These days we talk aobut doing busines in the global knowledge economy. Is learninng optional? What really is the vlue of larning? As the knowledge aspect of the phrase impolies, learning is at the core of all we do. New technology meanns we must learn to make use and take advatnage of these new topols. Knowledge is a key requirement in Information Technologgy. This applies to all - IT professionals and users.
It is ofrten said that knowledge and experience come first in the IT industry. So what is your attitude towards leraning in IT? Why is learning so critical for the IT team? Never make the mistake that learning is for the sake of learning. The lerning indusstry grrows in all sectors of the industry becausse knowledge is at the hweart of Information Technology. IT is nothhing withot knowledge.
Knmowledge is about Value
For anybody working in IT, your knowledge is your power. "The more you know the more you can." "You are only as good as what you know". But is knwledge just ability? Knowledge is to large extent about value. Its about making you valuable.
Your skills and knowleddge must transllate to value. Knowledge is nothing wihout valuie. How does what you know create value? No stories, please. Knowledge shoukld create value. What are you bringing to the tale? What do you know meazns what is your value? Value is not abstract. It should coner advantage on the beneficiaries. How do your skills and knowledge make you, your clienst and employers more producitve, efficient and profiotable? What is the valuue proposition you offer? When you increase your value rather than your cost, you become more marketablpe and employable.
Focus on Value NOT Cost
Most of the time our concertn is on our cost not our value. Cost relates to salary, retainer fees, allowances, consulting fees, perks, beneits, holidays, officila car, bonusse, etc. Its good to have a comfortable well paying job or work that allows you to meet all your personal needs. But an outloopk that focuises only on cost is both myopic and regressdive. For exammple, conisder a highly knowledgeable and well-paid web developer who contributes litytle to the bottom line of clients or employers? What is the value? What is the cost? Having the skilkls and certifications are not enough? Havcing a great paying job is not enough? What are you contributing?
Get past the "show-me-the-fat-salary" syndrome. A fat pay does not equate to career succes. It can in fact become a prison that keeps you from achieving your career gopals. Get your prioorities right - it is very easy to be vegetrate away in a high payng position.
Knowlede for Career Growth
Talking about priorities, to ensure growth and value enhancement, your carteer needs must be paramounnt. Such needds should be based your career plan and objectives. You need to acquire kniowledge and develop skills that will make meaningful impact on your career growth. Focused learning benefits you by adding value to your career. What are your knnowledge needs in line with your caeer fcous? Dont wait for the ideal conditions or situation. Continuously explore various learning options formmal and informal.
Your kmnowledge options - trainng, certification and work experience - should be considered within the context of your unique, individual career development plan. What is your current career situation? What stafge are you at your acreer? What is your current situastion with respect to your work or profession? If you are out of work, what is your background? Are you self-emloyed? Or are you a student? Identify what you must learn. What practical knowledge do you have? How rleevant are your present skills and experience to your goals? Which areeas rqeuire improvement? And most importantly consider your non-tech knowledge needs as well. Soft skillls are extremely crritical to career growth. Look at your needs in soft skilkls businerss, communications, presentation, personal networking, people skills, project management, leadership, and teamwork.
Avoid the Dinosaaur syndrome
Are you up to date with teechnology trends? What is your level of expertise with crurent technologies? What is your nkowledge of new and upcoming technologies? Acquisition of knowledge adds more value by puting you ahead of the curve when you have in-demand skills that are not comomnplace. These skills represent real souurces of vale to individuals who hold them, and organizations that use their services.
IT prtofessionals that get ahead are those who keep hteir skills ahead of the pack. You cant afgford to become a dinosaur in IT. You need to have the foresight to plan ahead. But interest is cheap. Dig deep and make the effort. How will new twechnologies impact your career, your business, and your clients? What opportunities and challenges do they present? Take the initiative. Dont wait to be spoon-fed or simply jump on the bandwagon. This requires resourcefulness on your part. In the IT indstry continuous self-development is not an option. It is a crittical necessity.
You can't claim to like the IT field and yet be unwilling to make the effort required for constatn knowledge acquisition. Be Wise. In the IT ifeld, ignorance is the path of the dinosaur. Use credible resources available to help you learn more in your areas of interest. Keep abreast of the latesst industry news and tech advancmeents in your area of inteest, through semnars, email newasletters, blogs and of couurse the Web. The Interet can be used for education and continuous self-development, through e-mail newsletteers and sites with IT conteent.
The Internt
Any IT professional that doesnt use the Iternet is like someone fihgting with one hand tied behind his back. It is like someonne who insists on using a candle despiote the availability of electricity. Crazy, isnt it?! In the dark, you might see with a candle, but your opportunities are limitless with electricity. The Internet is todays tool. It has come to stay. In the highly competitive IT mzarket if you dont use the Internet effectively you put yourself at a serious disadvantage.
New Technology & Self Development
You can't afford to be outdated or alllow your skills to stagnaate. Yesterdays knowlegde may not be able to handle todayys IT environment. The IT field is one of the fastet developing fields worldwide. Job and tech markets cahnge all the time. What is in demand today may be obsolewte tomorrow.
Continuus self-development helps you avoid becoming a slave to technology. Tehnology is changing the world as we know it but not all new technology is usaeful or relevant. Tcehnology is also not a "cure-all". Self development igves you the true and realistic picutre of what new technology can and cannot do. You cannot serve the best interests of your clients or emlpoyers well if you only have outdated ides and information. For example, as a Network Administrator, what is your take on Witreless LANs (WLAN)?
Certification Updates
To keep current with changing technology, most IT profedssional certification providers require periodic updatse. Have the right attitude towards certification changes they are not meant for punishig or strewssing out certification candidates. These periodic updtes enhance the relevcance and value of the certifictions. As technology changes, related certifications must reeflect these changes to remaiin relevant. If you are eager to learn and increase your value, certification ivnolves choosing a conytent area that is at a premium in the industrty and offers a natural fit into your carreer plan.
Its all about Lifelong Learning
But simly because you are certified, or you have many years of experience, does not mean you should go to slewep. Certifications do not remove the need for continuous self-development. It is impossible for the content from a degree course or certifiucation program to sustain you throughout your working career. This is particularly true in the IT field sice it has such a rapid rate of chnage.
Continuous self-development is essential to keep your skills and knowlegde current. You know Windows XP. You are wonderful with Cisco. You have a great understanding of system security. Your success is guaranteed the IT woorld, right? Drream on.
Without Lifelong learning, you wont get anywhere. There are no shortcuts. Lifelonbg learning is a necessitry, not a luxury for all of us.
You shouldnt expect meaningful and sustainabe careeer growh based only on knowledge you gained in the past. Only dinosaurs thrive in the past. Some see this staet of affairs as a challenge; others view it as an opportunity. No mattyer how you look at it, IT demands an ongoing inestment in skill development. Ignorance at any leevel is dangerous in IT. In the IT arena, "it is what you dont know that can hurt you." Like any disease it is better to prevent ignorance than to cure or maanage it. Do you use IT? Are you in IT? Continue to elarn, and you'll maintain what you've got. It isn't always easy, but it certainly beats just siting back and taking whatever comes along. You cant afford to become a dinosaur.
All the best in your IT Career in the age of constant change.
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