Tag Archives: information technology

Can IT Professionals Cry at Work?

It may seem obvious, whether you’re in information technology or any other industry: It’s never ok to cry at work.  But the truth is, depending on the IT jobs and the IT managers, sometimes it may be acceptable.  While most IT recruiters and IT professionals would advise any IT contractor never to cry on the job, a few tears may not be so out of the cultural norms for some companies. Why?

There are some places, like non-profits, where a passionate IT consultant might fit in better with the workplace culture.  If a few tears escape, but they’re rare and don’t inhibit your managers and coworkers from having a productive relationship with you, don’t worry too much about it. When crying is controlled and clearly a biological reaction, not an attempt at manipulation or a common occurrence, it can be excusable.

 

 

Where You Should NEVER Search for IT Jobs

Most IT recruiters have had the awkward experience of speaking to an IT consultant about IT jobs—while they’re at their current job.   Even in fields like information technology, where IT Professionals should definitely know better, IT consultants still search for a job while at work. What’s so risky about this?

Searching for a job at work is a terrible idea for a few reasons.  Technical recruiters would be quick to point out that using your work computer for anything but work is already a bad start.  IT managers are absolutely allowed to check what you’re doing with work property, so they could easily find your job search materials and emails.  Besides exposing yourself to an untimely discovery of your job search, you’re also risking lower productivity in your job.  If you’re giving your work any less than 100%, you may be hurting your reputation. Looking for a new job is fine, but make sure to do it outside of the office—it’s the safest way to do it.

 

3 Things IT Managers Should Never Do

Most IT recruiters and IT contractors have heard a horror story or two about terrible IT managers.  In a field like information technology, which is very team-oriented, having a good manager can really make all the difference.  To avoid becoming one of those legendary managers from hell that all technical recruiters and IT consultants have heard of, here are three things you should avoid doing.

  1. Skimping on the praise:  Give praise often and in various forms.  Publicly, privately, informally, or in structured formats.  Pointing out what your employees do right and really rewarding these things will have some serious benefits.  Your employees will work harder to please you and will do the right thing more often.  You’ll also have a better relationship with them, and this makes for a better work environment and better employee retention.
  2. Making your company or team’s culture all work, no play.  Don’t forget to give your employees a chance to smile and laugh at work.  You don’t have to give your employees a day-long party, but small moments are necessary.  Happier employees are more productive and more loyal.
  3. Making yourself unavailable.  While your employees shouldn’t need you like a security blanket, they should feel like you’re a resource for them when they really need it.  Giving them the help and support they need will certainly pay off in spades.  Their performances will improve, as will your relationship with them.

"Nice work" on sticky note

Imperative Rules for Networking Over Email in IT

If any field uses email to network a lot, it’s information technology.  While IT professionals can count on more casual interactions overall, there’s still some hard and fast rules of etiquette that IT contractors, IT recruiters, and IT managers alike need to listen to.  Here are a few email rules that will help IT consultants and technical recruiters keep their jobs—and maybe get some new IT jobs, too!

 

  1. Don’t get too personal too quickly.  Making introductions without warning, sharing something you’d like feedback on or giving unsolicited feedback, or suggesting a partnership/collaboration without much discussion.  These behaviors are all incredibly off-putting and alienating, so take your time before doing them.  Make sure you have an established relationship and probably a conversation or two that leads up to these actions.
  2. Don’t be too pushy.  Asking for a confirmation of receipt, adding return receipts, sending follow-up emails, and calling or following up in person are all too aggressive.  Give adequate time for a response.  If you receive none, let it go if you can.  It’s probably just going to lead to an awkward conversation later if you push it.
  3. Do hold off on caps lock, emoticons, and strongly worded messages.  Be as professional as possible and don’t leave room for your recipients to interpret your messages as overly emotional.  It’s just too easy to do without the tone of your voice to accompany it.
  4. Do remember that emails are forever.  Somebody can save an email forever and show it to whoever they want.  Word it carefully so this information doesn’t bother you!

Why IT Managers Shouldn’t Lean on Bribes to Motivate Employees

Across most industries, including information technology, bribing is a popular method to motivate employees.  Unfortunately, this method does the IT managers who use it no good.  IT contractors need management tactics that go beyond offering rewards to really impact their performance at their IT jobs.

IT consultants may show slight improvements over time, but in the long run, IT professionals need to feel a strong tie to their company and their team.  Once this kind of connection has been established, performance will skyrocket—consistently.  Rewards, unfortunately, only capture interest for as long as they are unavailable.  Once achieved or received, employees are no longer motivated.  The performance level is also only as high as the reward is impressive, too.  Since most companies are unlikely to provided incredibly expensive awards, they are unlikely to garner much of a result from the ones they do offer.  In a way, companies should appreciate this: the best motivator for employees is free!

