’t repress your imagination in hopes that it will get you ahead in the business world because it will actually do the opposite … ensure that you have a mediocre career.

So, get those creative juices flowing, throw away the stiff, boring, compliant, plan persona you adopt for the workplace and let the funny, considerate, original, witty, unabashed, unrestricted, simple, effective, direct, unafraid you come to life!

Here are some tips, tricks and techniques that can help your personal creativity efforts:

1. To become an expert or a leader, publish or produce useful information in an appealing way using content that is worth your audiences’ time.

2. Start creating a layout for website to get your creative juices flowing. Think of a funny or interesting blogging topic for your industry. Introduce your topics using witty content titles and don’t be afraid of your creative side.

3. If you’re insecure about how your ideas come across, get a proofreader or test-audience but don’t stop writing

4. Involve your friends and family as critics, as long as they remain honest in their response and you don’t react to their opinions?

5. Getting in touch with your personal creativity is as a fun and exciting project, so don’t stress out if it doesn’t blossom overnight

Establishing a reputation as a leader in your industry helps you get better job offers, consulting engagements or career assignments.

Remember that on the road to becoming a leader, you will have to stand out by letting your personal creativity show through.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756 – 1791

Have you ever heard of “The Starving Artist”? It’s an often used cliché that describes talented, skilled or creative folks like writers, painters, musicians or others who starve while doing what they love.

The idea behind the Starving Artist is “an individual who works for pennies and then dies broke doing what he or she loves”.

Some of history’s renowned or talented artists like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi and Van Gogh lived in poverty, misery or debt because their society didn’t care for or reward them.

But wait a moment, do skilled, talented, creative folks like you and me, have to work for pennies all our lives … just because we want to do what we love or is that just another myth?

Long Live the Media Age

On the contrary, talented, skilled or educated folks run the world because the media age, the internet and social media has changed the way we do business forever.

In the media age, anyone who’s skilled can making a living by leveraging the full power of Social Media Networks like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook.

In the era of the Starving Artists, the creative or common folk couldn’t afford to show, present or air their works to mass markets because that investment required the purse strings of a King, Queen or Financial Baron.

However, in the Media Age, you can communicate your resume, your profile or your brand with the push of a button called “Publish”.

Many professionals including those in academia use the “Publish or Perish” strategy in furthering their careers and now you can too!

Publish or Perish, Which Do You Choose?

Your career is bigger than your job, employment or paycheck because your career is the problem you’re solving or the value you’re creating at an intrinsic personal level.

Don’t make the mistake of always looking for the next job or the next employer or the next hot career.

Look inside of you and identify the core problems you’re willing to solve or values (goods, services, solutions) you’re willing to create for society on a long-term basis.

Then use Social Media to communicate your new mission to the mass market.

That is how to achieve career success using PULL techniques as introduced in the post “Become a Leader“.

Here is how to get the job you want or stay employed using PULL rather than PUSH techniques:

1. Become a Leader in your Industry: Identify with your Industry outside your 8AM to 5PM work day. Start solving a thorny business problem or creating a valuable idea, good or service that benefits others.

2. Build your Brand: Create a message around the value you’re creating for everyone. Let your message transcend your day job. Build your identity around your core message and include that in your resume.

3. Market your Brand: Distribute your brand using the full power of social media networks. Don’t wait till you need a job before you start marketing because you need to build your social network before you need it.

Becoming a Leader is a powerful PULL technique that advances your career for the following reasons:

1. Industry Recognition: Being constantly visible in your industry sends subtle reminders to hiring managers that you’re the best person for current or future employment needs.

2. Better Positioning: Staying in constant contact with colleagues or decision managers using Social Media puts you in a better position compared to an unknown professional whose only contact is an application for a job.

3. Power Networking: You own or belong to a social network, the members of the network are your friends and you care about their business or solve their problems. Your social networks are in your debt and are willing to return favors by getting you hired.

Learning how to become a leader is important because it actively protects you from layoffs or downsizes and does more by actively promoting or advancing your career behind your back.

Don’t be a “Starving Artist” … a professional whose only communication with hiring managers is when a job is posted.

You can do better that a “starving artist” by building your own brand and your own network of potential employers using the power of Social Media.

Leveraging the full power of social media protects you from becoming a starving artist, an un-employed professional whose career is at the mercy of the job market!

So, what are you waiting for? Click here to get more information on How To Become a Leader” or learn how to get the recognition or type of employment (coaching, consulting or full-time) you deserve!

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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”

Bridging The Gap Between Business And Information Technology (IT) Careers

I would like to know if Business analysts are expected to know more about programming.

I attended a job interview last week and the interviewer was hesitant to consider me for the post of business analyst (BA) as i have no coding experience.

Do i need to know about database design, structure etc for me to be a good BA?

All along in my previous projects the database design, architecture and technology were decided by the technical team and DBA’s and i come into the picture as BA only after everything has been finalized.

But i was a Junior (jr.) BA and now im applying for the position of senior BA and people point out my lack of coding experience.

“Here is the answer to the challenges created by business analyst job descriptions which are worded to include programming and database skills”!

