Filling Your Toolkit: Chapters Mrs. Eaton – ITE NRCC The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit by Matthew Moran Filling Your Toolkit: Chapters Mrs. Eaton – ITE NRCC The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit by Matthew Moran

Career Building: The Concept Career building is exactly that−building. Getting a job or a string of jobs is not synonymous with building a career. A builder must have a plan. A builder must have the right tools. Career building is exactly that−building. Getting a job or a string of jobs is not synonymous with building a career. A builder must have a plan. A builder must have the right tools.

Quick Review

Introduction: Chapters 1-4 1: Toolkit Approach to Career Development 2: Career Building Defined 3: Information technology is a great career choice! 4: Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and Desires 1: Toolkit Approach to Career Development 2: Career Building Defined 3: Information technology is a great career choice! 4: Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and Desires

Filling Your Toolkit: Chapters A summary of what you will need... 5: Self-Assessment Identify strengths & weaknesses Are you valuable to your employer? 6: Attitude I have value−somewhere. No job makes a career, and no job breaks a career. You’ll need bridges, so don’t burn any. 7: Communication Skills Written, Verbal, Listening, Presentations A summary of what you will need... 5: Self-Assessment Identify strengths & weaknesses Are you valuable to your employer? 6: Attitude I have value−somewhere. No job makes a career, and no job breaks a career. You’ll need bridges, so don’t burn any. 7: Communication Skills Written, Verbal, Listening, Presentations

Chapter 8 Technical Skills

Overview Technology Skills are important, but other skills are more important. More important Professional Networking Communication Skills Understand Business Concepts Toolkit is incomplete if you only have technical skills. Overview Technology Skills are important, but other skills are more important. More important Professional Networking Communication Skills Understand Business Concepts Toolkit is incomplete if you only have technical skills.

Chapter 8 Technical Skills The Role of Learning Don’t become lopsided in your career development Develop soft skills Update technical skills Fear of Obsolescence Need for continuous learning Burn Out Do not sacrifice learning soft skills The Role of Learning Don’t become lopsided in your career development Develop soft skills Update technical skills Fear of Obsolescence Need for continuous learning Burn Out Do not sacrifice learning soft skills

Chapter 8 Technical Skills Transcendent Skills Means “going beyond” the technical skills Soft skills Most technology skills Reducing the Parts Programmer – not just a Java programmer or.NET programmer Network Operating Systems – not just a Netware, Novell or Microsoft System administrator Transcendent Skills Means “going beyond” the technical skills Soft skills Most technology skills Reducing the Parts Programmer – not just a Java programmer or.NET programmer Network Operating Systems – not just a Netware, Novell or Microsoft System administrator

Chapter 8 Technical Skills Tips to Speed up the Process Start with Concepts Don’t study what you know. Start with What’s New or what’s different. Start with the map in your head. Don’t worry about the latest trend/fad Understand the Why of Technology and create solutions. Don’t learn only the How of Technology. Easy to do the step-by-step tasks. Tips to Speed up the Process Start with Concepts Don’t study what you know. Start with What’s New or what’s different. Start with the map in your head. Don’t worry about the latest trend/fad Understand the Why of Technology and create solutions. Don’t learn only the How of Technology. Easy to do the step-by-step tasks.

Chapter 8 Technical Skills Concept Driven Approach Learn how to create solutions. Learn key concepts of a technology as they don’t change. Understand role of technology. The actual software, OS, NOS etc. is just a tool not a solution. Focus on Solutions, Not Technology Concept Driven Approach Learn how to create solutions. Learn key concepts of a technology as they don’t change. Understand role of technology. The actual software, OS, NOS etc. is just a tool not a solution. Focus on Solutions, Not Technology

Conclusion To become a value-added technologist, you must understand the role of technology, understand and speak in business terms, and provide solutions that are focused on that understanding. Technology is just a tool! To become a value-added technologist, you must understand the role of technology, understand and speak in business terms, and provide solutions that are focused on that understanding. Technology is just a tool!

Chapter 9 The Cover Letter

Chapter 9 Cover Letter Purpose of Cover Letter Augments resume. Do not repeat/restate items from resume. Give the big picture, summary of your talents and skills. “If you don’t toot your own horn, nobody will.” Maintain a sense of pride Purpose of Cover Letter Augments resume. Do not repeat/restate items from resume. Give the big picture, summary of your talents and skills. “If you don’t toot your own horn, nobody will.” Maintain a sense of pride

Chapter 9 Cover Letter Vital Ingredients of Cover Letter 1. Gratitude for the opportunity. 2. A significant accomplishment. 3. Your interest in becoming a producer for th organization Create a generic cover letter that you can easily customize. Companies don’t want to hire an abrasive, difficult person. Vital Ingredients of Cover Letter 1. Gratitude for the opportunity. 2. A significant accomplishment. 3. Your interest in becoming a producer for th organization Create a generic cover letter that you can easily customize. Companies don’t want to hire an abrasive, difficult person.

Chapter 10 The Resume

Chapter 10 – The Resume Purpose of Resume Your Ambassador to the Professional World Who Looks at Resumes? Human Resources IT Manager Department Manager Owner of company Purpose of Resume Your Ambassador to the Professional World Who Looks at Resumes? Human Resources IT Manager Department Manager Owner of company

Chapter 10 – The Resume Purpose of Resume Your Ambassador to the Professional World Who Looks at Resumes? Human Resources, IT Manager, Department Manager, Owner Busy Employers Disinterested Employers – other things to do Purpose of Resume Your Ambassador to the Professional World Who Looks at Resumes? Human Resources, IT Manager, Department Manager, Owner Busy Employers Disinterested Employers – other things to do

Chapter 10 – The Resume Resume Basics Length: Brevity is Key – 1 page Bulleted lists – no paragraphs 1. Skills 2. Experience 3. Education and Accolades Do not put initials for certifications after your name. PhD after name (takes 4-7 years) Resume Basics Length: Brevity is Key – 1 page Bulleted lists – no paragraphs 1. Skills 2. Experience 3. Education and Accolades Do not put initials for certifications after your name. PhD after name (takes 4-7 years)

Chapter 10 – The Resume Resume Guidelines No special groups or unrelated awards Be honest! Job Objective (optional) Neat, looks professional Error free Experience – can omit unrelated jobs See sample resumes on CD. Resume Guidelines No special groups or unrelated awards Be honest! Job Objective (optional) Neat, looks professional Error free Experience – can omit unrelated jobs See sample resumes on CD.

Conclusion

You have opportunities, even in a recession. Careers always exist because they are long term. You must understand the role of technology, understand and speak in business terms, and provide solutions that are focused on that understanding. You have opportunities, even in a recession. Careers always exist because they are long term. You must understand the role of technology, understand and speak in business terms, and provide solutions that are focused on that understanding.