Slashdot Mirror
What Mistakes Can Stall An IT Career? (cio.com)
Quoting snydeq:
"In the fast-paced world of technology, complacency can be a career killer," Paul Heltzel writes in an article on 20 ways to kill your IT career without knowing it. "So too can any number of hidden hazards that quietly put your career on shaky ground -- from not knowing your true worth to thinking you've finally made it. Learning new tech skills and networking are obvious ways to solidify your career. But what about accidental ways that could put your career in a slide? Hidden hazards -- silent career killers? Some tech pitfalls may not be obvious."
CIO's reporter "talked to a number of IT pros, recruiters, and developers about how to build a bulletproof career and avoid lesser-known pitfalls," citing hazards like burning bridges and skipping social events. But it also warns of the dangers of staying in your comfort zone too long instead of asking for "stretch" assignments and accepting training opporunities.
The original submission puts the same question to Slashdot readers. "What silent career killers have you witnessed (or fallen prey to) in your years in IT?"
CIO's reporter "talked to a number of IT pros, recruiters, and developers about how to build a bulletproof career and avoid lesser-known pitfalls," citing hazards like burning bridges and skipping social events. But it also warns of the dangers of staying in your comfort zone too long instead of asking for "stretch" assignments and accepting training opporunities.
The original submission puts the same question to Slashdot readers. "What silent career killers have you witnessed (or fallen prey to) in your years in IT?"
Don't rape and/or murder your employees at work. That would really stall your IT career.
You know, "This one weird trick can save you from silent career killers! Just sign up for our seminar, hire our career coach, etc. to learn more."
Definitely can ruin your life.
Getting old. Although you wouldn't like the alternative to avoiding that.
That is all.
Realising that corporate politics is a load of bullshit and not playing along is the #1 career killer.
When they say, "Our employees are our most valuable asset."
Pro Tip: The more you can relate to Dilbert (in general) the more you need to find somewhere else to work.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
... that stall every other career:
1) Not knowing my worth.
2) Relying on others to advance it.
Which are somewhat two sides of the same coin.
I happen to be in the lucky place of having (at least) two careers in an lifetime. The other being performing arts. (I have a dancing/performing arts diploma) I can assure you the things holding me back in one are the precise same things holding me back in my other career in IT. It boils down to this: All careers, IT and elsewhere, that deserve the name are hand crafted and built on the willingness to have uncomfortable/difficult conversations and make tough decisions. Your current IT lead is just the very same as your current choreograph: Beyond a minimal extent he/she doesn't give a flying fuck where you are at in 20 years from now. And they don't have to. It's not their job or their concern.
It should however be yours.
I'm pretty glad with how my career is going and you can be sure all advancements are based on going through very very tough patches and seeing them through and coming out on top. Eventually.
My two eurocents.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
1. Being born after 1985 or before 1975
2. Not living in NYC/SF/Austin/Boston
3. Being born without a penis
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Good ones. Though I know several competent developers who have stayed with the same company for 10 or 20 years. They have kept up with their profession and are a far cry from mediocre; they just like to stay in their comfort zone. Problem is: many others in the company assumes they are mediocre because they haven't advanced. A great way to stall their IT career... but it's a career they may not have wanted in the first place. That's not a red flag for mediocrity, these could be excellent hires in their current expertise. Just don't expect future management material amongst them.
TFA glosses over the value of networking, but I think social skills really are an underappreciated asset in tech careers. And yes, social skills are a skill, which you can learn and practice if it doesn't come to you naturally. As an introvert I had to work hard at improving my social skills... and I started later than I should have. But it has paid off in every single assignment I have held since.
If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
Cops are trained to shoot someone if they look like they are reached for a weapon hidden in the waistband of their pants. Pulling up your shorts also looks like reaching for a weapon. If it is thought there is more than one suspect inside a room, all other suspects are asked to move away from the door. The other cop was doing the shouting giving instructions like "crawl towards me, with your legs crossed at the ankles". That led to his pants falling down, which in turn led to the guy reaching back to pull his pants back up, which in turn leads to the cop shooting him.