1. Looking from the business analysts (job seekers) perspective, you may be tempted to say NO.

   You may also argue that computer programming tasks should be left ONLY to software developer job descriptions.

2. Looking from the perspective of employers, recruiters or hiring managers, you may say YES because business analyst job descriptions are just a means to an end!

   For employers or hiring managers, the end is always the same (the job that needs to be done) … and job descriptions are just a means to achieving that!

So, which of these two perspectives (the employers or the job seekers) is the right one?

1. The employer who only cares about getting work done and will use any job description to achieve that end or …

2. The business analyst who feels overwhelmed by requirements for computer programming skills on business analyst job descriptions?

To this question correctly, we need to understand the roots of the conflict! So, let’s take a look at the source of gaps between IT Job Descriptions and Business Analyst Careers.

Introducing The IT Business Analyst

• The Information Technology (IT) Business Analyst Role Is Slowly Coming To Maturity

  As the roles of the computer programmer, database developer and systems analyst matured, the “IT Business Analyst” role evolved to fill analysis and requirements tasks left out of software development roles.

• The Accidental Business Analyst?

  As software development teams improve their requirements management or software development processes, some computer programmers begin picking up the requirements gathering and analysis tasks left undone by their team members.

  These Accidental Business Analysts are usually computer programmers or systems analysts with strong people, communication, business and requirements management skills who transition into or assume the role of the IT Business Analyst.

Some employers have not achieved a separation between “IT Business Analyst Roles” and “Computer Programmer Roles” in their minds.

For these employers, the distinctions between IT Business Analysts and Computer Programmers are a superficial play on words … hence the business analyst job description written-up to include computer programming languages!

So, back again to the question; “should a business analyst learn computer programming languages or acquire database development skills”?

• Are You Looking For A Business Analyst Job?

1. If you’re not looking for a business analyst job then you don’t need to learn computer programming (except if your employer mandates it).

   If you’re really that secure in your current business analyst job and know for a fact that you won’t be looking anytime soon … then you may argue that programming is not for business analysts

2. If you’re looking for a business analyst job and you want to go the extra mile for prospective employers, then go-ahead and learn some computer programming!

   It’s really the attitude that matters because job descriptions are not intended to be perfect and in the employer’s eyes, they’re just a means to an end.

   Put Yourself In The Employers Shoes for a moment and you will begin to see that it’s not personal. The employer only wants what’s best for the company and if they’re so inclined, you may help them by learning some computer programming!

Give Employers What They’re Asking For

I strongly believe that you should give employers what they want instead of wondering about the fairness or correctness of business analyst job descriptions!

1. Perhaps, you feel overwhelmed by the requirements for computer programming or database skills in business analyst job descriptions.

2. Or you feel that it’s unfair to expect business analysts to perform programming tasks

Get a clue, if you’re not the one hiring, then your feelings are irrelevant!

In today’s competitive job market, you will fare better by addressing the employers concerns because if you don’t, someone else … who is more hungry or desperate than you will!

Another business analyst who wants to provide the required programing services will get the job you need!




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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”.

What To Do About making Wrong Career Choices

I think I did myself well careerwise by reading for a degree that bears no inclination to what I am trying to aspire to in life.

The programme entitled: Degree in Computing with Management Studies is embeded with C++, COBOL and Report Programme Generator (RPG) courses.

The final year I underwent a gruelling course in Artificial Intelligence that I haven’t started to utilise in anyway in my career path.

What I strongly desire is a competence in database management and its integration with records management and design.

Regards

Career Transitions Are A Fact Of Life

Hello,

I feel your pain because I have been in your shoes – in a similar situation.

I’ve had to transition career several times from Chemical Engineering to IT Sales to IT Consulting to IT Career Coaching!

I’m reasonably sure that my last transition is permanent … but that doesn’t mean much because I expect my IT Career Coaching skills to change so much that I would literally be re-inventing myself every year!

Think about it for a moment. The world around us is constantly changing and we have to remain flexible and adaptable or we become as dead as the DoDo!

Fact is … “career transitions are a part of life“!

What I’ve learnt that I would like to share with you is this: “march boldly in the direction of your dreams!“

Start by forgiving yourself thoroughly.

Forgiving yourself is really not as easy as it sounds … put some effort into giving yourself a break because you did the best that you could based on the information you had.

Don’t be too hard on yourself; make sure you take out some time to love on yourself before you do the next big thing.

Now, having done that, “follow your call wherever it leads without any hesitation“!

Since your heart is saying that you need to become a database professional, do exactly that!

“Jump into the water with both feet and don’t be afraid of getting your feet wet”.

What I mean is: “pursue your dreams fearlessly, follow your heart wherever it leads and don’t be afraid of making mistakes”.

You owe yourself the pursuit of “life, liberty and love”.

What Should I Do with My Life?

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!”

So, if you find yourself doubting or regretting the choices you’ve made for your career or work, do these:

1. Do What You Love; Start building your career around what you love or enjoy doing. Be honest with yourself by finding out what type of work fulfills you and doing it.

