ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » Networking http://www.it-career-coach.net How To Take Your Career To The Next Level Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:09:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 What Is The Best Career Move for Technical Support Engineers? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/08/27/what-is-the-best-career-move-for-technical-support-engineers/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/08/27/what-is-the-best-career-move-for-technical-support-engineers/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:46:00 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2983

Careers for Network / Support Engineers

Careers for Network / Support Engineers

I would like to start this post by introducing [Ask IT Career Coach], a Career Advice Column that offers help, answers or solutions for your most challenging career situations.

This question was submitted by a reader from Johannesburg, South Africa: “What will be a best career move as a Desktop Engineer?”

The Best Career Move For Desktop or Technical Support Engineers

  1. Which Career Are You Best Suited For?

    There is no one singular career that works for every desktop engineer, so your first job is to discover the career you are best suited for.

    You may move to another related career and become a: network engineer, information security specialist, server administrator, network administrator or you may transition to a career that has nothing to do with desktops, servers, hardware or networking!

  2. How Do You Choose The Best Career?

    You can choose the next career move based on what your friends or colleagues recommend for you or based on what is the best-paying job in your field or based on which careers are currently in-demand or in-fashion.

    • However some of the folks recommending specific careers do so because that is all they have ever know or because they do not know about other alternative career options!

    • Choosing the next career move based on how much you are paid is not advisable because it leads to career instability and poor performance.

      Sooner or later, you will discover that you are not really passionate about the career and you will be unable to advance because of that!

    • Moving into a career because it’s in-fashion or popular is short-sighted because it results in you doing work that you’re not suited for.

      For example, becoming a pre-sales support engineer may be popular in your circle but still be a dumb career move for you because the constant traveling, socializing or presenting demands wears on you!

  3. Do You Know What You Love?

    Have you considered moving to a career that you love? If you find yourself unable to take that route, it’s because you have not taking the time to identify what you love doing!

    • Identify what you are good at

      Evaluate the feedback you get from colleagues or co-workers and use that to figure out what you are good at.

    • Identify your hobbies

      Evaluate your productive hobbies or part -time activities and use that to figure out what you like.

    • Analyze your Strengths and Weaknesses: Don’t just pick a career that you like or avoid careers that you dislike, take a balanced inventory of your likes and dislikes … Read this post to find out how!

What Is The Best Way To Figure Out Your Next Career Move?

Neo, you may download a FREE Report on “How To Make A Career Change”.

This free REPORT provides you with more information on how to choose the next career move!

Technical Support / Helpdesk Career Advice Column

In this post, I answered the question of which career is the best move after working as a Desktop Engineer.

If you have any question about this, be sure to post it as a comment on this page and I would answer it for you.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/08/27/what-is-the-best-career-move-for-technical-support-engineers/feed/ 8 How To Build A Career In Information Security (INFOSEC) http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/03/14/how-to-build-a-career-in-information-security-infosec/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/03/14/how-to-build-a-career-in-information-security-infosec/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:10:15 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2873

Career Advice - Ask IT Career Coach

Career Advice - Ask IT Career Coach

This post is a first in an important way. It is the first post in our [Ask IT Career Coach] series where we present a lesser known but equally valuable Information Technology (IT) career option.

Announcing The [Ask IT Career Coach] – Career Advice Column

I would like to start this post by introducing our [Ask IT Career Coach] service, a Career Advice Column that offers answers, help or solutions for your most challenging career situations.

How Do I Start My Career In Information Security?

Here is the first question on Information Security sent in from Waukesha, Wisconsin

I have a bachelors degree in Business from 2003 and am now in a masters in MIS program.

My goal is to obtain a management job in the IT field eventually, possibly with an emphasis in security and move on to higher levels of management from there.

Would it be a good move for me to obtain an A+ certification and try to enter the field as a remote desktop support associate or can you suggest other ways to enter the field that would lead me to my management objectives?

What about trying to enter as a business analyst or another position?

Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

How To Become An Information Technology Professional

Let me start by making sure we’re on the same page since the Information Security (INFOSEC) Career is a relatively new career path in the Information Technology (IT) Industry.

