Advancing your IT career is an ongoing effort! To reach your goals and unlock your full potential, you must constantly be taking steps in the right direction, staying on top of market trends, and maintaining an active role in your professional network.
Are you a web or computer science professional? We’ve put together a list of strategic moves you can make in order to capitalize on career opportunities unique to the tech domain. Keep our advice on hand year-round to make sure you don’t miss a beat!
do today
make a career plan
A career plan will help you nail down clear objectives and stay on track. Whether you’re at the beginning of your career or you have 20 years of IT experience under your belt, having a plan is universally useful. Check out this article to learn more!
find a mentor
Having a mentor gives you the opportunity to learn from an experienced professional who can help you take your career to the next level. It’s an enriching experience in many more ways than one.
be open about your ambitions
Talking about your goals will allow you to increase your chances of attaining them. Share them with people you trust who can provide direction or advice that may help you land your dream job.
do each month
keep an eye on internal job openings
Companies prefer to find candidates internally before diving into the hiring process. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you are offered a position – you may end up disappointed! Be proactive and stay on top of opportunities that arise within your company.
be open about your concerns
Annual evaluations are a good time to speak with your boss, but if you have serious concerns, don’t wait 6 months to communicate them. Our advice: approach the discussion from a “problem solving” perspective.
stay active on linkedin
If you haven’t done so already, get acquainted with LinkedIn. Make a point to keep tabs on updates from your colleagues, friends, and businesses that interest you. And of course, make sure your profile is up-to-date.
do each quarter
participate in an event
Networking isn’t always at the top of programmers’ and computer scientists’ lists of favourite things, but there are lots of opportunities to be had outside of the office! Conferences, hackathons, and events of all kinds… your options are endless in large cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
write an article
Whether it's for a personal blog, LinkedIn, or your employer’s website, try to publish regular content to showcase your expertise and let your talents shine.
browse job websites
You should regularly check online job postings to get a snapshot of the market. If you lose touch with the industry for too long, you might not know about important trends. In IT, things move quickly! Never miss a beat by subscribing to job alerts.
document your achievements
There’s no better time than when you’re in the heat of the moment to document your latest accomplishments and the results you achieved. Regularly taking note of your most recent projects will help you retain every detail for when it’s time do a little bragging with a future employer.
do every year
update your resume
Every 6 to 12 months, take a look at your CV and add any details you think might be relevant. These small time investments will save you tons of time on the whole when you’re looking to apply for a job! You should also take a look at our experts’ advice for writing a resume in the tech sector.
learn new skills
Adding to your skill set is a great way to distinguish yourself from your competitors. The world of IT is constantly evolving, and you will have no problem finding courses or webinars that will keep you in the loop!