2. Discover Your Strengths; Don’t spend your entire career or life building on weaknesses by doing what you don’t love.

   Discover what you excel at doing and then pursue opportunities that align with them.

   Use a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis to reposition your career.

3. Follow Your Dreams; It’s never too late to discover or follow your dreams, aspirations or happiness.

   Don’t deny yourself the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness because everyone including your dear self, deserves better!

4. Develop A Positive Mental Attitude; Don’t let past mistakes or career choices hinder you from making better decisions going forward!

   Believe that “you can do better and you will” because “if you think that you can, you can!“

5. Learn From Past Mistakes; Don’t be reacting to past failures, learn from them!

   We all do the best that we can, based on the information we have. Now, re-invent your career by making better, informed decisions based on your past failures!

6. Plan to Succeed; Now prepare a step by step plan for transitioning to a your new career!

   Start with a SWOT Analysis that addresses specific issues like “how you will learn new skills” and “how you will gain hands-on experience“.

   You need to plan your career transition because “failing to plan is the same as planning to fail!”

7. Now, Do What You Love; You’ve learnt from past mistakes and planned a better career transition, now start doing what you love.

   Stick to doing what you love even when it’s tough on your purse or ego.

   Because a day will come when you’ll start reaping the financial and emotional rewards of “Career Nirvana!”

How To Achieve Career Nirvana

You’re not alone in making wrong career choices. But you must overcome the past by learning from it and by making better, informed decisions going forward!

This post answers a question posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”!

If you have a question about your career or are facing a challenge, be sure to post it as a comment on this page and I will answer it for you!




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highly paid corporate programmer

Becoming a corporate software developer is not the same thing as becoming a freelance programmer or a systems programmer.

• Corporate programmers are hired for coding skills in programming languages like Microsoft .NET (ASP.NET, C#, VB.NET, SQL Server) and they tend to work regular, office jobs as contract or full-time programmers.

• Systems programmers tend to work with programming languages like C/C++ and they also work for companies like Microsoft that build operating systems or systems software.

• Freelance programmers work on their own hours and they tend to focus exclusively on web development, web design and user interface (UI) jobs using programming languages and platforms like PHP, WordPress or Microsoft .NET.

Microsoft .NET is the recommended programming language for Corporate Programmers.

However, 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

Start by transitioning into a Microsoft.NET Software Developer Career in manageable steps or phases which allows you to achieve career success.

Your first step in becoming a highly paid corporate programmer is to learn Microsoft.NET Programming.

The next step after that, is to gain solid hands-on programming experience!

Both steps must be completed before you can achieve the goal of becoming a corporate programmer!

First Step: The first step in your career transition is to learn the ins and outs of Microsoft .NET Programming. This would include learning ASP.NET, C#, SQL SERVER and the Microsoft.NET Framework.

You can’t bypass the requirement to learn Microsoft.NET programming because you’ll be asked programming questions at your technical interview which you will have to ace before you are hired!

Second Step: The next step involves getting solid, hands-on Microsoft.NET programming experience.

Handson experience is a requirement for information technology jobs because this is a handson, practical industry where what you can do is valued even more than your educational qualifications.

Click here to read more about how to get handson computer programming experience!

1. Become a Freelance Microsoft.NET Software Developer:

   You may consider starting your career as a freelance programmer before you get hired for corporate / full-time programming jobs.

   The experience or skill-level required for some freelance jobs is not as extensive as that of full-time programming jobs because clients can easily work away if they don’t like your job or try your services and see if they like working with you first before hiring you on a longer-term basis.

   Freelance Programming Jobs are not necessarily as lucrative as full-time or contract programming jobs but they do allow you to gain the mandatory hands-on programming experience by working on real-world software development projects for real-world clients.

   Becoming a freelance programmer while in training as a Microsoft.NET Programmer may also provide you with additional income, which is helpful whether you’re just transitioning careers or looking for a full-time programming job.

   Your initial focus should not be to earn a high income but to gain the hands-on programming experience which is required for programming positions.

2. Become a Highly-Paid Corporate Programmer:

   After you’ve completed learning Microsoft.NET, C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server and worked on some freelance computer programming projects, you may transition into a regular full-time or independent Contract Programming job.

   Independent Contract Programmers are highly paid corporate programmers with billing rates ranging from $45/hr. to $60/hr. and even more!

   However, Independent Contract Programming is not for everyone because you have to pay your own employment taxes or provide your own benefits or face some downtime in-between projects meaning that your income may fluctuate.

   As an independent contract programmer, you also have to market your skills consistently to compensate for any downtime in-between programming projects.

   The good news is that “the demand for contract programmers is quite high” and each programming project usually lasts for a while (between 6 months and two years).

3. Become a Full-Time Computer Programmer:

   Finally, after you’ve gained strong freelance or contract programming experience or you’ve worked on a number of corporate consulting gigs, you may be ready to become a full-time, salaried computer programmer.

   The upside of a full-time, permanent, salaried computer programming job is that you’re guaranteed medical benefits, a good paycheck and some stability in your employment.