In today’s digital economy, we leave a good deal of digital footprint as we utilize the services offered by our hospitals, financial institutions, government agencies, internet service providers (ISPs), web hosting firms, telecommunications providers (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) and other corporate and non-profit organizations.

Some of the digital data created by using services in banking or medical institutions are extremely sensitive, valuable or important to us. So, if they were accessed by un-authorized individuals, stolen, altered or lost, the damage to our lives could be incalculable, devastating or almost irreparable.

From another standpoint, Information Security Auditors, Professionals, Consultants or Analysts are valuable because they help assure the stability and peace of mind of the society considering the therat posed by Hackers or the real possibility of Cyber Warfare.

How To Become An Information Security Analyst

I have established the role or importance of Information Security Analysts, Auditors or Consultants. Next I would like to discuss how you can become an Information Technology professional.

I’m not going to suggest that you do ten (10) things but that you do just one thing in order for you to become an INFOSEC Professional!

I suggest that you do everything in your power to become a Network Administrator or a Systems Administrator on the way to specializing in Information Technology.

The Network or Systems Administrator is traditionally responsible for the integrity, availability, confidentiality, access control, intrusion detection or prevention and security of the computer or networking infrastructure of an organization.

From that standpoint, becoming an Information Technology professional is a logical extension of your career path.

Would An A+ Certification Help Your Career?

Yes, starting out with an A+ Certification may be good for you because it would help you land an desktop or technical support job from which you can rise to become Network or Systems Administrator job.

Keep in mind that what you really want to be is, a Network or Systems Administrator. So, you have to make sure that getting an A+ certification does not stand in your way of getting there.

How To Become An IT Manager or IT Director

Getting into a Network Administrator role can also help you get an IT Management job because in some organizations, the top Network Administrator is also the IT Director because of the scope or responsibilities traditionally assigned to the position.

Just know that this would be on a company by company basis. Some companies may prefer business analysts or MBA degree holders or Network Administrators.

Setting on the Systems Administrator career path could work well for you because that would help keep the door to IT management or IT security doors open for you.

Information Technology Career Advice Column

In this post, I answered the question of how to get into an Information Technology (IT) or an IT Management career path.

If you have any question about this, be sure to post it as a comment on this page and I would answer it for you.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/03/14/how-to-build-a-career-in-information-security-infosec/feed/ 5 Recession Proof Your Career – Eat Lunch With Co-Workers http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-eat-lunch-with-your-team/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-eat-lunch-with-your-team/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:47:54 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=676

business-lunch

You Need People and You Need Information

Are you missing out in information at the office that could be critical to your career? You may be a hard working employee who eats lunch at your desk and prefers reading another IT book to attending company parties.

However, knowledge is power. Networking within your company prevents you from being the one who is always the last to know about major changes that may impact you, your team or the organization.

The current economy makes it a bad time to be isolated at work. Many job cuts are being announced every single day, making it critical that you build your network of co-workers, colleagues and acquaintances up to provide a safety net if your job situation is ever in jeopardy.

By networking within your company, you will pick up on the organizational culture within your company. You’ll learn about job openings within the company and in other teams, organizational changes, information on mergers and sales, new technology strategies and software purchases.

7 Ways to Build Your Network and Get in Loop at Work

  1. Go to Lunch with Your Team: Invite a co-worker out to lunch, or join other co-workers who regularly go to lunch together. The relaxed atmosphere at lunch is a great place to pick on tidbits about what people are working on.

  2. Attend Company Functions: Company parties are great places to strike up friendships with people in other departments and find out what’s interesting on their teams.

  3. Read Company Newsletters and Reports, Research Industry News: Read about the organizational changes and industry trends that may affect you or bring about new opportunities.

  4. Help Others: Look for opportunities to do someone a favor within and outside your team. You’ll need to have started talking to others, first. As you begin to get information, find ways to solve problems. If your boss mentions that the higher ups plan to move to another software platform, do some research for her to help her impress her bosses.

