InsideTech

Just because we all have difficulty being rational doesn’t mean we’re destined to constantly screw up the decisions we have to make. In spite of our limitations, many of us actually do a pretty good job of decision making. Part of the reason is that some people have learned the tricks to “managing irrationality.” Stephen P. Robbins explains how you can ...

Welcome, Tech Community members, to InsideTech. As you may have read in this week's newsletter, we've been working hard to relaunch Tech Community with a new look; a new name; and lots of new tips, reviews, and career advice. And as you can see, our community looks quite a bit different. But while our look is different, our focus remains ...

Whether you're just starting your IT career or figuring out the next direction yours should take, it's important to get a read on where the industry is headed so you'll know which skills and certifications are hot and which ones aren't worth your time. But tracking tech news and job posting trends will only get you so far. For the full ...

Getting Work: An Effective Method For many, this chapter will be your focus. Although the varied ideas conveyed in earlier chapters are critical in overall career development, career success finally comes down to finding and landing the job you desire. Some proven methods lend to an effective job search, and those are covered in this chapter. Where do you start to ...

IT jobs seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate. New graduates trying to get into the IT field appear to be faced with an alarming shortage of available positions. Matthew Moran, however, shows that this isn't necessarily the case, as it's still possible to work in IT outside of the IT department. Find out how in this chapter. The Entry-Level ...

The job interview is the natural culmination of the various tools put into place. The product of effective networking, resume, cover letter, communication, and so on should result in the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with your prospective employer. Whereas the previous tools and methods are part of what can be referred to as the job seeker/career builder's marketing, the interview ...

No matter which pundit or news report you read, the technology industry is always in a state of constant change. The reason for this state of flux is that business is constantly morphing and technology is now woven into business strategy and tied to growth predictions. Unless you’re selling lemonade on the roadside, it’s likely any business today, small or big, ...

Getting What You Want As stated elsewhere, employment is an agreement between two parties. Ideally, this agreement should involve trading two commodities of equal value—the employer's money and resources for the employee's time and effort. Many employees feel they are not in the position to negotiate, but as the saying goes, "Everything is negotiable." As your career progresses and your ability ...

Communication Breakdown Technology professionals have a long history of deficiency in communication skills, which has fostered jokes and parodies. Tragically, however, this might be the single most important aspect of effective career development. Poor communication skills result in misunderstandings, project failures, and ultimately, career stagnation. The development of good communication skills is rarely given appropriate time and effort. The technology professional ...

Your job is making you miserable. You dread getting up in the morning, you have nightmares about your boss and the thought of looking at that spreadsheet one more time literally makes you sick to your stomach. But no matter who you turn to, you get the same tired advice: now is not the time to quit. Six hundred thousand people ...

The days of tech professionals hidden away in server rooms, or down in the basement tinkering with networks and manning help desks are long over. Today’s tech experts are part of the business cycle and work environment, with CIOs being invited into the boardroom and viewed as a strategic business leader rather than just the guy who knows how to get ...

Management of projects and people requires specialized skill and a certain degree of risk... Moving into management typically means spending less time working directly with technology and honing those purely technical skills. For some technology professionals, this is a scary and difficult proposition. However, for many, assuming a management position is the natural progression in their career. Developing the skills and ...

Buying a home for the first time can be an invigorating yet scary experience. Here are some pitfalls to avoid when you’re buying your first home: 1. Buying Before You’re Ready Although you may hear people say you’re “throwing your money away on rent,” it isn’t always wise to buy a home. If you make a good salary and have an ...

What's the best way to make sure your department doesn't get hit hard by tough times--recession-based or otherwise? How about making it obvious how indispensable you all are? Sure, you could try the whole "take down the network, then stage a sick-out" routine, but that's probably not the most constructive way to get your point across. Here, then, are a few ...

Launching a new career, whether you’re just coming out of college or moving from another professional field, is daunting in itself. Combine that with moving into the technology industry, where everything seems to change every day, and the career aspiration can be viewed as both challenging and exciting. The key to career success is finding your niche and establishing career goals ...

You obviously made the right impression during the interview process or you wouldn’t have gotten your first job in tech. Now what you have to do, from the first day on the job, is to continually bost your skills as a tech expert and as a business person. Working in IT is challenging in many respects, especially since there’s a well ...

As the overall US unemployment rate holds steady at less than five percent in 2007, and the pool of qualified IT labor continues to shrink, those looking to hang a shingle as an independent IT contractor have some great career opportunities. Not only is there a market demand for consultants, but it’s becoming a much more popular IT career path. A ...

You’ve decided to enter the IT field, and you’ve either spent time in school readying your skills or know you have the interest and initiative to move into the field from another occupation. You know what kind of job you want and you’ve investigated potential employers you’d like to reach out to and apply for a job. But the very first ...

With increasing numbers of job seekers competing for the most desirable technical jobs, your resume needs to be better than the rest to get noticed. Technical Summary Effective technical resumes clearly show the candidate's technical skills - a hiring manager shouldn't have to go fishing for this information. An excellent way to include technical knowledge is to add a Technical Summary ...

The best way to see what working as a contractor or consultant is like is to talk to those actually in the field. Luckily there are several who blog about their work, the issues they face, the continual hunt for work and grappling with the issues that come into play with clients and their expectations. One of the best blogs is ...