   You won’t have to pay your own taxes or be on the look-out for the next consulting gig or wonder where your next paycheck is going to come from!

   The downside of a full-time, salaried programming career is that you may not earn as much as a corporate programmer because you don’t handle as much risk.

   Also, you don’t have the flexibility of deciding who to work for or the ability to switch programming projects or teams when you want!

If you’re interested in learning more about the differences or distinction between full-time and contract programming jobs, read this article titled: “full time programming compared to contract programming jobs …”

How To Overcome Hurdles In Transitioning To A Computer Programming Career

1. Transition your Career in Phases

   Break up your career transition into phases and set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable and Realistic) goals for each phase.

   Transitioning your career in steps helps because you set achievable goals and build up the momentum that helps you follow though on a plan that leads to career success.

2. Take Your Software Developer Training

   Transitioning to a new career begins with learning new skills.

   So, don’t neglect to acquire the required skills and don’t be looking for alternatives that promise a career transition without learning or acquiring new programming skills!

3. Give Employers What They Want!

   Employers require hands-on programming experience which may seem unfair because you need their jobs to gain experience.

   However, don’t waste time hoping that employers will change their requirement for hands-on programming experience because you will be more successful at giving employers what they want than at getting them to change their minds.

So, you may transition into a highly paid computer programming career by following this step-by-step plan that allows you to build on past successes or achieve your goals in stages!

You may also enroll for the Software Developer Boot Camp Training and the Sql Boot Camp Training, since both SQL and Microsoft .NET programming skills are required for Software Developer Jobs.




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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.

Here is the Reader’s Question:

I think I did myself well careerwise by reading for a degree that bears no inclination to what I am trying to aspire to in life.

The programme entitled: Degree in Computing with Management Studies is embeded with C++, COBOL and Report Programme Generator (RPG) courses.

The final year I underwent a gruelling course in Artificial Intelligence that I haven’t started to utilise in anyway in my career path.

What I strongly desire is a competence in database management and its integration with records management and design.

Regards

Here is my Answer

Hello,

I feel your pain because I have been in your shoes – in a similar situation.

I’ve had to transition career several times from Chemical Engineering to IT Sales to IT Consulting to IT Career Coaching!

I’m reasonably sure that my last transitiion is permanent … but that doesn’t mean much because I expect my IT Career Coaching skills to change so much that I would literally be re-inventing myself every year!

Think about it for a moment. The world around us is constantly changing and we have to remain flexible and adaptable or we become as dead as the DoDo!

Fact is … “career transitions are a part of life“!

What I’ve learnt that I would like to share with you is this: “march boldly in the direction of your dreams!“

Start by forgiving yourself thoroughly.

Forgiving yourself is really not as easy as it sounds … put some effort into giving yourself a break because you did the best that you could based on the information you had.

Don’t be too hard on yourself, make sure you take out some time to love on yourself before you do the next big thing.

Now, having done that, “follow your call wherever it leads without any hesitation“!

Since your heart is saying that you need to become a database professional, do exactly that!

“Jump into the water with both feet and don’t be afraid of getting your feet wet. “

What I mean is: “pursue your dreams fearlessly, follow your heart wherever it leads and don’t be afraid of making mistakes”.

You owe yourself the pursuit of “life, liberty and love”.

Let me know if I can do anything to help.

Regards,

Kingsley Tagbo – Your IT Career Coach

This post answers a question posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”!

If you have any Question about your career, Post IT as a comment on this page and I will be sure to answer it for you!




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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!

Here is the Reader’s Question:

Hello,

The toughest challege facing my career right now is, I have been unemployeed for an extended period of time.

I have nine years of Oracle programming experience, but I have been out of work for some years now.

I have been told by employeers that it has been too long since I have had any professional experience.

The job market is very competitive right now.

How do I compete with other programmers who may not have been out of work as long as I have?

I am attending classes so that I am not completely idle. My major is Computer Information Systems. However, I urgently need to work.

Here is my Answer:

Although, the job market is competitive, getting back into full-time employment after a stay at home period is not impossible.

Follow these guidelines to boost your competitiveness compared to that of other computer programmers.

1. Broaden Your Skills: To stay competitive in the job market, you must broaden your skills because IT Managers are hiring for a broader range of skills!

   Begin by learning those skill that are in high demand and are also a natural complement to your existing skill base.

   For example, SQL Server programming skills are in high-demand and will complement your existing skill sets. By learning SQL Server programming you will be able to target both Oracle Programming Jobs and SQL Server Database Programming Jobs.

2. Transition To a Software Developer Career: Take advantage of your existing programming strengths by learning a new programming language!

   Draw upon your understanding of Oracle programming to learn a completely new programming tool.

   This will help your career by giving you skills that make you more attractive to employers.

   For example, there are lots of programming jobs that require Microsoft .NET Front-End Programming Skills and Oracle Database or SQL Server Back-End Developer Skills.

   By learning Microsoft.NET you will become competitive in the current job market as you gain the ability to work on the User Interface Front-End or Business Logic Layer or Database Back-End!

3. Overcome Employment Gaps By Becoming More Marketable: There is nothing that you can do about your employment gaps because it’s already happened and it is going to stay on your resume!

   However there is plenty you can do if you understand the power of having a marketable skill.

   When you hear employers complaining about the gaps in your employment, what they are really saying is that they don’t find your resume or skills compelling enough!

   You can completely by-pass this objection by acquiring the kind of skills that make you a marketable, in-demand IT Professional.

   This is the single, most important thing within your power to do … Learn a new skill or career that makes you instantly attractive, desirable and employable!

How to Overcome Your Employment Gap?

Not too long ago, I was helping someone who hadn’t worked for a number of years. He was in a pretty bad situation because he had a very short employment history and also an employment gap for no good reason.

The way we got around that situation was by getting him to update his skills by learning Microsoft .NET Software Development.

The demand for Microsoft .NET programmers is so high that this guy got hired at his very first interview … despite not having a credible explanation for the gaps on his resume!

I ‘m saying that considering your Nine Years of Oracle programming experience, all you have to do is to make yourself more marketable.

Remember that you already have a far better resume than the individual in question.

So, How Do You Become A Microsoft .NET Software Developer?

1. You become a Microsoft .NET Software Developer by enrolling at the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

   The software developers boot camp is an Online, Video Based, Web Based, Instructor Led, Beginner to Advanced Software Developer Training that incorporates knowledge based training in the form of Video Lessons and Hands-On Skill Building Microsoft.NET Training in the form of Microsoft .NET Projects, Case Studies, Labs, Hands-On Coding Activities and more.

2. The SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP provides you with the skill needed to become a professional software developer or consultant. You learn ASP.NET, C#, Web-Based development in a practical, real-world, hands-on online computer programming course!

3. Finally, I will also advise you to register for the SQL Boot Camp because SQL Server Database skills are usually required in Microsoft .NET software developer positions. You should register for both the SQL Boot Camp and the Software Developers Boot Camp at the same time to get the best results.

   So, register here for the SQL BOOT CAMP and also register here for the SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS BOOT CAMP!

This post answers a question posted by a reader on “How To Overcome Employment Gaps in Oracle Programming Career! If you have any Question about your career, Post IT as a comment on this page and I will be sure to answer it for you!




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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.

1. Do You Have a Marketable Skill? Did you assume that because your skills were in-demand a few years ago, they are relevant today?

   The market doesn’t lie! … If your phone isn’t ringing or you aren’t getting job interviews then your skills need to be updated!

   What looks like a minor skill gap to you is a major skill gap to hiring managers because that’s what they’re paying for!

2. Is Your Resume Killing Your Career? Your resume screams “hire me because I need this job” and says little about what you can do for the employer!

   Get a clue, no-one cares about you until you prove that you care about them!

   Put yourself in the employer’s shoes by re-writing your resume to say: “here is what I can do for you” and you’ll get a job paying surprisingly more than you asked for!

3. Are You Flying by the Seat of Your Pants? Your failure to plan your job search is the reason why your job search is falling apart!

   Start your job search with a competitive analysis of your strengths and weaknesses in the current job market (SWOT Analysis) and then create a strategic job search plan that addresses your findings!

   Applying for every online job doesn’t work because everyone else is doing the same thing and you must differentiate yourself to succeed.

4. Do You Suck at Job Interviews? You need to learn “how to interview properly” because something you’re doing is freaking out potential employers!

   Face-to-face or phone interviews are make or break opportunities that can’t be treated casually or left to chance.

   So learn “how to slam dunk job interviews” to improve your job search or get hired fast!

5. Can You Perform? Prove It! Performers get hired wherever they go!

   Everything about your resume, job interviews or attitude must prove that you’re a performer because that’s what potential employers wants to hear!

   Remember that IT Managers view: your past performance as the best indicator of your future performance.

   So, get your act together and differentiate yourself from the competition. Prove that you’re a job candidate worthy of hire!

Remember that Employers are still hiring for Information Technology (IT) jobs despite the economy … so, if you can’t find an IT Job, you’re doing something wrong!

Finding a job doesn’t have to be an emotionally demanding, long-drawn out process. Just learn the process outlined in this series of articles and you will be in-charge of your job search.




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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 …

• 1. 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

  2. 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

  3. Our Training Sharpens Your Skills And Helps You Gain Critical Hands-On Experience

     • After you enroll in a training course, the web based training software creates a new training schedule for you and then sends you a personalized e-mail with links to your training videos, assignments or quizzes.
     • You are assigned a number of days for each video, quiz, assignment or hands on lab activity by the web based training software.
     • You complete the assignment or activity and submit your work back to a live course instructor using a feature on the training system.
     • Your instructor is notified that you submitted an assignment and grades your work or provides help, assistance or corrective feedback to you.
     • Your grade is automatically dsiplayed in your secure, private online report card. Your report card displays the grades of each completed training module, quiz, assignment or hands on lab work.
     • The web based system sends out the next video to you and you continue to learn, practice and understand new information

