Some Career Myths about IT Pros

October 9, 2010

Today, I received some newsletters form TechRepublic that I had subscribed before. There is a headline attracting me a lot so I post some useful tips here. This article tells some experience after long years working.

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Career prospects have changed dramatically from previous generations. There are some wake-up call for IT pros who may still cling to certain expectations — like salary increases, job advancements, benefits, and a nice retirement package.

Usually, after long years working for the same company, one may suddenly found himself one day disillusioned with the traditional concept of career. Here are several reality checks to help you get your expectations in line with the changes that have happened and are happening today.

College will gain you entry
It used to be that a college degree was the ticket to a successful professional career and an above average salary. The reality is that not enough of those high-paying jobs exist for college graduates today and may not for quite some time. More people are graduating by percentage than ever, which means more competition for new IT openings. As a result, you will still need a degree to be considered for most professional IT positions — it's just less certain now that the all-important diploma will be your ticket to the career of your dreams.

You will climb the career ladder
The author once idealistically believed that sometime between his fifth and 10th year working for one company, he would receive his first promotion. His second promotion would come before his 20th year. However, it didn't work out that way. He had to change jobs to get his promotion — and changing jobs can sometimes be a risky proposition.
If you are a technician or specialist and ambitious and want to climb the corporate ladder in such a company, you may have to transit to a managerial position with a broader career path. It's not common to see a tech successfully make the transition to management but it can be done.

Your career will bring you happiness
Well, maybe. But current trends suggest that it is becoming harder than ever. It is said that IT job satisfaction is at an all-time low. The longer you work, the more certain it will be that you will find yourself unhappy on the job. Maybe it will be the boss who takes credit of your work, the fourth of fifth time you are overlooked for a promotion, the peer who stabs you in the back, or the manager you just can't work with. Unhappiness happens.

The bottom line
The author have focused on a lot of negative changes. He would like to end with a few words of encouragement. Hang tough; the recession won't last forever. The knowledgeable, agile, and hard working can survive, even thrive, in today's ever-changing workplace and tough economic climate.

Perhaps this infamous Chinese proverb says it best: "May you live in interesting times." The author's career was not what he expected, but it certainly wasn't boring.

More details:
10 common career myths
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=1859&tag=nl.e042