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2004-01-22 Outline for a book on IT Career Protocol

Submitted by cristina_inay on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 07:05

Here’s an outline for a book I’d like to write…. I think what I'll do is to take each major section and start blogging out the content. Hopefully, along the way, I'll get some comments from friends out there once I'm further along. I think this one can be valuable if I stay specific about things you can do.

Roadmap: Tips For Starting Out In IT.
 

I. Where to start?

  • If I were to give advice to anyone out there today?
  • Take massive amount of raw data and build architectures that make it easy for business types to strategize , reconcile, and leverage new opportunities.
  • For me, this led me down the path of data warehousing.

II. Learn How It Works

  •     Collect Lessons Learned
    •     Problem/Analysis/Solution Logs

III. Respect Others

  •     Takes teams of all sorts to solve complex problems.
  •     Be humble and appreciative
  •     Always give people their due credit.
  •     When you’re at the top, you don’t just look down. You look right, left, and sideways.

IV. Produce

  •     Stay Positive
  •     Always offer your client the best options to reach a solution
  •     Produce well thought out solutions
  •     Never leave home until your code compiles. Finish the thoughts you were working on.
  •     Document Your Solutions and Thought Process
  •     CYA – Things that are beyond your control. Things don’t always go right.
  •     Work your way out of the job.

V. Your Career As A Story

  •     The Choices You Make
  •     Your Resume
    •        Keep A Career Portfolio
  •     Education - What did a Masters degree do for me?

VI. Maintain Your Contacts
    Great Campaigns and Reminiscing Heroes   
 

VII. Have A Side Project

  •         Sports Term - Move without the ball.. Opportunities will come.
  •         Grow A Startup
  •          Take an idea and see it all the way through… Requirements, Analysis
  •          Design,Development,Implementation,Testing, etc.
  •          Don’t be afraid to see an opportunity and take it.

VIII. Conclusion
    I’ve presented a tight protocol of behavior that I’ve learned through people I’ve met who have helped me in my career. You will be surprised at the opportunities that present themselves as your skills, contacts, and reputation float around you like an orb of power protecting you from falling into obsolescence.