  4. You Can Access Our Training Videos After You Complete Training

     • You will be able to login and access all the training videos after you complete our training
     • All the videos, transcripts, e-books or resources are accessible through the “Resources” Menu on our training system during training and after you complete training

  5. Our Training Is Designed To Be Flexible Or Convenient

     • Yes, you are given ample time to complete each training activity including the video training or practice tests or hands on lab work
     • You can login at any time during the day or evening and take you video training
     • If you want to pause your training at any time because of work or life committments you may simply click on the “Pause Training” feature in the online training software
     • You may pause your training for as long as you want to and click on the “Continue Training” feature whenever you want to
     • You are not required to start or finish your training at the same time as everyone else
     • You are not required login to the online training system at the same time as everyone else or at a specific time of the day or night
     • Your training is a “go at your own pace”, anytime, anywhere, anypace training. Your personalized, flexible training schedue is managed by our web based online training software system

  6. You Do Not Need Any Prerequisite Course Or Preparation Before You Begin Training

     • All our training courses are step by step, beginner to advanced training
     • We do not assume anything about your background, so we walk you through the basics and then take you to the advanced topics
     • Our Videos are step by step, instructional videos. You will learn by watching our Instructors explain or perform hands on activities or teach new concepts
     • Our training videos cover both the theoretical knowledge and practical hands on activity required to master each new skill or topic
     • You do not have to take out time to prepare for our training courses. All the preparation, foundational topics and pre-requisite knowledge is inbuilt or included as part of each training course

  7. We Train You For The Hottest, In-Demand IT Careers

     • SQL Boot Camp: The SQL Boot Camp online training course for database developers, computer programmers, data analysts or business analysts
     • Software Developer Boot Camp: The Software Developer Boot Camp online training course for computer programmers or web developers
     • Data Analyst Boot Camp: The Data Analyst Boot Camp online training course for data analysts, business analysts or database developers
     • Business Analyst Boot Camp: The Business Analyst Boot Camp online training course for business analysts or system analysts
     • Job Search Coaching: The Job Search online coaching for the IT Job Search process including Resume Review, Interview Coaching & Job Search Coaching
     • IT Mentorship Program: The IT Hands-On Training Program for IT Consultants

  8. You Control The Pace Of Training

     • Yes, you can accelerate or speedup your training course or complete training in a shorter time
     • Yes, you can finish your training in more time or less time than the estimated duration
     • You can control your training pace because our web-based training software allows you to run at a more customized, personalized pace. So you don’t have to start or finish at the same time as eveyone else

  9. You Don’t Need To Install Additional Software Programs to Run Our Training Courses

     • You don’t need to install additional software progarms to view our training courses online
     • We used a web-based system that allows you to view our training courses anytime from anywhere or place.
     • All the software training features you need for your training are already buit into our web based training system.
     • You don’t even need to worry about browser requirements.

Don’t miss out on these limited time discounts because they are ending soon!

For a limited time only …

• get the SQL Boot Camp + Business Analyst Boot Camp or

• get the SQL Boot Camp + Software Developer Boot Camp or

• get two or more training courses for instant multiple discounts on the shopping cart!

Click here to get the special discount before it expires




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• Data Analysts Boot Camp - Online, Web Based, Instructor Led, Hands On, Data Analyst Video Training


• Get Hired Fast - Online, Web Based, Resume + Job Search + Interview Video Training


• Become A Leader Coaching - Develop hands-on experience, gain domain expertise, solve industry problems, Stand Up and Be Noticed, market your career using PULL instead of PUSH techniques!









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How To Boost IT Skills Rapidly Or Get Hired Fast

I discovered the power of practice tests in 1999 after I aced a job interview test with a score in the mid-nineties and got hired fast!

Over the next few months, I mastered how to boost my skills rapidly using the technique that I will share with you in the rest of this article.

Research has shown that practice tests or quizzes improve your retention, recall or understanding.

Research that studies how people learn skills effectively also demonstrates that students who study and take quizzes have better long-term recall than their colleagues who study without taking quizzes.

Perhaps, you have been using practice tests only when preparing for certification exams.

However, practice tests are useful for much more than that.

Quizzes have proven effective for improving IT skills, retention, recall of information and for acing technical job interviews!

That is why we use the Quiz Module in our online, video-based training programs to sharpen the skills, improve memory, retention, recall and understanding of our students after they watch our training videos.

We’ve also incorporated a practice testing software into the Business Analyst Book – Business Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Let’s go ahead and review how you may used practice tests to improve your skills or advance your IT career or get an IT job.

Use Quizzes to Ace IT Job Interviews Or Get An IT Job:

The more effective preparation for IT job interviews includes using quizzes or practice tests to ask Single Choice, Multiple Choice or Essay Type interview questions.

This technique is effective for acing IT job interviews because the Quiz software presents the questions to you, rates your answers as correct or incorrect and then displays the correct answer for feedback or correction

Quizzes or practice tests are also effective for acing job interviews because they closely mimic the question and answer format of IT job interviews.

