Well Groomed

You can't always become a CIO without some outside help

On-the-job experience aside, building a strong network and finding a team of mentors to groom you may be among the best ways to help you to become a CIO.

Australian Computer Society (ACS) programmer Debbie Timmins came late to IT, being turned on to the possibilities only after buying her first computer in her mid 20s while working on an automotive production line. She began a full-time diploma in IT at TAFE at 25 and went on to complete a Bachelor of IT at Flinders University in 2004.

But if she started her professional studies later than many, she has been making up for lost ground ever since, volunteering thousands of hours to organize events, workshops and networking sessions for young IT professionals in South Australia as a member of the Australian Computer Society - an effort that culminated in June in her being named the inaugural Young Professional of the Year by Professions Australia.

The ACS says it nominated Timmins for the award for her extensive work promoting the ICT profession at university open days, career expos and conferences, and her support for other students and young professionals. She has also been active in work to develop closer relationships between the ACS and other professional bodies. Last year, she organized the inaugural National Young IT (YIT) Boot Camp - an intensive three-day live-in event for students and graduates from around Australia to help them prepare for the work force and secure a job.

She is confident she is gaining as much as she is giving as a volunteer, through the chance to enhance her people skills and build valuable contacts with a range of high-flying professionals. "I guess all the projects I've been involved with have been quite successful in that it has opened me up to a lot of people and it's been pretty good from that point of view," Timmins says.

"I've been doing all the programming and IT work but I'm moving to keep my options open as far as career growth goes. I have a lot of mentors that I look up to and I ask their opinions about which way I should go forward in my career. Because I have got a few different mentors they all say: 'Keep up your technical skills but also be available if an opportunity does arise'.

"So that is something I am doing at the moment. I am currently focusing on my programming position and I was told stick at that at least for three years because it looks good to come out of university and have a job for a year or more," she says.

Likewise fellow YIT board member Yohan Ramasundara, national manager quality assurance with Ecowise Environmental, a subsidiary of ACTEW AGL, graduated in 2003 from the University of Canberra and is actively looking for at least an assistant CIO position after building his soft skills in his current position.

"I've managed to gain the managerial experience for [a CIO job] such as all the soft skills by becoming the QA manager. I have to look after all the branches. I have to travel interstate and meet up with all the state managers, and do strategic planning for business improvement opportunities within all the states, and IT and the IT infrastructure is a major part of it. So that has given me a lot of experience, I think," Ramasundara says.

Here's what experts say you should watch out for as you navigate through your career:

As the saying goes: "Failing to plan is planning to fail." This is particularly true in technology, where rapid change is the norm and needs to be considered as a career-influencing factor.

Overeagerness (maybe even greed). Grabbing an opportunity that looks enticing without determining whether it really suits you and fits well into your long-range career plan.

Tunnel vision - in other words, restricting your business relationships primarily to colleagues in your technology career niche. As an IT professional, you should actively develop ties with nontechnical people as well as with your peers. You stand to benefit - and really can't lose - by broadening your outlook.

Living in the past. You absolutely must present yourself to employers as having up-to-date skills and a zestful enthusiasm for cutting-edge technology. If you haven't brushed up your knowledge recently, think seriously about taking specialized classes in key areas of interest.

Taking a job where you are a one-man show. That generalizes your skill set and puts you in a smaller environment.

Being reactive and relying only on job-board postings to help plan your next career move instead of investigating corporate career Web sites for potential job opportunities.

Having a narrow focus when beginning a job search can make it difficult to advance a career.

Blanketing your resume out there just because you can, and sitting back to see what happens rather than engaging with the company through its careers portal.

As the IT world has become more project-based, not capturing the details of this experience on a resume can make a long-term position look stagnant to a potential employer.

Staying in an unfulfilling job. If you're not being challenged on the job, you're apt to lose interest and stop growing professionally. Don't stay in a position just because it's comfortable and familiar. Feeling burned out? Start exploring other employment options that allow you to better address your career goals.

Forgetting about soft skills. While stellar technical abilities remain imperative, the demand for professionals with effective communication skills and strong knowledge of business fundamentals is increasing. When considering professional development opportunities, don't overlook chances to improve your business writing, public speaking or other soft skills.

Allowing skills to atrophy. Lifelong learning is a requisite for all IT professionals. Regardless of raw talent, you will not remain marketable if your skills are stagnant. Seek the latest software certifications and read technical trade magazines to remain at the forefront of the field.

Networking the wrong way. The goal of networking is not to hand out as many business cards as possible. Rather, you should concentrate on fostering long-term, meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with other professionals. Focus on the quality, not the quantity, of your contacts.

Having poor job-search skills. When it comes to your job search, you can't afford to put all your eggs in one basket by looking only at newspaper ads or online job boards. Take a multipronged approach that also involves networking and investigating internal opportunities within your current company.

Being unprepared for the new interview. Hiring managers no longer rely on cliche questions during interviews. Employers today want in-depth answers and detailed information about bottom-line contributions. As a result, impromptu exams, group interviews and multiple rounds of meetings are becoming more common. Prepare for these possibilities by role-playing with a friend so you're not caught off guard.

Not taking risks. Not applying for a job because you fear rejection is a far worse fate than submitting a resume and being shot down. Calculated risk-taking is a hallmark of success. As Will Rogers said: "You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is."