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Description Back Cover Contents Author Description
Your complete guide to building your information technology career in any economy The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit features market-focused skills and proven methods you can use to jump-start and advance your career. While other books cover just the mechanics of preparing your résumé, writing a cover letter, and interviewing, this book provides all that plus additional insight from IT career development expert, Matt Moran, to help you plan and create a rewarding IT career over the long term. The toolkit approach allows you to use this book to suit your unique needs: - Are you new to the IT field? Benefit by reading the book cover to cover.
- Just need to fine-tune your IT career? Choose a topic and dive in.
Understand and prepare for the various and changing factors that affect your career in both positive and negative ways. Learn how to - Present the value of your technical skills in the job market
- Position yourself as the primary commodity of your career
- Remove the guesswork out of job searches
- Highlight on-the-job skills and gain meaningful professional exposure
The companion CD-ROM includes career management tools such as résumé and cover letter templates, forms to track important contacts, and self-assessment tools. Start or further your consulting career with sample proposals, opportunity tracking forms, and a time-tracking and billing database. Financial tools, including budget and cash-flow summary worksheets, help you gain financial well-being. Use the Value-Added Technologist presentation to gain a clear understanding of the career-building process and how to use the toolkit to build a dynamic career. Most of all, have fun! Every year, people advance along the path to career stardom. Let Matt help you to be one of them through his career philosophy “Do not accept mediocrity as a career objective–demand more of yourself.” “I want you to see the [toolkit] techniques as one more set of skills to adopt in your overall career development program. They are skills, just like your technical skills, that you will use daily during your career. Just as you adopt new technical skills, use the toolkit to define those soft skills that you must learn and put to use. The result will be a more well-rounded and complete professional skill-set.” ~ Matthew Moran, from the Introduction Companion CD-ROM The CD-ROM contains valuable tools, forms, spreadsheets, and documents that work with the Toolkit to help you master key areas of your career development. topBack Cover
Your complete guide to building your information technology career in any economy The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit features market-focused skills and proven methods you can use to jump-start and advance your career. While other books cover just the mechanics of preparing your résumé, writing a cover letter, and interviewing, this book provides all that plus additional insight from IT career development expert, Matt Moran, to help you plan and create a rewarding IT career over the long term. The toolkit approach allows you to use this book to suit your unique needs: - Are you new to the IT field? Benefit by reading the book cover to cover.
- Just need to fine-tune your IT career? Choose a topic and dive in.
Understand and prepare for the various and changing factors that affect your career in both positive and negative ways. Learn how to - Present the value of your technical skills in the job market
- Position yourself as the primary commodity of your career
- Remove the guesswork out of job searches
- Highlight on-the-job skills and gain meaningful professional exposure
The companion CD-ROM includes career management tools such as résumé and cover letter templates, forms to track important contacts, and self-assessment tools. Start or further your consulting career with sample proposals, opportunity tracking forms, and a time-tracking and billing database. Financial tools, including budget and cash-flow summary worksheets, help you gain financial well-being. Use the Value-Added Technologist presentation to gain a clear understanding of the career-building process and how to use the toolkit to build a dynamic career. Most of all, have fun! Every year, people advance along the path to career stardom. Let Matt help you to be one of them through his career philosophy “Do not accept mediocrity as a career objective–demand more of yourself.” “I want you to see the [toolkit] techniques as one more set of skills to adopt in your overall career development program. They are skills, just like your technical skills, that you will use daily during your career. Just as you adopt new technical skills, use the toolkit to define those soft skills that you must learn and put to use. The result will be a more well-rounded and complete professional skill-set.” ~ Matthew Moran, from the Introduction Companion CD-ROM The CD-ROM contains valuable tools, forms, spreadsheets, and documents that work with the Toolkit to help you master key areas of your career development. topContents
Introduction 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 Perspectives on Career Development: Careers Are Nonlinear Perspectives on Career Development: A Working Plan Makes Tedious or Unrewarding Jobs Bearable Career Building Conclusion Actions & Ideas Chapter 3 Information Technology: A Great Career Why IT Is a Great Career Options Performance-Based Advancement Opportunities for Continuous Learning Pay and Perks What About Outsourcing? Outsourcing Is About Value, Not Costs The Jobs That Won’t Be Outsourced Conclusion Actions & Ideas Chapter 4 Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and Desires Considerations in Your Career Choice Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Needs Pay Insurance Training Commute and Travel Time Working Conditions (People, Culture, Environment, Hours) Future Growth Potential Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Desires Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Skills 