In IT job interviews, the interviewer asks a questions and then reviews your answer for correctness, promptness of reply and comprehensiveness. Not displaying these three traits are among the top reasons why IT workers fail to ace their job interviews. The interviewer rated their answers and felt that they where wrong (correctness), slow in coming, (promptness) or not detailed enough (comprehensiveness).

The good news is that our online video-based training programs include a Quiz Module which helps students prepare for job interviews at no additional costs.

The Quiz Module asks technical questions in a random order, rates the answer to Single Choice, Multiple Choice or Essay Type Questions, presents the correct answer with an explanation and then grades the student for the entire quiz.

Use Quizzes to Sharpen Your IT Skills Or Advance Your Career:

The other major benefit of using practice tests or quizzes in our online training programs, is that practice tests actually improve your ability to remember, recall or understand the information you gain from watching our training videos.

Repetition in training is the key to skill mastery. To master any new skill you repeat the same set of tasks multiple times until it sinks in and becomes second nature … and that is exactly what our Quiz modules does for you!

At designated periods in your online, video training program, you will get an invitation to take a Quiz for a number of days.

While taking the quiz, you will be presented with a number of questions or scenarios repeatedly until the learning concept becomes second nature.

This feature … only available at select Quiz training programs … is included with your online, video-based training boot camps at no additional cost!

So, if you are looking for a scientific way to boost your career or advance your skills or ace your job interviews, get our online, video-based training courses or web-based training courses now.

References

1. Chan, J.C., McDermott, K.B., & Roediger, H.L. (2007). Retrieval-induced facilitation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 135(4), 553-571

2. How to Become a More Effective Learner in Tips from Psychology to Improve Learning Effectiveness & Efficiency By Kendra Van Wagner




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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

As the job market gets more competitive, IT Managers are hiring workers who have the mindset, training and inclination to work on a broader range of tasks. Gone are the days when it was okay to say “I can only do this” or “please, don’t make me do that“. Nowadays if you are asked to work on a task that is not aligned with your core competency … it may better to do the job or get trained on how to do it!

Business Analysts With Programming Skills Wanted!

IT Managers are hiring for business analysts with light computer programming skills

Business analysts are not expected to learn the full suite of programming languages that software developers need. They are expected to LEARN LIGHT PROGRAMMING SKILLS including HTML, XHTML, CSS, SQL, Data Analysis or Reporting

Business Analysts who’ve learnt a range of light programming skills in addition to the traditional, business analysis skills will find that they are more marketable. These business analysts will also be able to match a wider range of candidate profiles sought by an increasing number of hiring managers. One thing is for sure, showing your IT manager that you are willing or flexible enough to accept assignments outside your core competencies will help you get hired or keep your current job

Should Computer Programmers Learn Business Analysis?

Computer Programmers also need to be ready in today’s job market to acquire a broader range of skills in other to get hired or retain their jobs.

Computer programmers need to be ready to have or demonstrate LIGHT BUSINESS ANALYSIS SKILLS including UML, Use Cases or Requirements Analysis skills.

Because firms are cutting costs, computer programmers should also expect to start seeing more traditional data analysis or reporting tasks assigned to them.

What Extra Skills Are You Getting?

Business analysts are reporting an increase in the number of job postings requiring light programming skills in-addition to the core business analysis skills

Industry wide, there is an increasing trend to cut costs and retain tech workers who have a broader range of software development (project management, data analysis, business analysis, computer programming) skills.

What about you? Do you plan to learn any new skill or stay competitive in today’s job market?




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• Become A Leader Coaching - Develop hands-on experience, gain domain expertise, solve industry problems, Stand Up and Be Noticed, market your career using PULL instead of PUSH techniques!









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On of my readers needs help with putting together his career advancement plan. I posted the information I provided to him below. If you have any question about this or about your career, post it as comment at the end of the post and I would answer it for you.

1. Set a SMART Goal

   Begin by creating a comprehensive end to end career roadmap or plan.

   Your career roadmap needs to include a SMART goal (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely goal) That means that you need to define an end objective (for example, mastering business analysis or learning computer programming or improving your software testing skills) and a timeline for achieving it.

2. Follow a Strategy

   Then you need to have a strategy for achieving your career goals. Your strategy is the “how to achieve your goal” part. So without a good strategy, you are not going to achieve your goal, no matter how hard you try at doing so.

   Your core career strategy needs to include: “gaining the requisite knowledge, skills and experience” needed to advance in your career as well as soft skills like “technical presentation / interviewing skills”.

3. Execute your Strategy

   You need to define the specific tactics that would allow you to achieve your strategy. Your tactics is more like a day to day plan that you would carry out that aligns with your strategy. Your tactics is the execution part of the plan and if you don’t execute your strategy well, all the goal setting and strategizing in the world won’t help you.

How to Follow Through On Your Career Strategy

How do you ensure that on a daily or weekly basis, that you will get the knowledge, skills and experience required to succeed in your career?

