When I used to teach high school science classes I always each year would bring up the idea that the only constant in the universe is change. Whether it is mountains being created and reaching higher, new valleys being formed, new stars being created in some far flung galaxy, there is always something going on and nothing stays the same. And so it is in our own work lives, where we find people moving on when we least expect it to take on some new endeavor and engage in a new chapter of their life. This has happened for me recently and this will be my last post for “Technology Musings”.
I’m moving on to take on a new position and a new set of challenges that goes along with that. I’m sure someone will fill in my shoes for supplying regular blog postings here, and keep new ideas and topics fresh in everyone’s minds. In the meantime, for those of you who are students in our programs already or perhaps contemplating a career in technology, I would leave you with these final thoughts.
Demand for workers knowing and understanding technology is huge, and it’s not going away. I’ve discussed this before in various entries in this blog. Companies are on the lookout for people that can manage their networks, do programming, create websites, manage and create databases…the list goes on and on. When the going gets tough in a program you are part of, remember that you will have a nice payoff once you get your degree or certification, and that there are companies that are looking to hire you and pay you a nice wage for making their technology work for them.
You won’t learn everything all at once. As the old saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, and you aren’t going to learn everything you need to know in one week, month, or even a quarter. But over a certain period of time (like the time needed to get an associate’s degree as an example) you will pick up enough skills and knowledge to work well in an area or specialty that you choose to go into. Be patient. The jobs and opportunities will be there once you are ready to hit the market.
Don’t forget about your “soft skills” as you are preparing for a job in the technology field. How well you are able to write a memo or email, your ability to make and deliver presentations, and your skills at communicating with others on a team will often have just as much impact in your performance as being able to do various technical configurations on servers or troubleshooting why a user can’t get their email to work properly. Don’t ignore these skills and take advantage of classes in communications, public speaking, and others like that to sharpen up these areas.
In addition, here are some good websites to check out for researching the job markets in IT or other careers that you might be interested in:
- www.bls.gov – good site for getting statistical info on different professions.
- www.acinet.org – a Department of Labor sponsored site that includes videos and information similar to what can be found on the Bureau of Labor site noted above…probably somewhat easier to use.
- www.jobseekersadvice.com - a site that provides information on creating resumes, doing interviews, and other facets of finding work that relate to any job area.
For those that are students in the Rasmussen College system, you have seen a number of changes in the IT area over the past two years, and hopefully you will see more as time goes on. Remember to take advantage of the time you have when attending classes, and to work and get as much out of them as you can. Remember, Bill Gates was once young and short of funds as well, so your dreams and aspirations are always within reach if you have the knowledge and are willing to work for what you want.
Good luck!
Jim