Comments on: 7 Essential Steps To START an IT Career in a Recession http://www.simonstapleton.com/wordpress/2009/02/10/7-essential-steps-to-start-an-it-career-in-a-recession/?&owa_medium=feed&owa_sid= I Help You Become a Higher Performer, Get Promoted, and Better Paid Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:37:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: simonstapleton http://www.simonstapleton.com/wordpress/2009/02/10/7-essential-steps-to-start-an-it-career-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-831 simonstapleton Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:49:10 +0000 http://www.SimonStapleton.com/wordpress/?p=1457#comment-831 @Barbara - thanks for sharing this great story. This is testament to the likelihood that once you're in, you're able to find the job you're really after and go for it. Imagine trying to do the same cold? It's amazing, but not surprising, that you're able to go from data analyst to unix sysadmin that way. I'll bet you could have made it too if you did go in as a secretary? @Barbara – thanks for sharing this great story. This is testament to the likelihood that once you’re in, you’re able to find the job you’re really after and go for it. Imagine trying to do the same cold? It’s amazing, but not surprising, that you’re able to go from data analyst to unix sysadmin that way. I’ll bet you could have made it too if you did go in as a secretary?

]]> By: Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach http://www.simonstapleton.com/wordpress/2009/02/10/7-essential-steps-to-start-an-it-career-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-830 Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:19:31 +0000 http://www.SimonStapleton.com/wordpress/?p=1457#comment-830 Your comment of "I say get your foot in the door in almost any job and show how great you are." is classic. My mom told me that, 'way back in '86, when I began my campaign to get hired at AT&T. She said that if I wasn't hired as a techie, I should go in as a secretary...in short, get ANY position so long as I could get my foot in the door. Brilliant advice, that. I was eventually hired as a data analyst and worked my way up to the lead unix sysadmin position. But yes, getting your foot in the door no matter how.... - it's critical. Great article! Barbara Your comment of

“I say get your foot in the door in almost any job and show how great you are.”

is classic. My mom told me that, ‘way back in ’86, when I began my campaign to get hired at AT&T. She said that if I wasn’t hired as a techie, I should go in as a secretary…in short, get ANY position so long as I could get my foot in the door.

Brilliant advice, that. I was eventually hired as a data analyst and worked my way up to the lead unix sysadmin position. But yes, getting your foot in the door no matter how…. – it’s critical.

Great article! Barbara

]]> By: simonstapleton http://www.simonstapleton.com/wordpress/2009/02/10/7-essential-steps-to-start-an-it-career-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-828 simonstapleton Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:02:46 +0000 http://www.SimonStapleton.com/wordpress/?p=1457#comment-828 @polyGeek - that's a great story and proof of Step 7, which is essentially what your blog does - promote yourself. Great point you make - once you're in a job then you can learn the ropes and earn experience. Outside of a job, then it's amateurville. Thanks for your comment! @polyGeek – that’s a great story and proof of Step 7, which is essentially what your blog does – promote yourself. Great point you make – once you’re in a job then you can learn the ropes and earn experience. Outside of a job, then it’s amateurville.
Thanks for your comment!

]]> By: polyGeek http://www.simonstapleton.com/wordpress/2009/02/10/7-essential-steps-to-start-an-it-career-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-827 polyGeek Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:57:59 +0000 http://www.SimonStapleton.com/wordpress/?p=1457#comment-827 I'm a freelancer and I haven't noticed a drop in opportunities yet. There was a lull in the December - early January period, which is typical, but otherwise I get pinged for potential projects a few times a week on average. That's a nice list of steps/goals that you presented. I would stress that if someone isn't currently working in the field that they desire then they try to get anything at all - as you suggested. It's so hard to pick something up in your spare time. But once a person is coding or designing 40+ hours a week their skills and experience grow rapidly. The only thing I can think to add is to blog, blog, blog. All of my projects and job offers have come to me via my blog. Without it I'd be spending lots of time trolling for work - never fun. It's much better when work comes to you. I’m a freelancer and I haven’t noticed a drop in opportunities yet. There was a lull in the December – early January period, which is typical, but otherwise I get pinged for potential projects a few times a week on average.

That’s a nice list of steps/goals that you presented. I would stress that if someone isn’t currently working in the field that they desire then they try to get anything at all – as you suggested. It’s so hard to pick something up in your spare time. But once a person is coding or designing 40+ hours a week their skills and experience grow rapidly.

The only thing I can think to add is to blog, blog, blog. All of my projects and job offers have come to me via my blog. Without it I’d be spending lots of time trolling for work – never fun. It’s much better when work comes to you.

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