Our team uses enterprise collaboration tools to stay in touch. We have a platform that takes advantage of technologies like social networking, unified communications and videoconferencing to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. While the technologies used to enable such interactions may differ from company to company, it's important to encourage a culture of collaboration. We have only 30% of our IT employees in our corporate headquarters, with a sizable offshore team and employees spread across Avanade's global locations, so our employees have had to find ways to work effectively as a global team. I also believe that it's hard to replace in-person meetings, so I encourage our leadership team to visit our locations every 12 to 18 months.
I was laid off with hundreds of others about 14 months ago, and so far I've had no luck getting another network admin job. I'm willing and able to do other things in IT, but after so much time, I wonder whether I should just try something else. Still, it's technology that I really love. Would it be a mistake to give it all up? I believe this is a great time to be in the technology field, and well-qualified IT professionals are in high demand in many areas. Though each market is unique, overall tech-sector unemployment is lower than the national average, and with continued focus on innovation and enabling technology, that's unlikely to change soon. In any event, I would encourage you to follow your passion. Having a job you love leads to a better sense of balance, and to success in all areas of your life. Best wishes in your search.
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