  5. Stay in Touch With Ex Co-Workers: When you leave a company, or someone leaves your company, ask for their contact information. Stay in touch. Send a card at Christmas. You never know when you’ll need a job reference or a job referral.

  6. Tell or Teach People What You Know: Share the information you have. Give tips, ideas and suggestions to others. Giving is a great way to get in the loop.

  7. Ask Questions: Become curious about what’s going on in the workplace. As questions about the direction your company is moving in. Your performance review is a good time to ask your boss the same questions he asks you: Where do you see this team going in five years? What goals do you hope to achieve this year?

As you begin to interact regularly with people on the job, you will find that you are slowly building a network of people who like and rely on you, thus expanding your options for moving ahead in your career.

How To Recession Proof Your Career

Check out the ‘IT-Career-Coach’ Resume, Job Search and Interview training program that walks you through the process of finding a new job immediately.

You’ll Learn Step-by-Step

  • How to Run an Accelerated Job Search

  • How to Find Unadvertised Jobs

  • What Employers Want to See on Your Resume

  • How to Be the Best Candidate in a Technical Interview

  • Advanced Techniques that 98% of Job Searchers Don’t Know (This Means You’ll Be Ahead of the Game)

How the Coaching Works

  • You Get Step By Step Video Training that Shows You How to Get Hired Fast!

  • Your Resume and Cover Letter are Reviewed to Ensure They Match the Positions You’re Applying For.

  • You are Coached on How To Be the Top Candidate by Selling Yourself During Your Technical Interviews.


Click here for more information


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-eat-lunch-with-your-team/feed/ 0 How To Build Your Online Social Media Networks http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/01/how-to-build-your-online-social-media-network/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/01/how-to-build-your-online-social-media-network/#comments Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:42:45 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=262

Online Social Networking Course For IT Professionals

Online Social Networking Course For IT Professionals

Happy New Year to you. I am starting off the new year with a bonus gift in the form of a series of articles on “how to build or promote your professional network online, using the power of social media“

The Conversational Age Is Here:

You have heard about the digital age or the information age. However you may not have heard the latest. We are now in a Conversational Age! The conversational age is an era of human development, where the sharing of conversations, information and social interactions between humans becomes the hallmark of human civilization.

The United States Elections: A recent example is the US Presidential Elections of 2008. President elect Barack Obama employed the power of online social networking to connect with his audience and win the presidential elections. Click here to read more about how President elect Barack Obama used online social networking.

The Power Of Online Social Networks

Why should you care about building, expanding or promoting your career, skills and profile online using Social Media?

The simple answer is that online social networking is more a more effective, cheaper and faster way to network with other professionals than the more traditional or classic forms of networking.

What does the conversational age mean to you?

  • The era of mailing your resume during job hunts is dead! Emails, Cover Letters and Online Social Networks are in.

  • The age of waiting for a layoff before you make a career move is gone! Through your social network, you can learn about layoffs before they happen or get job lucrative offers without having to send your resume to anyone

  • The age of professional isolation is gone! To be valued by managers or peers, you need to constantly connect and share information, ideas or conversations with other professionals in your industry … and you need to view your online social networking as key to your career advancement.

Here are some of the benefits of learning how to build your own social network:

  1. You get job offers through your social network

  2. You improve your skills by learning from other professionals

  3. You build an online brand or become known to a wider circle of professionals

  4. You monitor changes or news that affect your job or industry faster

  5. You get promoted faster because your managers see you as a more valuable resource

  6. You find it easier to get a job because you can prove to hiring managers that you are more passionate about your career than the average job seeker

  7. You are seen as an expert, thought leader or a more senior professional in your industry

Social Media Platforms For IT Professionals

Now that I have established the value of building your own social network online, in the next set of articles, I will be presenting on “how to build your online social network using the following social media services“:

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • MySpace

  • FaceBook

  • Orkut

  • Blogging

  • Forums

  • And more …

I Want To Hear What You Have To Say

I would like some feedback from you. Please leave a comment below about “your favorite online social media tools and why or how you use it”


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