Your IT Career
by Eric Bloom
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Recent blog posts

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Embrace your dormant skills and abilities

By Eric Bloom

Another advantage of embracing new skills is that they may bring you in new and exciting professional directions you would not have previously expected. For example, you may find you like software testing better than software development. You may find technical management more interesting than being a hands-on techie. Alternatively, you may find that after giving a few presentations or managing a small team that you truly love being an individual contributing techie and want to stay that way. All of these situations have value to you as a person and as a professional. It is, of course, great to find something new and exciting to move toward professionally. It’s also, however, of great value to try something and decide it’s not really right for you. This second case teaches you a little about yourself and removes a “what if I did that” from your professional journey.

If you have any questions about your career in IT, please email me at
eric@ManagerMechanics.com or find me on Twitter at @EricPBloom.

Until next time, work hard, work smart, and continue to grow.

Read more of Eric Bloom's Your IT Career blog and follow the latest IT news at ITworld. Follow Eric on Twitter at @EricPBloom. For the latest IT news, analysis and how-tos, follow ITworld on Twitter and Facebook.

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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.