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Transitioning Your Career Toward the New E-conomy: Part I

Throughout our lives we all look back at thework each morning, most of us have more
choices we've made and reflect upon theirinteraction with microprocessors than we do
impact on who we are and what we have become.with the people around us. No other
Some results are easier to measure thaninnovation has advanced so rapidly and
others. We can easily measure many of ouraffected society and culture so completely as
choices by our wealth, position, andthe  computer.  It  touches  all  aspects
possessions. Others may be more difficult to
quantify and might include love, happiness,of our modern existence but none more than
reputation, and knowledge. The one savingthe work place, the job market and ultimately
grace for us as human beings is theour careers. For those who wish to take
opportunity to grow and change through theadvantage of opportunities opened by this
choices we make continues throughout ourseries of events and are contemplating a
lives. Even as adults we have the desire andcareer change towards the IT industry, some
the  need  tointeresting facts may help in deciding which
road  is  right  for  you.
keep learning, shifting, and adapting to the
world around us. As we learn from ourAccording to department of Labor statistics
earliest childhood days, we are in fact incited in Changing Channels, Career Facts, 45%
charge of our own destiny, each of us playingof all jobs in 2004 will be in areas that did
the cards of fate on a daily basis throughnot  exist  in
the roads we take. One of the earliest
decisions we face, perhaps at a time when we1994. Of the ten occupations with the
are least prepared is that of our career. Atfastest employment growth, four are computer
a young age we cast our lot in the directionrelated. Database administrators, computer
of some 'mysterious' life long ambition. Someengineers and systems analysts occupy the top
are lucky and are able to grasp the brassthree positions with the demand projected to
ring on the first try. Others, like myselfmore than double by 2006. The number of core
may find that a career choice made years agodomestic IT workers is expected to near 2.6
has turned out to be less gratifying thanmillion in 2006 not including an additional
expected, forcing us to find completion in250,000 to replace those exiting the
searching out new trends and acquiring newprofession. Additionally, 75% of systems
skills.analysts and scientists, and nearly 80% of
computer programmers are under the age of 45.
This is not unusual in today's workplaceFuture projected growth for the dot-com
environment in which some experts explainindustry looks bright as well. Deloitte
that a career change is more likely to be theTouche's dot-com CEO Tohmatsu reports that
rule rather than the exception. David Madisonthe industry is "full of confidence", with an
suggests in his article Successful Career andaverage expected growth rate of 160 percent
Job Changes that today's average collegein the coming year. Peter Williams, the
graduates, in reacting to situations thatnational leader of Deloitte's ebusiness
require new skills or understanding, willpractice and dot-com specialist stated, "the
reinvent themselves with four careers by thekey to success, as with any fast-growing
age of retirement. This trend can already bebusiness, is having quality people and being
seen by the fact that the average Americanable  to
has been in his/her job for only four years.
So why do so many people find themselvesmaintain vitality through periods of
toying with a career change? There are manyexponential growth. The shortage of skills is
possibilities to consider. It may be due toa global phenomenon and is worsening in an
the fact that the workforce is living longerincreasingly  tight  employment  market."
and working harder resulting in job related
burnout and a loss of passion for one'sSadly many people considering career
chosen vocation. Perhaps changing livelihoodschanges feel cut off from taking advantage of
is a natural response to personal andthe job market statistics related to the new
professional growth. Careers are like trees,e-conomy by thinking their previous careers
spawning fresh branches of interest andand working know how are out of step. Terms
curiosity that often lead us in newlike HTML, ASP, JSP, DNA, COM and the
directions. Others may be fueled bythousand  other
statistics that lure change with the
potential of increased financial growth andacronyms that fill want ads seem like some
opportunity  in  burgeoning  new  fields.underground geek code rather than
intelligible requirements needed by those to
Of course no matter how bright thefill positions in the escalating IT field.
statistics may seem, evaluating the risks andWhen in actuality, experience in Human
benefits involved in changing careers,Resources, Economics, Finance, Accounting and
whether real or perceived, should be done onother traditional disciplines may be more
an individual basis. Remember, when facedvaluable than you think. Many participants in
with a career choice, one will appear to bethe IT industry are graduates with degrees
familiar, comfortable and safe, while theand experience in fields other than Computer
other will undoubtedly be unexplored andScience and Technology, yet have managed
daunting. It is up to you to decide which onesuccessfully to migrate through entry portals
will lead to your happy ending. Making aand opportunities to change their careers and
conscious choice in favor of a career changebecome  successful  participants.
is not an easy task. First off there is the
fear of leaving that ever-faithful friend,Susan Pieper-Bailey in her article Jobs for
the paycheck. Sacrificing the familiarity ofthe New Millennium: Interview with George
rules, procedures and colleagues in theBailey states one thing to remember is that a
workplace also plays its part in concerns tocareer changer in today's IT marketplace is
be reckoned with. However, if you arenot a job seeker but rather "human capital"
stagnant on the job with no career growth inand not a cost but rather an "investment."
sight, you might consider making the leapEmployers are not only concerned with
into uncharted territory in order to promotetechnical know how, but also in having a
your skill set, your salary, and ultimatelywell-rounded individual who is familiar with
your personal well being and self esteem. Ifthe business environment in which the
you are still unsure, ask yourself a fewcomputer system will be operating. The fast
questions that may help indicate if it ispaced development of technology within the
time for you to move on. Is Sunday night theindustry itself also demands that job seekers
worst night of the week simply because ofhave good people and communication skills to
your dread of having to return to work thefacilitate team efforts in meeting the
next morning? Do you feel that your jobchallenges of a work environment where the
prevents you from increasing your skills andcompetition and requirements seem to change
has caused you to stop learning? Do you feelby the minute. George Bailey of Price
out of the loop, and that your participationWaterhouseCoopers believes that jobs for the
in the workplace is primarily in fieldingnew millennium will require that individuals
one-sided communiqués from your boss orhave "broader experience. You can't get ahead
higher ups? Do your co-workers and familyanymore  by  being  narrow."
comment that you look drained and
discontented? Is your salary and statusFinally above all, a strategic element that
slipping in relation to that of yourmust be possessed by any individual seeking a
professional peers? (FORTUNE.com: Careercareer in IT is passion. Excitement and
Tools: Is It Time to Move On?) If you'veinnovation involving the Internet is the fuel
answered yes to a number of these questionsthat is propelling us all into the next
you might want to brush up your resume andgeneration of technology affecting the way we
start  looking for new opportunities to grow.conduct  business  and  our  daily  lives.
Currently one of the fastest growing and
undoubtedly most exciting sectors for
employment is that of Information Technology.Please click here to visit our site: Set
The electronic age and transference ofFocusSet Focus, known for its Master's
information has altered our world soProgram and Corporate Training Services, is a
expansively that computer applications andunique training organization that provides
technology  touch  our  lives every minute ofthe most current and cutting edge
technologies in the training market.
every day. In fact by the time we get to



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