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The Seven Habits of Successful IT Professionals

18 August 2006

It’s a tough market out there.  IT professionals are facing ever bigger challenges in searching for new jobs, keeping current jobs, fighting layoff, getting promotions, etc.  To make yourself highly competitive, check out the seven habits of successful professionals.

1. Stay on focus
There are so many things and aspects in IT.  It’s hard to succeed if you try to know everything.  Focus on a few key skills and technologies and become really good on them.  Successful IT professionals are most likely specialists rather than generalists.

2. Be a quick learner
New technologies and developments emerge everyday in IT industry.  Successful IT professionals are aware of the trends and changes, and keep themselves up to date.  Successful IT professionals learn new knowledge and skills quickly and effectively.

3. Have a long term career plan
It’s so important to plan your career to reach the full potential.  Decide which path you go - technical or management, which area  you stay - database, network, systems, ERP, J2EE, .NET, etc.  Make a plan and execute it.

4. See the big picture
In an IT project, one may only work on a isolated part, i.e., code a component.  Successful IT professionals are not satisfied by completing assignment, they always want to see the big picture - whole scope of the project, and find out what roles they play in the project, what they can do to make more contributions, and learn most from the project.

5. Acquire business knowledge
Successful IT professionals not only master technical skills such as programming, but also well understand the business that they serve.  They have deep knowledge of the industry and business logic.  They understand customer requirements from inside out.

6. Be a team player
Successful IT professionals know how to work with others to get job done.  They communicate with team members and management staff effectively.  They constantly improve their personal skills and leadership skills.

7. Keep an eye on new opportunities
IT professionals work in a dynamic and changing environment.  There are always new opportunities which offer greater potentials for career growth.  Keep an eye on them and be ready to jump onto it when you encounter one that meets your career growth needs.

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