In the Beginning Archives

Building your First Resume

As a tech executive, I often get asked by soon to be college graduates, what should I put on my resume to stand out.

First, if you are going into an IT career and you’ve done an internship, that’s a big plus. Second, if you’ve attended on campus career fairs and met big companies who are doing campus recruiting, you’ll have received some good exposure to what companies are looking for in talent. If you have not done these things let me help with some thoughts.

Adapt your resume.

For your technology major, professors often discuss how your skills apply to industry. Research key companies and explore their main web pages. Uncover their initiatives to gain insight. When applying for jobs, carefully read the job description and adapt your resume accordingly. Be honest to avoid issues during interviews. Look for jobs that align with your education, emphasizing the projects and specific skills you learned on campus to compensate for lack of industry experience.

Factor in soft skills.

Once you have the technical part of your resume worked up, lace in the soft skills. Soft skills are the communication, presentation and people management skills that technical people tend not to be the best at.

Yes, understood, you want a technical job. However, many employers are looking for well-rounded technology professionals. If you can emphasize and prove that you have outstanding communication skills, it’ll put you ahead of many of your peers who are relying on their technical skills alone. Also, if you have aspirations to lead and make your way up the executive ladder, having the soft skills are going to be a must.

In future posts I’ll provide some specific resume content to help you with your bio.

Overwhelmed IT Professional

Your boss comes to you and says, “I need you to do this immediately, it’s a priority.” However, this is number 10 of the “priorities” that your boss has dropped on you in the past week.

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to complete everything on time? Look on the bright side – maybe your boss is just giving you extra work because they value your skills. It might sound unlikely, but who knows? Regardless, you’ll still need to find a way to get everything done efficiently. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your workload.

Firstly, it’s important to prioritize your tasks. Make a list of everything that needs to be done and rank them in order of importance. This will help you focus on the most crucial tasks first and avoid wasting time on less urgent ones.

Next, try breaking down larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This will make the workload seem less daunting and allow you to tackle each task one at a time without feeling overwhelmed.

Additionally, consider delegating some tasks if possible. If there are colleagues or team members who can assist with certain tasks, don’t hesitate to ask for their help. It’s important to recognize that you don’t have to do everything on your own.

Another helpful tip for staying organized and efficient is to utilize technology. There are many productivity apps and tools available that can help you manage your tasks, set reminders, and track your progress. Find the ones that work best for you and incorporate them into your daily routine.

It’s also crucial to take breaks throughout the day. Working nonstop can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. Make sure to schedule in short breaks or even a lunch break to recharge and refocus.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to say no if necessary. If your workload becomes too overwhelming or if a task does not align with your priorities, it’s okay to push back – nicely – so that you help your boss understand that they have provided you with too many “priorities.” “Nicely” is the key word. Because you are stressed and overworked you can overreact to the request and snap at your boss. Never a good thing as it could make you look unprofessional.

But if you keep accepting these assignments your boss will assume that you can handle them and will most likely keep giving you more. Ouch. You certainly don’t want all this work impacting your work life balance, and especially your health.

In conclusion, to help overcome being an overwhelmed IT professional, time management is a vital skill. By setting goals, prioritizing tasks, utilizing technology, taking breaks, and learning to say no when needed, you can effectively manage your time and achieve success in both your personal and professional life. Remember to continuously review and adjust your methods as needed to find what works best for you. With practice and determination, you can become a master of your own time.

Click here to see a post on setting expectations as a new tech professional.

Moving from Corporate to Consulting

Some dream of transitioning from a corporate software developer role to consulting or Big 4. Travel and the potential for more money add allure. However, the move is not for everyone and can be stressful if unprepared. Does it accelerate the path to becoming a tech exec?

Let’s determine if the consulting world is right for you. As a software developer, you’ll work on projects with a team, either at a client site or virtually. Junior focus on coding, while senior roles also involve pre-sales as a subject matter expert.

What’s the difference?

This is not much different from your current corporate software development team. The point is, you’ll be leaving a well-structured environment one with more stress. Clients have high expectations and constantly assess the quality of your work. If you excel at what you do, this won’t be a big deal. However, consulting company leaders are often pressured to quickly place you in a role, so you’re not sitting on the bench.

Project assignments

Leadership “markets” you to assign you to a project. Ideal fit can be secondary to project assignment, with revenue generation as the primary factor. Consider your flexibility and adaptability in handling change and stress. Making it past the first two years is a good sign for growth and advancement.

