The IT Career Builders Toolkit

ISBN: 1587131560
EAN: 2147483647

Year: 2004
Pages: 215

Authors: Matthew Moran

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The IT Career Builder s Toolkit
Table of Contents
Copyright
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewers
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Who Should Read This Book?
How to Use the Toolkit
What Is the Toolkit Approach to Career Development?
How This Book Is Organized
Part I: An Introduction to Career Building
Chapter 1. The Toolkit Approach to Career Development
Justifying the Need for an IT Toolkit
Actions Ideas
Chapter 2. Career Building Defined
The Danger of a Tool-Driven Mindset
A Job Is Not a Career
Career Building Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 3. Information Technology: A Great Career
Why IT Is a Great Career
What About Outsourcing?
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 4. Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and Desires
Considerations in Your Career Choice
Beware: Analysis Paralysis
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Part II: Filling Your Toolkit
Chapter 5. Self-Assessment
The Power of Self-Assessment
The Dangers of Self-Assessment
Four Questions of Self-Assessment
Conclusion: Making It Personal
Actions Ideas
Chapter 6. Attitude
The Effect of Attitude on Your Career
Positive Mental Attitude
Beware: Two Pitfalls of Attitude
The Role of Attitude
Attitude Checks
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 7. Communication Skills
Defining Communication Skills
The Benefit of Communication Skills: An Effective Communicator Is Viewed as More Intelligent
Written Communications
Verbal Communication
Presentations and Training
A Brief Note on Listening
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 8. Technical Skills
Your Technology Skills
The Role of Learning
The Fear of Obsolescence
Another Perspective: Transcendent Skills
Reducing the Parts
Tips to Speed Up the Learning Process
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 9. The Cover Letter
The Purpose of Your Cover Letter
Three Vital Ingredients in Your Cover Letter
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 10. The Rsum
Your Ambassador to the Professional World
The Purpose of Your Rsum
Determining Who Is Looking at Your Rsum
Rsum Basics
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Part III: Putting Your Toolkit to Use
Chapter 11. Breaking into IT
Correcting Perception
IT Happens Outside of IT
Other Avenues into IT
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 12. Building an Active Contact List
Enjoy People
Develop a Personality
Have Other Areas of Interest
Engage in Conversation
Track and Remember Your Contacts
Share Opportunity
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 13. The Job Search
Getting What You Want Requires Wanting Something
Defining the Job Search
Remember: Looking for Work Is Work
The Toolkit Approach to Finding a Job
Job Search Outline
A Job Search Comparison
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 14. The Interview
Practice Your Interview Skills
After the Interview
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 15. Salary Negotiations and Employment Agreements
Start Early
Know What You Want
Understand the Employer s Perspective
Be Creative
Be Firm
Your Worth to the Company
Negotiations Never Fail
Be Flexible
Employment Agreements
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 16. On-the-Job Promotion
On the Job
Maintaining and Building Your Network
Identifying Areas for Success
Attitude
Working for a Tyrant and Other Joys
Determine Whether Your Boss s Actions Are Personality or Personal
Understand That People Are Where They Are
Take an Objective Path to Evaluating What They Say
Handling Criticism
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Part IV: More Options to Build Your Career
Chapter 17. The Boundaries and Benefits of Working at Home
Careers That Lend Themselves to Telecommuting
The Benefits for the Employee
The Benefits for the Employer
The Concerns for the Employee
The Concerns for the Employer
Conclusion: Next Steps
Keys to Successful Telecommuting
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 18. The Toolkit Approach to Consulting
The Consulting Life
The Benefits
The Pitfalls
Resources for the Consultant
CD-ROM Materials for the Consultant
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 19. The Move to Management
Leadership
Process and Time Management
Critical Skills You Need Now
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Part V: The Value-Added Technologist
Chapter 20. Make Yourself Indispensable
A Word About Value
Being Proactive
Understanding Technology s Role in the Organization
Maintain a Business-First Mentality
Create Standards, Automation, or a Programmer s Toolkit
Create a Peer Knowledge Network
Be Known As the Go-To Resource
Be Ready and Willing to Take on the Necessary Responsibility
Have Experts You Call On for Your Organization
Be Passionate About Something
Never Blame, and Always Have a Corrective Plan
Adopt Concept Over Process
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 21. Concept Over Process
What to Expect
What Not to Expect
COP Objectives
COP Origins
What Is a Process-Driven Mindset?
Moving from Process Driven to Concept Driven
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 22. The Role of Mentoring
Mentor Characteristics
Mentoring Others
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Chapter 23. Financial Control
The Impact of Finances on Career Building
Financial Control Creates Options
Financial Control Is Largely Mental
Money Is a Tool
Debt and Spending
Some Basics of Financial Planning and Stability
Conclusion
Actions Ideas
Index
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
I
J
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V