 

Top Ways to Ethically Use Office Politics in IT

As most IT professionals know, the information technology industry isn’t immune to the influence of office politics.  Everyone, from IT recruiters, to IT managers, to IT contractors, are aware of the powerful impact of office politics on IT jobs.  So how should IT consultants and technical recruiters engage with office politics effectively?

  1. Know who is important. Often you’ll find that you have some peers who are more influential than you’d think.  Or perhaps one manager is more in charge than another.  Try to notice these things.  Show the right deference to the right people and know who can help give your projects or ideas the best boost.
  2. Know alliances.  You don’t have to know them in-depth, but be aware of who is friends with whom in the office.  You don’t have to strategically make friends, but you do have to make sure you don’t badmouth somebody to their friend.
  3. …And when it comes to badmouthing: Don’t. Knowing the general structures of office politics doesn’t require playing into it.  Keep yourself above any nasty disagreements and hold off on venting or saying anything less than positive about coworkers, projects, etc to anybody in your office.

 

Why IT Professionals Should Never Use Resume Gimmicks

IT recruiters and IT consultants all over the world have heard the advice that resumes sent with fun gimmicks, like odd packaging or edible goodies will really grab an IT managers attention.  Wise IT professionals know that this simply isn’t true, though.   Gimmicks don’t win IT jobs; skills and experience win IT jobs.

While many IT contractors may have an urban legend or two about somebody who got a job because of their wacky resume gimmick, the average person shouldn’t listen to this.  There are a few reasons why.  For one thing, information technology is a field that demands precision, experience, and the right answers.  This means it’s imperative for job holders to be able do their jobs competently.  Resume gimmicks are irrelevant to hiring managers, who are focused on competence.  Additionally, some managers may see resume gimmicks as a way to disguise incompetence.  Avoiding them is crucial.  Lastly, resume gimmicks can backfire.  Maybe they trigger food or other allergies, or perhaps they are simply too silly or offensive.  In any case, these are to be avoided at all costs.  The best resume is the one that fits the job.

Chocolate Bar Resume

How to Avoid Being a Doormat in IT

The information technology field’s demanding pace can make it seem easy and imperative to be a certified doormat for coworkers in your IT jobs.  Taking on extra work really makes you stand out to IT recruiters and IT managers as model IT contractors, right?  Actually, that’s not really true.

The best IT consultants are able to do their workload well, contribute to the success of their teams, and do so with a smile and good energy.  Over time, becoming the office doormat starts to wear on anyone, no matter how originally cheerful they may be.  While nobody should balk at the notion of meeting or exceeding expectations at their jobs, taking on too much work will only make you the office sourpuss in the end.  And nobody promotes the office sourpuss, no matter how competent of IT professionals they are.

So if you’ve identified yourself as the office doormat, how do you break the cycle of too much work?  It’s as easy as taking the time to think about things.  Try making a list of your big picture priorities and your daily tasks.  Whenever somebody asks you to add new projects, evaluate how these fit into your lists.  When things really don’t fit into these lists, then try to push back.  Note why these things are not relevant for your goals and job description and use the right tone depending on whom you’re speaking to (boss, coworker, etc).  Soon enough, you’ll start seeing your plate become a little less full and your attitude and demeanor at work become a whole lot better!

 

 

How to Give Feedback to Your IT Manager

As in any other field, giving feedback to your manager in information technology can be a dicey thing.  IT contractors and IT recruiters may have completely valid feedback, but delivering it to IT managers in a way that avoids soured relationships or terminations can be tricky.   Below are a few ways IT consultants and technical recruiters can offer negative feedback to bosses without doing permanent damage to their resumes:

  1. Pay attention to time and place: Pick a time that your boss will be at his or her calmest and least stressed.  Pick a place that’s private.  Nobody wants to receive criticism in public—least of all a manager.
  2. Phrase the criticism well: Can it be put into an ‘I’ statement?  Can it be thinly disguised in a story about a fictitious friend or acquaintance?  The less this criticism actually feels like criticism, the better.
  3. Leave any drama out of it.  The easier this conversation is, the better.  Jokes may help, as will keeping any emotion out of it.

 

Why are IT Workers Gaining Weight?

Recent studies show that IT professionals are tend to outpace other professionals in an alarming new area: weigh gain.  The information technology field may show IT contractors, IT recruiters, and IT managers gaining higher poundage for a few reasons.

The first, though not special to the industry, may be the fact that IT consultants do tend to sit quite a bit at work.  There are plenty of studies about the dangers of sitting and it’s hard to ignore how often people in IT sit at their IT jobs.  The second reason may be that IT workers are likely to have to work odd or long hours to keep up with the 24/7 need for technology that delivers.  Sleep deprivation or odd sleep patterns are shown to throw off people’s metabolism significantly.  Some studies even show that tired workers are more likely to reach for food full of carbohydrates or sugar.  Lastly, IT professionals, like most professionals, are subjected to the onslaught of office food and office food as a management incentive.  Providing food for workers is a well-known tactic for managers to gain loyalty. While well-intentioned, managers who use this tactic too often may be hurting their supports.