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Presenting Tips and Background for IT Professionals
I am proud to have been recently selected as the keynote speaker for Ohio University’s 2nd Annual Women in Business Luncheon. The event, held on April 13 at the Ohio University Inn, was presented by Ohio University WIS (Women in Information Systems).

The event featured an industry panel with professionals from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Chase, Progressive Insurance and Smucker’s (including Indecon’s own Ed Haas, Managing Director of our Columbus office), and offered tips and advice to young professionals entering the IT workplace.

As keynote speaker, I talked about my background and history in IT, hoping to offer some insights and lessons these students could use to plan and advance their own careers. In reflecting on my industry background, I realized that many of my experiences can be of value to many IT professionals. Here are a few of the key insights I shared:

• Network, network, network. I cannot stress this enough: networking is essential to your career success (in IT, and in any field!). And while social media is an integral part of networking success, the human element is still essential. That’s right, get out there and meet people! Go to industry events, mixers and conferences. Not only will you meet possible employers and colleagues, you’ll be exposed to different perspectives and backgrounds. In the constantly-evolving world of IT, exposure to differing opinions is critical to your success!
• Weather the ups and downs. In my career, I have worked through (and lived to tell the tale) Y2K, the first Internet tech bubble, and the IT boom. In my professional life, I have literally seen some of the best and worst this industry (and the economy) has to offer. And if I could impart any lesson to young IT professionals (or any professional, really) from these experiences, it’s to keep plowing through, keep working hard. You’ll always see ups and downs within your career, but it’s important to stay focused and continue expanding your skills, working hard and creating your own opportunities. No matter what happens within the industry or the economy, there is always room for bright, industrious IT professionals—in fact, the jobs forecast right now for IT professionals is excellent!
• Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Or in other words, do what your employer asks of you, whether it’s in your job description or not. In my career, I’ve worked for large corporations, a small startup and eventually, for myself. I’ve found that often, the tasks that fall outside of our job description provide the most opportunity for learning and career growth. So don’t grumble when asked to work on something that seems “beneath” you. Be pleased with an opportunity to show that you’re a team player who is willing to go above and beyond to help the company.

We all have our own career challenges, and I hope that in speaking to the students of Ohio University, I helped them realize that they can overcome their challenges. They can learn from them and use them as opportunities to grow and reach their career goals.

If your career goals have you searching for a job in IT, Indecon Solutions can help! We work with IT professionals across the country to help them achieve their career goals. Search our available IT jobs to see our currently available positions, or contact us today to take the next step in your career.