Filling Your Toolkit:
Chapters 8 - 10
Mrs. Eaton – ITE 105 - NRCC
The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit
by Matthew Moran
Career Building: The Concept
 Career building is exactly
that−building.
 Getting a job or a string of jobs is
not synonymous with building a
career.
 A builder must have a plan.
 A builder must have the right tools.
Quick Review
Introduction: Chapters 1-4
1: Toolkit Approach to Career
Development
2: Career Building Defined
3: Information technology
is a great career choice!
4: Defining Yourself: Aptitudes and
Desires
Filling Your Toolkit: Chapters 5 - 7
A summary of what you will need...
5: Self-Assessment
• Identify strengths & weaknesses
Are you valuable to your employer?
6: Attitude



I have value−somewhere.
No job makes a career, and no job breaks a career.
You’ll need bridges, so don’t burn any.
7: Communication Skills

Written, Verbal, Listening, Presentations
Chapter 8
Technical Skills
Chapter 8 Technical Skills
Overview
 Technology Skills are important, but
other skills are more important.
 More important



Professional Networking
Communication Skills
Understand Business Concepts
 Toolkit is incomplete if you only have
technical skills.
Chapter 8 Technical Skills
The Role of Learning



Don’t become lopsided in your career
development
Develop soft skills
Update technical skills
 Fear of Obsolescence



Need for continuous learning
Burn Out
Do not sacrifice learning soft skills
Chapter 8 Technical Skills
Transcendent Skills



Means “going beyond” the technical skills
Soft skills
Most technology skills
 Reducing the Parts


Programmer – not just a Java programmer or
.NET programmer
Network Operating Systems – not just a
Netware, Novell or Microsoft System
administrator
Chapter 8 Technical Skills
Tips to Speed up the Process


Start with Concepts
Don’t study what you know. Start with
What’s New or what’s different. Start with
the map in your head.
 Don’t worry about the latest trend/fad


Understand the Why of Technology and
create solutions.
Don’t learn only the How of Technology. Easy
to do the step-by-step tasks.
Chapter 8 Technical Skills
Concept Driven Approach
 Learn how to create solutions.
 Learn key concepts of a technology as
they don’t change.
 Understand role of technology.
 The actual software, OS, NOS etc. is just
a tool not a solution.
 Focus on Solutions, Not Technology
Conclusion
 To become a value-added technologist, you must
understand the role of technology, understand and
speak in business terms, and provide solutions
that are focused on that understanding.
 Technology is just a tool!
Chapter 9
The Cover Letter
Chapter 9 Cover Letter
 Purpose of Cover Letter





Augments resume.
Do not repeat/restate items from resume.
Give the big picture, summary of your
talents and skills.
“If you don’t toot your own horn, nobody
will.”
Maintain a sense of pride
Chapter 9 Cover Letter
Vital Ingredients of Cover Letter
1.
2.
3.
Gratitude for the opportunity.
A significant accomplishment.
Your interest in becoming a producer for th
organization
 Create a generic cover letter that you
can easily customize.
 Companies don’t want to hire an
abrasive, difficult person.
Chapter 10
The Resume
Chapter 10 – The Resume
 Purpose of Resume
 Your Ambassador to the Professional
World
 Who Looks at Resumes?
 Human Resources
 IT Manager
 Department Manager
 Owner of company
Chapter 10 – The Resume
 Purpose of Resume
 Your Ambassador to the Professional
World
 Who Looks at Resumes?
 Human Resources, IT Manager,
Department Manager, Owner
 Busy Employers
 Disinterested Employers – other
things to do
Chapter 10 – The Resume
 Resume Basics
 Length: Brevity is Key – 1 page
 Bulleted lists – no paragraphs
1.
2.
3.
Skills
Experience
Education and Accolades
 Do not put initials for certifications
after your name.
 PhD after name (takes 4-7 years)
Chapter 10 – The Resume
 Resume Guidelines
 No special groups or unrelated






awards
Be honest!
Job Objective (optional)
Neat, looks professional
Error free
Experience – can omit unrelated jobs
See sample resumes on CD.
Conclusion
Conclusion
 You have opportunities, even in a
recession.
 Careers always exist because they
are long term.
 You must understand the role of
technology, understand and speak in
business terms, and provide solutions that
are focused on that understanding.