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 Where the Four Questions Came From Question 1: Do I Make My Employer’s Job Much Easier or Much More Difficult? Question 2: If I Gave Notice Today, Would My Employer Have an Instant Sense of Relief or Dread? Question 3: Do I Perform My Job Better Than My Employer Could Perform My Job If He/She Needed To? Question 4: If Asked How I Can Improve in My Job, Do I Cite External Factors—People and Resources—or Do I Take Responsibility? Conclusion: Making It Personal Actions & Ideas Chapter 6 Attitude The Effect of Attitude on Your Career Positive Mental Attitude PMA Is Not a Panacea PMA and a Plan Beware: Two Pitfalls of Attitude Unrealistic Expectations Skill Deficits The Role of Attitude What You Think of Your Employer The “Us Versus Them” Mentality Management Got There by Luck or Schmoozing, Alone Your Coworkers Humble Arrogance: The Attitude of Personal Value Ownership The Myth of the Self-Made Man 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 General Guidelines The Letter E-Mail The Well-Crafted Paragraph The Well-Crafted Page Verbal Communication Conversation Presentations and Training Don’t Wait Until You Are Asked to Speak to Learn This Vital Skill Cover No More Than Three to Five Main Points Work from an Outline, Not a Script Look at the Audience 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 Start with Concepts Don't Study What You Know Don't Worry About Catching the Latest Trend Focus on Solutions, Not Technology Conclusion Actions & Ideas Chapter 9 The Cover Letter The Purpose of Your Cover Letter Three Vital Ingredients in Your Cover Letter Gratitude for the Opportunity A Significant Accomplishment Your Interest in Becoming a Producer Conclusion Actions & Ideas Chapter 10 The Résumé Your Ambassador to the Professional World The Purpose of Your Résumé Determining Who Is Looking at Your Résumé Busy Employers Disinterested Employers Résumé Basics Length: Brevity Is Key No Paragraphs Bulleted Lists Documenting Your Professional Experience A Note About Certifications/Degrees on Your Résumé Guidelines for Writing Your Résumé 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 Ask for What You Want Ask for Advice 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 Method 1: The Standard “Passive” Job Search Method 2: The Proactive Job Search Method 1 Versus Method 2 A Word About the Out-of-Town Search Conclusion Actions & Ideas Chapter 14 The Interview Practice Your Interview Skills Be Prepared to Answer Difficult Questions What Professional Accomplishment Are You Most Proud Of? What Do You Feel Is Your Greatest Strength? Greatest Weakness? Why Are You Leaving Your Last Job? Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? 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 Seek Legal Counsel Assumptions Deliverables Bonuses and Performance Perks 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 Determine Whether What Someone Is Saying Is True Determine Whether It Is Something You Need to Change Talk to Someone About a Behavior Don’t Swallow Your Pride—Control It 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 Project-Based/Free-Agent Mindset Apply Discipline Clear Expectations Technologies for the Telecommuter VPNs IM Services Resources for the Home Worker Conclusion Actions & Ideas Chapter 18 The Toolkit Approach to Consulting The Consulting Life The Benefits Respect Schedule Exciting Projects Compensation The Pitfalls Business Planning: Taxes, Legal Billing Current Workload Inaccurate Records Trading Time for Dollars Schedule Ongoing Marketing Ideas on Getting Published The Process of Getting Published 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 Presentation and Meeting Skills Team-Building Skills Give Credit Where Credit Is Due Promote Your Team and Its Members Foster an Environment That Allows for (Even Celebrates) Failure Create a Project/Contract Mentality with Those You Report to and Those Who Report to You 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? The Role of Technology Role 1: Storage and Retrieval of Information Role 2: The Automation of Delivery of Product or Service Moving from Process Driven to Concept Driven A Concentric View A Note About Time Developing Proactive Solutions A Warning/Suggestion COP Is Not About Technology! Start with the Goal of Business Understand Your Objective as an Employee What About Mission Statements? From Goal to Analysis Understand the Industry Understand the Business: The Organization’s Role in Its Industry Understand the Workflow Understand the Relationships: Interactions/Dependencies Workflow Analysis Project Definition Myth of Limitation What If? Congruencies, Incongruencies, and Omissions Conclusion Actions & Ideas Chapter 22 The Role of Mentoring Mentor Characteristics Mentoring Others What Qualifies Me as a Mentor? The Role of Mentor Is Not a Power Position Encourage and Stretch Point to Other Mentors or Resources 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 Defining a Basic Budget Defining Your Core Needs Establishing Your Spending History Creating Your Budget Cash Flow Summary: A Weekly Plan Conclusion Actions & Ideas IndextopAuthor
Matthew Moran is a consultant specializing in strategic IT initiatives, IT staff development, automated workflow and document assembly applications, and business process re-engineering. His articles on technology automation and professional development have appeared in The Wall Street Journal’s CareerJournal, Windows .NET Scripting Solutions Journal, Techies.com, Informit.com, Power Media Group’s Technology magazines, and several others. His presentations on technology careers, innovation, and creativity provide dynamic motivation with a real-world course of action. With more than 17 years experience providing business solutions as a business analyst, project manager, business owner, CIO, and VP of technology, Matt has had the opportunity to help many technology professionals create rewarding careers. top
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