Up or out

Big 4 consulting firms (Deloitte, E&Y, PWC, and KPMG) follow an up-or-out model. you don’t get promoted within a specific timeframe (usually two years), they let you go. This can be unsettling for those transitioning from a corporate setup with no fixed promotion expectations.

Mix of assignments

Assuming you’re not assigned to a long-term project, rotating clients and projects is a great way to build experience. It keeps things interesting, avoiding the mundane grind of doing the same thing every day for years. However, if you prefer certainty and not having to learn anything new, consulting might not be the right fit for you.

As a consultant, each role offers an opportunity to learn and adapt to new job requirements and work environments. The pace can be demanding, as clients expect more productivity. However, there are chances to shine and make a lasting impression. Building a good rapport with clients may result in project extensions, which are highly valued by consulting companies. Consultants who excel in extending projects are rewarded with higher raises and promotions. If you thrive in a competitive environment, consulting is ideal for you.

I’m rambling and there is a lot more to this topic, but let’s summarize the pros and cons of the consulting world:

Pros:

Dynamic and fast paces
Quicker promotions and more money
Travel and interesting project locations

Cons:

Fast paced and lots of uncertainty
Stress and high expectations
Uncertainty of roles or work assignments

Being a consultant requires a particular mindset. Work-life balance may be challenging, with frequent on-the-road assignments. Temporary dislike of assigned work and constant self-evaluation can induce stress. However, if you progress up the chain (up-or-out), the rewards are significant.

Market Yourself

This subject deserves an entire category dedicated to it on this blog. It is a crucial aspect of brand building, regardless of one’s tenure in a company or career. Even tech execs must refine their personal brand to succeed.

As you navigate through your office, always be prepared for unexpected encounters with senior leaders. So, what should you do when you meet them in the elevator? Embrace the moment! Craft a concise self-introduction, commonly referred to as an “elevator pitch,” that highlights your background, role, and identity. Strive for brevity, ensuring it can be delivered within the duration of an elevator ride – perhaps just five floors. Let your words radiate confidence and eloquence, making a lasting impression.

I believe that the elevator pitch serves as the foundation for establishing your brand identity.

However, it is an imperative initial stride. Being comfortable with self-expression is essential. Practice it. Admittedly, sharing personal anecdotes with unfamiliar individuals can be daunting, but wise leaders appreciate your endeavors to forge connections and are typically encouraging (well, at least most esteemed leaders within the organization).

Here’s the elevator pitch…

Hello Mr. Jones! It’s wonderful to see you. I’m Jean Smith from the Technology Department. May I take a moment to introduce myself? I specialize in supporting finance department applications and possess exceptional communication skills. My long-term aspiration is to become a valued member of the leadership team at ABC Company. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to connect with you.

Feel free to add and enhance but avoid any oddities. Keep it concise and straightforward. Be warm and welcoming, as if meeting a friend on the street.

Please remember that you have a limited time to make a lasting impression on the leader. Our focus for now will be on ensuring that they remember you. We will discuss additional personal marketing activities at a later point.

Your Boss Hates You (What do you do?)

If you find yourself not getting along with your tech exec boss, it can be a challenging situation. Sometimes, the connection simply isn’t there. It could be due to differing operating styles or a misstep that has upset your manager.

Navigating this challenging situation can be highly stressful when it comes to showing up for work each day. Unfortunately, addressing the barrier that has emerged between you and your boss is necessary. Remember, your boss holds the power to potentially impact your career, especially within the current company. If you aspire to reach an executive position within this organization, it’s crucial to resolve the situation. Consider establishing a regular connection to meet weekly, allowing you to better understand and address the underlying issues. Although it may be painful, open and consistent communication is key to finding a resolution.

Although it may be challenging, it is important to have a conversation with your boss to understand their concerns. Start by compiling a list of potential actions to address the issues and share your plan for resolving them with your manager. It is crucial to ensure alignment on the steps needed to improve the working relationship.

If the situation is dire, it may be necessary to contemplate leaving the company. This, especially if you have invested time and effort in building distinguished reputation and feel at ease within the company’s culture. Transitioning to a new organization can prove arduous as it entails starting afresh with a different leadership team, requiring you to once again demonstrate your capabilities.

Click here for a post on how to do a job search as a tech executive.