Introduction
Part I An Introduction to Career Building
Chapter 1 The Toolkit Approach to Career Development Justifying the Need for an IT Toolkit
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 2 Career Building Defined The Danger of a Tool-Driven Mindset
A Job Is Not a Career
Perspectives on Career Development: Careers Are Nonlinear
Perspectives on Career Development: A Working Plan Makes Tedious or Unrewarding Jobs Bearable
Career Building Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 3 Information Technology: A Great Career Why IT Is a Great Career
Options
Performance-Based Advancement
Opportunities for Continuous Learning
Pay and Perks
What About Outsourcing?
Outsourcing Is About Value, Not Costs
The Jobs That Won't Be Outsourced
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 4 Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and Desires Considerations in Your Career Choice
Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Needs
Pay
Insurance
Training
Commute and Travel Time
Working Conditions (People, Culture, Environment, Hours)
Future Growth Potential
Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Desires
Factors to Help Decide Your Career Path: Skills
Beware: Analysis Paralysis
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part II Filling Your Toolkit
Chapter 5 Self-Assessment The Power of Self-Assessment
The Dangers of Self-Assessment
Four Questions of Self-Assessment
Where the Four Questions Came From
Question 1: Do I Make My Employer's Job Much Easier or Much More Difficult?
Question 2: If I Gave Notice Today, Would My Employer Have an Instant Sense of Relief or Dread?
Question 3: Do I Perform My Job Better Than My Employer Could Perform My Job If He/She Needed To?
Question 4: If Asked How I Can Improve in My Job, Do I Cite External Factors-People and Resources-or Do I Take Responsibility?
Conclusion: Making It Personal
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 6 Attitude The Effect of Attitude on Your Career
Positive Mental Attitude
PMA Is Not a Panacea
PMA and a Plan
Beware: Two Pitfalls of Attitude
Unrealistic Expectations
Skill Deficits
The Role of Attitude
What You Think of Your Employer
The Us Versus Them Mentality
Management Got There by Luck or Schmoozing, Alone
Your Coworkers
Humble Arrogance: The Attitude of Personal Value
Ownership
The Myth of the Self-Made Man
Attitude Checks
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 7 Communication Skills Defining Communication Skills
The Benefit of Communication Skills: An Effective Communicator Is Viewed as More Intelligent
Written Communications
General Guidelines
The Letter
E-Mail
The Well-Crafted Paragraph
The Well-Crafted Page
Verbal Communication
Conversation
Presentations and Training
Don't Wait Until You Are Asked to Speak to Learn This Vital Skill
Cover No More Than Three to Five Main Points
Work from an Outline, Not a Script
Look at the Audience
A Brief Note on Listening
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 8 Technical Skills Your Technology Skills
The Role of Learning
The Fear of Obsolescence
Another Perspective: Transcendent Skills
Reducing the Parts
Tips to Speed Up the Learning Process
Start with Concepts
Don't Study What You Know
Don't Worry About Catching the Latest Trend
Focus on Solutions, Not Technology
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 9 The Cover Letter The Purpose of Your Cover Letter
Three Vital Ingredients in Your Cover Letter
Gratitude for the Opportunity
A Significant Accomplishment
Your Interest in Becoming a Producer
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 10 The Resume Your Ambassador to the Professional World
The Purpose of Your Resume
Determining Who Is Looking at Your Resume
Busy Employers
Disinterested Employers
Resume Basics
Length: Brevity Is Key
No Paragraphs
Bulleted Lists
Documenting Your Professional Experience
A Note About Certifications/Degrees on Your Resume
Guidelines for Writing Your Resume
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part III Putting Your Toolkit to Use
Chapter 11 Breaking into IT Correcting Perception
IT Happens Outside of IT
Other Avenues into IT
Ask for What You Want
Ask for Advice
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 12 Building an Active Contact List Enjoy People
Develop a Personality
Have Other Areas of Interest
Engage in Conversation
Track and Remember Your Contacts
Share Opportunity
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 13 The Job Search Getting What You Want Requires Wanting Something
Defining the Job Search
Remember: Looking for Work Is Work
The Toolkit Approach to Finding a Job
Job Search Outline
A Job Search Comparison
Method 1: The Standard Passive Job Search
Method 2: The Proactive Job Search
Method 1 Versus Method 2
A Word About the Out-of-Town Search
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 14 The Interview Practice Your Interview Skills
Be Prepared to Answer Difficult Questions
What Professional Accomplishment Are You Most Proud Of?