To ensure that you succeed in your career, you need to define:

• How you will gain the requisite knowledge

• How you will gain mastery and turn your knowledge into skills

• How to gain hands on, real-world, experience. Note that without experience, you won’t get be able to transition to new roles or get hired or get promoted

Here is some more information on how to gain more knowledge, skills and experience … which is required for IT career success:

• How To Improve Your Knowledge:

  Would you use books, free website content, onsite technical training, online training, coaching or mentoring services, newsletters, etc. You need to come up with what works best for you based on your work, family and budget

• How to Turn your Knowldege into skills:

  Note that knowledge and skills are not the same. Knowledge is theoretical and skill is practical. You must turn theoretical knowledge, education, certifications, etc into practical skills to succeed in your tech career

• How To Gain Hands On Experience:

  The most valuable asset in your career is your hands on, real-world, experience. IT careers unlike careers in law, medicine and some other professional disciplines put more emphasis on experience than accrediattion.

So, before you do anything, you need to make sure you have defined the specific steps you will take to get your hands on experience. Also, not every experience is equal. Employers give more weight to experience gained in some specific ways compared to experience gained in other ways.

TO CERTIFY OR NOT?

This is a hot topic. Tech workers are worrying if their certifications, degrees, education, would hold up in the current economic climate.

There seems to be two schools of thought. One school asserts that certifications and educational degrees are everything. The other school asserts that certified tech workers may not necessarily have the experience to back it up and that certifications don’t matter anyway.

There may be a better way to answer this question. Instead of worrying about your certifications, educational qualifications, etc. focus on a developing complete, end to end career plan. In a complete career plan you may get additional certifications and educational qualifications as long as you do not neglect the core essentials needed for information technology career success: knowledge, skills and experience.

So, I want to know hear from you. Was this post helpful? Do certifications, degrees and educational qualifications matter? Does knowldege, skill or experience matter? If you have a question or concern I can address, post it as a comment at the end of this post and I will answer it for you.




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• Get Hired Fast - Online, Web Based, Resume + Job Search + Interview Video Training


• Become A Leader Coaching - Develop hands-on experience, gain domain expertise, solve industry problems, Stand Up and Be Noticed, market your career using PULL instead of PUSH techniques!









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How To Become A Web Programmer

The post which you are just about to read answers the question of:“what is the most compelling thing on a web programmer’s resume or how do you gain the type of resume that will make you standout in the web development industry!“

Let me begin by saying that, the key thing that hiring managers are looking for on your resume is not your programming certifications or your college degrees or computer science education but your handson web programming experience.

It is only after software development managers are satisfied that you have the required experience that they will start considering other things like your training, certification, degrees, education or qualifications.

So the real questions here are:

• How do you get strong, hands on web programming experience?
• How do you document web programming experience on your resume?

How To Gain Compelling Web Programming Resume

• Build ASP.NET Applications for you own personal use: Begin by developing asp.net web applications that have some real world, practical and personal benefit.

  An example would be a web application that stores and catalogs links to useful ASP.net articles that you find on the web

• Volunteer for open source ASP.NET projects: There are several open-source ASP.NET projects on sites like http://www.CodePlex.com.

  Some of these open source projects need help from volunteer asp.net developers like you, who can design or develop new features or fix existing bugs in the open source project.

• Volunteer for non profit projects: Find a non-profit organization close to your heart and volunteer to help with creating or improving their websites or software applications.

• Work on freelance projects on websites like Elance or ODesk. Don’t get hung-up on trying to win the big bids, instead work on winning the smaller bids because you are still looking to build your skills, experience and clients and not to make a lot of money.

  Working on real-world projects will help you get used to communicating with clients or managing project scope, deadlines or deliverables.

How To Document Web Programming Experience On your Resume

• Go back and document all the projects or tasks or features you wrote or completed.

• Describe the technologies you used, the business processes you supported, the type of project you worked on, the positive reviews giving by your clients or project managers or colleagues.

  One of the biggest mistakes that computer programmers make on their resume is that giving too little credence to the tasks they perform on a project.

  This is sometimes due to them because of low self-confidence or self-esteem.

• Don’t have to wait until you complete a big project before you document your work or results.

  Give a lot of time, attention and effort to documenting the smaller victories (tasks, features or software applications) you either created from scratch or completed.

  Trust me, your resume would look much better than the other folks that don’t do use this highly effective technique.

One of the folks in our online training bootcamps applied the last technique to his business analyst resume and saw the activity on his resume jump by 300%.

A coaching participant did the same thing and started getting pulled into business analyst job interviews that he wasn’t even qualified to attend.

When he saw that recruiters were taking him seriously and that he was getting a lot of calls for business analyst consulting jobs beginning at $30/hr., he decided to run back and complete his training … that is how powerful the techniques posted on this article are!

Though this article is written for computer programmers, you can adapt these techniques or use them to improve your resumes or get hand on experience for business analyst, data analyst, database or any other information technology (IT) jobs and careers.

This post is an answer to a question asked by Talibah Coleman on “How to put together a compelling ASP.NET programmer resume from watching ASP.NET software developer videos“.

You may click here to add your own No Holds Barred Questions, Comments or Discussion on challenges, problems or issues facing your career and i will respond to your question just as I answered Talibah’s question in this post!




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