| l get stuck in ruts from time to time, and that | | | | were laid off today, and then take steps to improve |
| happens on the job as well. You've thought about | | | | yourself and your professional standing. |
| doing something different with your information | | | | Be prepared to take one step backwards in order to |
| technology career, but just haven't quite gotten | | | | take multiple steps forward. You may be in a |
| around to it yet. Sound familiar? | | | | situation I was in a while back when my employer |
| You can make 2006 the best year yet for your IT | | | | saw me as strictly a server guy. I wanted to get on |
| career. There are several simple steps you can take | | | | the Cisco side of things, but there was this |
| to accelerate your career - but you have to take the | | | | perception that I was "only a LAN guy". I had to |
| step, not just think about it! | | | | leave that company to get my shot. There was |
| Learn something new. One of the biggest reasons | | | | some short-term financial pain, but in the long run it |
| you get tired of a job is that you're doing the same | | | | was the best career move I've ever made. |
| thing every day. If you happen to love what you do, | | | | People get typecast in every field. In his book "Often |
| that's great, but if not it's time to break out of the | | | | Wrong, Never In Doubt", Donny Deutsch writes |
| box. Besides, learning a new skill adds value to your | | | | about a job candidate who wanted to become a |
| career. If you've been doing server work for a long | | | | junior ad executive, but couldn't break in with his |
| time, take the time to learn some Cisco skills. If | | | | current employer - which was an ad agency! He was |
| you're an Exchange specialist, learn some Linux skills. | | | | typecast in a support role, so he applied to other ad |
| Get certified. Not very many of us get to work for | | | | firms and was quickly hired. |
| the same company for the rest of our IT careers. | | | | Sometimes you have to look outside your current |
| The only job security is the security you give | | | | situation in order to create a new situation for |
| yourself, and one of the ways to get that security is | | | | yourself. Don't be afraid to take a step backwards in |
| to add professional certifications to your resume. | | | | order to open up new possibilities for yourself. |
| Certifications such as the MCSE and CCNA get you | | | | There's an amazing career out there, waiting for you |
| noticed and help you stand out from the crowd. Ask | | | | - if you have the courage to make it and take it. |
| yourself what your resume would look like if you | | | | |