What Do You Feel Is Your Greatest Strength? Greatest Weakness?
Why Are You Leaving Your Last Job?
Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
After the Interview
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 15 Salary Negotiations and Employment Agreements Start Early
Know What You Want
Understand the Employer's Perspective
Be Creative
Be Firm
Your Worth to the Company
Negotiations Never Fail
Be Flexible
Employment Agreements
Seek Legal Counsel
Assumptions
Deliverables
Bonuses and Performance Perks
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 16 On-the-Job Promotion On the Job
Maintaining and Building Your Network
Identifying Areas for Success
Attitude
Working for a Tyrant and Other Joys
Determine Whether Your Boss's Actions Are Personality or Personal
Understand That People Are Where They Are
Take an Objective Path to Evaluating What They Say
Handling Criticism
Determine Whether What Someone Is Saying Is True
Determine Whether It Is Something You Need to Change
Talk to Someone About a Behavior
Don't Swallow Your Pride-Control It
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part IV More Options to Build Your Career
Chapter 17 The Boundaries and Benefits of Working at Home Careers That Lend Themselves to Telecommuting
The Benefits for the Employee
The Benefits for the Employer
The Concerns for the Employee
The Concerns for the Employer
Conclusion: Next Steps
Keys to Successful Telecommuting
Project-Based/Free-Agent Mindset
Apply Discipline
Clear Expectations
Technologies for the Telecommuter
VPNs
IM Services
Resources for the Home Worker
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 18 The Toolkit Approach to Consulting The Consulting Life
The Benefits
Respect
Schedule
Exciting Projects
Compensation
The Pitfalls
Business Planning: Taxes, Legal
Billing
Current Workload
Inaccurate Records
Trading Time for Dollars
Schedule
Ongoing Marketing
Ideas on Getting Published
The Process of Getting Published
Resources for the Consultant
CD-ROM Materials for the Consultant
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 19 The Move to Management Leadership
Process and Time Management
Critical Skills You Need Now
Presentation and Meeting Skills
Team-Building Skills
Give Credit Where Credit Is Due
Promote Your Team and Its Members
Foster an Environment That Allows for (Even Celebrates) Failure
Create a Project/Contract Mentality with Those You Report to and Those Who Report to You
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Part V The Value-Added Technologist
Chapter 20 Make Yourself Indispensable A Word About Value
Being Proactive
Understanding Technology's Role in the Organization
Maintain a Business-First Mentality
Create Standards, Automation, or a Programmer's Toolkit
Create a Peer Knowledge Network
Be Known As the Go-To Resource
Be Ready and Willing to Take on the Necessary Responsibility
Have Experts You Call On for Your Organization
Be Passionate About Something!
Never Blame, and Always Have a Corrective Plan
Adopt Concept Over Process
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 21 Concept Over Process What to Expect
What Not to Expect
COP Objectives
COP Origins
What Is a Process-Driven Mindset?
The Role of Technology
Role 1: Storage and Retrieval of Information
Role 2: The Automation of Delivery of Product or Service
Moving from Process Driven to Concept Driven
A Concentric View
A Note About Time
Developing Proactive Solutions
A Warning/Suggestion
COP Is Not About Technology!
Start with the Goal of Business
Understand Your Objective as an Employee
What About Mission Statements?
From Goal to Analysis
Understand the Industry
Understand the Business: The Organization's Role in Its Industry
Understand the Workflow
Understand the Relationships: Interactions/Dependencies
Workflow Analysis
Project Definition
Myth of Limitation
What If?
Congruencies, Incongruencies, and Omissions
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 22 The Role of Mentoring Mentor Characteristics
Mentoring Others
What Qualifies Me as a Mentor?
The Role of Mentor Is Not a Power Position
Encourage and Stretch
Point to Other Mentors or Resources
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Chapter 23 Financial Control The Impact of Finances on Career Building
Financial Control Creates Options
Financial Control Is Largely Mental
Money Is a Tool
Debt and Spending
Some Basics of Financial Planning and Stability
Defining a Basic Budget
Defining Your Core Needs
Establishing Your Spending History
Creating Your Budget
Cash Flow Summary: A Weekly Plan
Conclusion
Actions & Ideas
Index