IT careers

Technical advances in data center management are transforming the types of skills that are needed by people working in a data center.

Former MIT CIO Marilyn Smith recently said in an interview that to enhance your IT career, you should 'exit and then return to IT.' Her reasoning: 'Your time working outside of IT will enhance your perspective on how to best serve your internal clients and also position you to be a business partner, rather than a service provider to other business areas.

I’m tired of feeling like an order taker for the business group I support. How do I get them to ask me what’s needed, not just tell me what to do and what reports to build?

A conversation on the effect that private cloud related technologies and initiatives will have on the future of IT career and employment options. Our conversation centered on two types of IT jobs; IT Technical Specialists working in a data center and Software Developers.

I’ve been programming for a few years since I graduated college with a BS in Computer Science and don’t want to do it forever. What do you suggest?

A friend suggested that professional association meetings are a good place to network. I went to a meeting and didn’t make any good connections. Do you think going to these meetings are worth going to or are they a waste of time?

I’m a business analyst and have been working on my company’s order entry systems for the last five years. I like my job, I like the people, I like the company and I even like the system, but I feel trapped and want to make a change. What should I do?

We all know that teaching others is a time honored activity. Parents teach their children about the world. Master craftsmen teach their apprentices the tools, tricks, and techniques of the trade. Many athletes become coaches and many technologists often mentor new, less experienced, members of the profession.

It may sound premature to start thinking like a CIO this early in your career, but it will help you begin to notice things you would otherwise miss.

There are some technical specialties that not only provide great employment opportunities, but also create the possibility of using them to start your own business. The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of these skill sets.

Meanwhile, demand remains strong for enterprise and cloud developers, according to a TEKsystems survey.