Liking gadgets, being good at logic, being curious about the functioning of equipment and relying on a top-level qualification degree is not enough for those who want to pursue a career in the information technology market. Even with a shortage of professionals in the field — currently there is a lack of 39.9 thousand IT professionals in Brazil and, by the end of 2015, this number should increase to 117 thousand vacancies, according to IDC consultancy — to achieve a placement it takes a lot of knowledge, often specific qualifications and official certifications, besides a lot of willingness to stay on top of the news. For those who are starting now, we have five tips that can leverage the beginning of their professional career. Check it out!
1. Choose between being a generalist or a specialist
As IT is quite an extensive area, professionals can specialize in one of them and become an expert on the subject. However, some do not focus on a specific area, knowing a little bit of everything. In the latter case, the professional has a generalist profile, ideal for those who want to manage technical areas of different IT subareas.
Generalists, despite having vast knowledge, have not specialized in an area, but can participate in implementation projects and plans for technological solutions, helping analysts from different sectors, like development, database, or infrastructure. These professionals usually have skills to integrate teams and knowledge in managing people and projects, and are considered multidisciplinary.
Specialists have technical knowledge, theoretical and practical, in an area in which they have more affinity or that they find easy: database, networks, information architecture, programming, processing, security, systems, among others. It is important that this professional also have a secondary specialization, not to be limited when offering solutions. Both types of professionals are needed in the market. Make an analysis of your personal profile, your abilities, and your favorite areas to make the best choice for your career.
2. Learn about the areas in which IT can be applied
Information technologies can be used in several areas, which end up expanding the possibilities for the IT professional. This also creates opportunities to combine different knowledge and other areas of interest — that may not have a direct relation with technology at first glance — to their job as administrator, manager, or analyst. Those who operate with software project creation can provide management solutions for accounting and administration areas, or data collector programs in industries, on the factory floor.
It is also possible to focus on logistics, creating transportation management systems, or on law, providing technical information to support actions that involve the use of licenses, or even assist specific chambers in the elaboration of software legislation. There are also those who work in the sports area, creating software for simulation of competition strategies; in communication, developing technologies in data transmission; or in the environmental area, aligning companies’ needs to a minimum impact on the environment. There are many possibilities, you just have to identify the different areas of knowledge, problems, or opportunities that may be resolved or improved with IT applications.
3. Go after an official certification
Not only in the IT area, but also in all professional experiences, it is necessary to go beyond college education to ensure a good placement on the market. For anyone working with technology, one of the best ways to acquire and demonstrate their knowledge is through official certifications, including ITIL, COBIT, ISO 20000, ISO 27001, SOX, BSC and BPM.
Companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, Novell, SAP, and Cisco have certifications that are much needed. To do this, look for accredited centers or schools that specialize in information technology that provide courses on their platforms. Students, once trained, make an online assessment, which is administered by an internationally recognized institution.
If you choose to be a generalist, an MBA in project management is already a great differential, but it is better for specialists to look for masteries on specific technologies. Official certifications that require more dedication are critical because they offer practical knowledge on technologies, they are very appreciated in companies, and they can cause you to skip training steps, once you get a placement.
4. Be always updated
Even if you already have official certifications and you are acting in the market, it is necessary to be always updated about the latest IT news. That is because the technology market is very dynamic and in a matter of months, a lot can change, new trends appear, in addition to new areas of expertise.
Always seek updates regarding database, operating systems, business management systems, network management tools, development tools, among other platforms. Currently, the areas of greatest demand for professionals are cloud computing, Big Data, mobility and social business.
5. Be proactive
Anticipating the problems, putting yourself available to work on new projects, and always presenting solutions are much more than just a way to show that you are not accommodated. Being proactive, you end up taking advantage of opportunities to know better the company for which you work and to learn more. Especially for those who are new to the company and are still in adaptation phase. In the beginning, work usually flows more slowly, so that the professional can adapt; though, it is at this point that you should show you want to do your work with excellence. Don’t just expect that people get you projects, you should go after them, questioning, asking for opinions, being available. This will also cause a good impression to your team and your colleagues will look at you as a dynamic professional committed to the success of the company.
How about you? Do you believe you are ready to take the first steps in your career?
