TECHNOLOGY CAREERS

The Value of Training in Tough Times

In difficult employment environments like today’s, many professionals choose to keep their heads down, focus on work and just try to ride out the storm. Although it’s smart to concentrate on meeting daily obligations, it’s equally important to lift your head up and keep an eye on the horizon. Where do you want your career to be when business conditions improve, and new opportunities are available to you? You need to be taking steps now to position yourself for long-term success. One way to do so is to explore training options. Here are some inexpensive ways to continue your professional development:

Company training
Find out whether your employer offers any internal professional development programs or provides tuition reimbursement for external classes. Many organizations recognize that by keeping their employees’ skills sharp, they can keep productivity and morale high, so you may be surprised to find your company offers training options, even in the tight economy.

Mentors
Guidance received from mentors — those who’ve “been there and done that” — can be very beneficial. If your firm doesn’t have a formal mentoring program, be proactive and seek a mentor yourself. Ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations and think about professionals you know whom you admire or whose career success you’d like to emulate. When you contact a prospective mentor, outline your primary objective — for instance, enhancing your Cisco expertise so you can earn a certification — and explain what would be involved in serving as your mentor, including the desired type of assistance, frequency of interaction and other critical factors.

Online courses
A variety of universities, associations and private training providers offer online courses on topics ranging from the latest technologies to project management and budgeting. E-learning offers many benefits, but it is generally most effective for subjects that don’t require one-on-one feedback from an instructor, such as learning new software applications.

Local training
Also take advantage of in-person training programs in your local area. Technology associations and community colleges are excellent starting points for identifying inexpensive and targeted professional development options.

Investing time in training programs can not only put you on the track toward achieving your professional goals, but it also can be useful should you find yourself in the job market. Employers value IT professionals who are committed to staying up-to-date on trends and technologies.

Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of IT professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. The company has more than 100 locations worldwide. Search for jobs now or learn more at www.rht.com.