Last month, Jonathan Feldman’s
blog
for InformationWeek Government discussed simple strategies for enhancing your
salary and value. He opened up with a doozy of a statement. Essentially, his
posts about high-paying jobs get lots of responses and high interest. Earning a
[substantial] living by doing something that we may not exactly love, but
hopefully
like an
awful lot was the purpose for getting into IT.
Right?
So,
here’s the thing. Those fancy, super-high paying jobs will have an impact on
the rest of your life. After all, companies aren’t paying top-dollar for 9-to-5
players with just any skillset. When chasing the goose that lays the golden
career egg, it’s best to know how much you are willing to invest and what you
are willing to trade in for that salary. Hint: IT goes beyond talent and
experience.
The hard part is figuring
out your life priorities, getting comfortable with them, and factoring them
into your career goals. We’re talking about the things you don’t see when
dollar signs are dancing around your head. Things like family commitments,
travel preferences, hobbies, and professional interests. Factoring life
priorities in doesn’t necessarily mean that they are more important than your
career; but this exercise will help you find a position that allows a balance
that you can live with in the long run. Investment is the other half of this equation.
You need to be at the top of your game and stay there—or get even better. This
means an ongoing investment in training and certification. In turn, this means tracking down the top IT certifications that can really help you stand apart.
Certification is a step toward defining yourself beyond a
job description or academic degree while gaining a sense of personal
satisfaction. Earning certification may bring prestige and recognition from your peers. It provides a validation of your skills and
demonstrates to your employer that you can effectively meet the needs of your
company. It’s a commitment to life-long learning and professional growth.
With that in mind, it's true that “Valuable people get
valued, and paid.” And regardless of your work-life balance, you can still be
valued. Unlike a house, which appreciates with age; your skills require regular
maintenance to hold value. Embarking on an ongoing, career-long learning plan
is the key to keeping skills current and on trend with industry developments.
It’s also your key to switching specialties. Training and certification are
critical, but you not only have to learn. You also need to show that you can apply
your knowledge in the workplace. If you’re reskilling, consider taking on side
projects that will prove skills and move you on to that next career placement.
Learning about your industry, being aware of customer demand on the market
level and staying engaged with industry news will help you see what’s coming
down the pike in terms of skills demand. A little advanced notice can go a long
way.
Because
in
the end, it’s all about making sure you are set up to succeed.
