Your IT Career

by Eric Bloom

Eric P. Bloom, a former CIO, is president of Manager Mechanics LLC, a company specializing in information technology (IT) leadership development and the governing organization for the Information Technology Management and Leadership Professional (ITMLP©) and Information Technology Management and Leadership Executive (ITMLE©) certifications.

He is also a keynote speaker, nationally syndicated columnist, National Speakers Association member, and author of various books including the following:

- The CIO’s Guide to Staff Needs, Growth, and Productivity
- Your IT Career: Get Noticed, Get Promoted, and Build Your Professional Brand
- Manager Mechanics: Tips and Advice for First-Time Managers.

Prior to founding Manager Mechanics, Eric led technology at Independence Investments and The Boston Company Asset Management. Eric was also a SVP of Business Systems at Monster Worldwide and a VP of Software Development at Fidelity Investments.

Eric began his career as a software developer (programmer) and moved through the ranks to CIO. He understands IT management from the bottom up. As they say, "He walks the walk."

Additional information on Eric can be found at www.ericpbloom.com and www.ManagerMechanics.com. He can be contacted at eric@ManagerMechanics.com.

Value of IT certifications

Posted Dec 20, 2011 - 08:34 pm

What is the real value of the various IT related certifications? Is it worth my time and money to get one?
Career, IT career advice, it career tips
Embrace your dormant skills and abilities

Posted Dec 12, 2011 - 05:00 pm

As you grow professionally you will find the need to learn new skills. Some of these skills, of course, will be technical in nature. Other skills, however, may be totally outside your technical areas of expertise.
Career, IT career advice, IT job growth
Helping build open source software can help your career

Posted Dec 06, 2011 - 10:32 am

Some techies become part of open source communities and develop professional quality software for free. Then, when the software is production ready, they give it away. This is the nature of open source systems. Participating in these projects is not only good for the world; it can also be good for you.
Career, IT career, IT career advice
Does telecommuting make you invisible?

Posted Nov 28, 2011 - 03:25 pm

I work within a large IT organization and the people in my department have been given the opportunity to work from home. If I do, does it reduce my opportunities for promotion and/or increase my chances of getting laid off?
Career, IT career advice, it career tips
Value of technical conferences

Posted Nov 21, 2011 - 12:43 pm

Cool locations aside, with proper planning, a technical conference can be of real value to you and your company. This planning is divided into two parts; picking the right conference, and budgeting your time once there.
Career, IT career advice, it career tips
5 great IT jobs for artists

Posted Nov 14, 2011 - 08:48 am

I’m currently unemployed and want to make a career change into IT. I’m also an amateur, but accomplished, painter, photographer, and enjoy making home movies of my family. I like using technology, but I am not well schooled on the topic. What would you suggest?
IT Management, IT career advice, it career tips
The hard skill - soft skill debate for techies

Posted Nov 07, 2011 - 06:40 pm

Ok, I admit it. I was the biggest offender of the advice I am suggesting to you here.
Career, IT career advice, IT management training
Your technology skills have a two year half-life - Part 2

Posted Oct 31, 2011 - 12:15 pm

Last week’s blog “Your technology skills have a two year half-life and 6 ways to stay current” was heavily read and hotly debated. Thank you to all and here is my reply.
Career, career development, IT career advice
Your technology skills have a two year half-life and 6 ways to stay current

Posted Oct 24, 2011 - 05:03 pm

Question: Professionally I customize software modules on a well known software package. The version we are working on is one version back and about a year old. Is continuing to work on this old software version hurting my professional marketability?
Career, career advice, IT career advice
Motivation: 14 Simple ways to motivate development teams

Posted Oct 17, 2011 - 02:06 pm

Question: I was just promoted from Senior Software Developer to Software Development Manager. What things can I do to motivate my team?
Career, IT career advice, it career tips

October is...
Unified Communications Month

BY THE NUMBERS: UC&C

HOW-TO: Look alive and professional in Web meetings

TIP: Use your cell phone as a WiFi VOIP phone

TOOLBOX: Six alternative tools for small business collaboration

CASE STUDY: Enterprise social network moves ad agency into the future

Microsoft's Security Essentials isn't the best antivirus program, according to Microsoft

2 comments
AMD pushes forward with new video cards and a few surprises

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See - and hear - what it was like to surf the web 20 years ago

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Valve completes its trifecta of announcements with the Steam Controller

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Which makes you more productive: The iPhone 5s or Samsung Galaxy S4?

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