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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?"

5 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. What mistakes can kill an IT career? by frank_adrian314159 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Getting old. Although you wouldn't like the alternative to avoiding that.

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    That is all.
  2. Politics by MattRyanUK · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Realising that corporate politics is a load of bullshit and not playing along is the #1 career killer.

  3. Believing your employer by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

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    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  4. The exact same things ... by Qbertino · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... 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.

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    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
  5. Top 3 IT Career Mistakes by GameboyRMH · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1. Being born after 1985 or before 1975
    2. Not living in NYC/SF/Austin/Boston
    3. Being born without a penis

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    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel