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

Throughout our lives we all look back at theinformation has altered our world so expansively
choices we've made and reflect upon their impactthat computer applications and technology touch
on who we are and what we have become.our lives every minute of
Some results are easier to measure than others.every day. In fact by the time we get to work
We can easily measure many of our choices byeach morning, most of us have more interaction
our wealth, position, and possessions. Others maywith microprocessors than we do with the people
be more difficult to quantify and might includearound us. No other innovation has advanced so
love, happiness, reputation, and knowledge. Therapidly and affected society and culture so
one saving grace for us as human beings is thecompletely as the computer. It touches all aspects
opportunity to grow and change through theof our modern existence but none more than
choices we make continues throughout our lives.the work place, the job market and ultimately our
Even as adults we have the desire and the needcareers. For those who wish to take advantage
toof opportunities opened by this series of events
keep learning, shifting, and adapting to the worldand are contemplating a career change towards
around us. As we learn from our earliest childhoodthe IT industry, some interesting facts may help
days, we are in fact in charge of our ownin deciding which road is right for you.
destiny, each of us playing the cards of fate on aAccording to department of Labor statistics cited
daily basis through the roads we take. One of thein Changing Channels, Career Facts, 45% of all
earliest decisions we face, perhaps at a timejobs in 2004 will be in areas that did not exist in
when we are least prepared is that of our career.1994. Of the ten occupations with the fastest
At a young age we cast our lot in the direction ofemployment growth, four are computer related.
some 'mysterious' life long ambition. Some areDatabase administrators, computer engineers and
lucky and are able to grasp the brass ring on thesystems analysts occupy the top three positions
first try. Others, like myself may find that awith the demand projected to more than double
career choice made years ago has turned out toby 2006. The number of core domestic IT
be less gratifying than expected, forcing us to findworkers is expected to near 2.6 million in 2006
completion in searching out new trends andnot including an additional 250,000 to replace those
acquiring new skills.exiting the profession. Additionally, 75% of
This is not unusual in today's workplacesystems analysts and scientists, and nearly 80%
environment in which some experts explain that aof computer programmers are under the age of
career change is more likely to be the rule rather45. Future projected growth for the dot-com
than the exception. David Madison suggests in hisindustry looks bright as well. Deloitte Touche's
article Successful Career and Job Changes thatdot-com CEO Tohmatsu reports that the industry
today's average college graduates, in reacting tois "full of confidence", with an average expected
situations that require new skills or understanding,growth rate of 160 percent in the coming year.
will reinvent themselves with four careers by thePeter Williams, the national leader of Deloitte's
age of retirement. This trend can already be seenebusiness practice and dot-com specialist stated,
by the fact that the average American has been"the key to success, as with any fast-growing
in his/her job for only four years. So why do sobusiness, is having quality people and being able to
many people find themselves toying with a careermaintain vitality through periods of exponential
change? There are many possibilities to consider.growth. The shortage of skills is a global
It may be due to the fact that the workforce isphenomenon and is worsening in an increasingly
living longer and working harder resulting in jobtight employment market."
related burnout and a loss of passion for one'sSadly many people considering career changes
chosen vocation. Perhaps changing livelihoods is afeel cut off from taking advantage of the job
natural response to personal and professionalmarket statistics related to the new e-conomy
growth. Careers are like trees, spawning freshby thinking their previous careers and working
branches of interest and curiosity that often leadknow how are out of step. Terms like HTML,
us in new directions. Others may be fueled byASP, JSP, DNA, COM and the thousand other
statistics that lure change with the potential ofacronyms that fill want ads seem like some
increased financial growth and opportunity inunderground geek code rather than intelligible
burgeoning new fields.requirements needed by those to fill positions in
Of course no matter how bright the statisticsthe escalating IT field. When in actuality,
may seem, evaluating the risks and benefitsexperience in Human Resources, Economics,
involved in changing careers, whether real orFinance, Accounting and other traditional disciplines
perceived, should be done on an individual basis.may be more valuable than you think. Many
Remember, when faced with a career choice, oneparticipants in the IT industry are graduates with
will appear to be familiar, comfortable and safe,degrees and experience in fields other than
while the other will undoubtedly be unexplored andComputer Science and Technology, yet have
daunting. It is up to you to decide which one willmanaged successfully to migrate through entry
lead to your happy ending. Making a consciousportals and opportunities to change their careers
choice in favor of a career change is not an easyand become successful participants.
task. First off there is the fear of leaving thatSusan Pieper-Bailey in her article Jobs for the
ever-faithful friend, the paycheck. Sacrificing theNew Millennium: Interview with George Bailey
familiarity of rules, procedures and colleagues instates one thing to remember is that a career
the workplace also plays its part in concerns tochanger in today's IT marketplace is not a job
be reckoned with. However, if you are stagnantseeker but rather "human capital" and not a cost
on the job with no career growth in sight, youbut rather an "investment." Employers are not
might consider making the leap into unchartedonly concerned with technical know how, but also
territory in order to promote your skill set, yourin having a well-rounded individual who is familiar
salary, and ultimately your personal well being andwith the business environment in which the
self esteem. If you are still unsure, ask yourself acomputer system will be operating. The fast
few questions that may help indicate if it is timepaced development of technology within the
for you to move on. Is Sunday night the worstindustry itself also demands that job seekers
night of the week simply because of your dreadhave good people and communication skills to
of having to return to work the next morning?facilitate team efforts in meeting the challenges of
Do you feel that your job prevents you froma work environment where the competition and
increasing your skills and has caused you to stoprequirements seem to change by the minute.
learning? Do you feel out of the loop, and thatGeorge Bailey of Price WaterhouseCoopers
your participation in the workplace is primarily inbelieves that jobs for the new millennium will
fielding one-sided communiqués from yourrequire that individuals have "broader experience.
boss or higher ups? Do your co-workers andYou can't get ahead anymore by being narrow."
family comment that you look drained andFinally above all, a strategic element that must be
discontented? Is your salary and status slipping inpossessed by any individual seeking a career in IT
relation to that of your professional peers?is passion. Excitement and innovation involving the
(FORTUNE.com: Career Tools: Is It Time to MoveInternet is the fuel that is propelling us all into the
On?) If you've answered yes to a number ofnext generation of technology affecting the way
these questions you might want to brush up yourwe conduct business and our daily lives.
resume and start looking for new opportunities to
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