You may have started your IT Career, and now, you are figuring out how to climb up, how to get noticed and how to make progress. The thought of wanting to climb the ladder is already a step in the right direction. It is an indicator that you have the willingness and are ready to work at it. Here are some tips on how to climb the ladder in your IT Career.
Be up to date in the field
IT is a dynamic field. It is constantly changing and evolving. New Technologies are constantly being rolled out while improvements are being made to the existing ones.
If you want to climb the ladder in IT, then it is best to be in the know regards who is the new kid in the block. Get to know what the trends are, you can use this information to suggest to your company’s management the changes they can make for them to remain relevant.
Having a knowing in what’s happening also enables you to sustain conversation and contribute when necessary. It will help you to stand out and climb the ladder in your IT Career.
Do certifications
As you are now up to date with what is happening, dig deep, get to acquire more knowledge. Of importance though, be wise as you dig deep, you cannot be a master of everything. IT is already broad enough. Therefore, do not chase after everything, choose your path, be up to date with it and also keep adding onto your knowledge base.
Some of the certifications that are in demand currently include:
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- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Oracle MySQL Database Administration
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
- Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)
- Certified Data Professional (CDP)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
Network
Climbing the IT ladder involves Networking. Getting to know other people and them knowing you as well. Guess what, your promotion lies in the hands of another person. Therefore, do not be afraid to put yourself out there.
Tips for effective Networking include being authentic, adding value and additionally engaging in proper questions. Strive to Network during cooperate events and also with your colleagues during breaks and/or team building exercises.
Find a mentor
Finding a mentor is an effective tip towards climbing the IT ladder. A mentor will help you up because chances are they have walked a similar journey to the one you are pursuing.
A mentorship journey will be mutually beneficial to both you and your mentor. Even as you explore the possibilities, approach it from a healthy angle, one in which you are not the only beneficiary.
Be resourceful and be a team player
The ability to work in a team cannot be overlooked. In most interviews, there is at least the mention of the word ‘teamwork’. Companies are interested in people that can work well with other people.
This same principle applies when you want to climb up the ladder in your IT Career. Be resourceful to your team mates, add value to them, offer a helping hand when needed, give additional information, offer to take up new projects. This will enable you to be effective in teamwork.
Strive to be an expert in something
As earlier mentioned, IT is broad, you need a focus area. It is important to choose an area that aligns with your strength, your personality, your vision and your goals.
Being an expert in something means you will be the go to person matters the specific subject. This will put a spotlight on you and will also allow you to become an asset to the company. Being an expert therefore gives you the upper hand in climbing the ladder.
Apply for higher positions
Sometimes, the promotions will not dance their way to your table. You will need to go after them, apply to them, Ask if you can be considered for leadership positions. While putting yourself out there may be scary, it is necessary and it will push you out of your comfort zone and allow you to learn much more. Probably even discover more things about yourself.
Cheers to the higher levels!
