Perhaps you started your career as a helpdesk technician, thinking it would be a good way to get your foot in the door, and 10 years later you are still troubleshooting Merle in accounting’s dodgy printer. Or maybe your job as a network administrator is getting you down because after six years and zero promotions you can do it with your eyes closed.. It’s easy to become complacent when you’ve worked in the same role for years. If you’re finding it difficult to extricate yourself from that comfortable rut, read on.
Career ruts can happen for numerous reasons: it could be you are not gelling with your workplace culture, maybe you are finding your role unchallenging or perhaps your job is so pressurised that you are burnt out and unhappy. Whatever the reason, boredom, anxiety or fear can cause ‘stuckness’ and a feeling of not being able to move forward. The good news is that there are steps you can take to help you get moving forward in your IT career.
Set a goal
It sounds like a cliché, but it’s logical: if you don’t know where you’re going, how can you expect to get there? Rather than trying to force massive change immediately, start with where you are right now – maybe there are opportunities available that you have never even thought about. Once you have done that, set your goal and create your plan of action including a timeline and the steps you need to take, for example creating a LinkedIn profile, updating your CV or attending a seminar or networking event.
Become a network specialist
And speaking of networking, this is something which is beneficial in most careers – and IT is no different. While the pandemic has got us distancing physically, it’s still possible to connect with people to grow your professional network. If you can’t attend physical events, see what online ones are available or reach out to people in your industry. Whether it’s help or advice surrounding your current situation or an opportunity in the future, you never know when a connection with someone could be beneficial.
Adapt or die
With factors such as increased automation and AI changing the employment landscape, adaptability is more important than ever for future-proofing your career. This means adopting a growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed one. People with a growth mindset are more likely to enjoy learning, constantly experiment and, perhaps most importantly, see failure as an opportunity to grow. Uncertainty is the new normal; it’s those who can learn, adapt and tweak as they go along who will thrive.
Leave your comfort zone
Henry Ford once said: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” To get out of a rut, you need to start doing things differently. Even taking a different route to work or taking a walk outside instead of your usual gym session can help. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and do things that might make you feel uncomfortable. Take a risk: ask your boss for that promotion or apply for a position which you might not be 100% confident about. You never know what might come out of it.
Reskill, upskill and stay relevant
In this fast-evolving digital age, particularly in the field of IT, education and training can no longer be considered nice-to-haves. If you’ve reached the ceiling in your current position, consider learning new skills to remain relevant and improve your value in the market. Professional certifications, like those offered by Torque IT, can help you stand out with your current employer or a prospective one… a new qualification might even allow you to start that new business you have been thinking about for years.
Now that you know how crucial maintaining your skills is, here is even more motivation: South Africa currently has a dire shortage of skilled professionals in the IT sector. According to BusinessTech, the most in-demand tech jobs that South African companies are struggling to recruit for include software developer, computer network and systems engineer, ICT systems analyst, programmer analyst, ICT security specialist and business analyst.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – not to mention the global pandemic – has brought about a digital revolution and created a demand which the market has simply not been able to keep up with. With large numbers of unfilled jobs in the IT sector due to a lack of skilled people, there has never been a better time to add sought-after (and scarce) skills to your CV.
Paracon is a respected industry brand who are skilled IT process specialists & experienced at IT recuitment. We have the ability to procure and deploy skilled IT resources and provide customised business transformation solutions for different industries. Our main focus is to partner with small or large companies to extend teams, modernize the technology stack, redesign processes, transform the business experience, and focus on executing strategies.
Our skilled IT Resourcingsolution offers a specialised and diversified portfolio of IT talent that includes Java Developers, .Net Developers, Angular Developers, Full Stack Developers, Oracle & SQL Database Administrators, Cyber Security, Manual and Automation Testers, SAP BW, SAP BI, Power BI, AWS & Microsoft Azure Engineers, Data Engineers, DevOps Engineers, RPA Specialists, Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, Systems Analysts, Solution Architects, Network Engineers, and other mainstream IT roles.
Our Solutions business enables organisations to optimise the business value delivered by their projects and processes by implementing business transformation solutions based on best practice consulting & processes, innovative insights, and/or fit-for-purpose software.
Whether it be pure consulting or a fully digital implementation, Paracon Solutions establish itself as a strategic delivery partner by tailoring our business solutions to an organisation’s specific requirements and current reality on their transformation journey.
Partner with the workforce expert that’s leading the way, contact us today!