Faithful readers, after nearly three years of providing career advice in
this column, I've decided to take at least a sampling of my own advice
and strike out in new directions. But for those who hunger for more
prose on job hunting, networking, and salary negotiations: Fret not. As
any bookstore or Amazon.com perusal will show, there are scores of books
to help the job seekers and career ladder climbers of the IT world. The
trick is in separating the gold from the dross, so as my last hurrah, I
leave you with a booklist worthy of any IT manager's night table:
Computer Science Resumes and Job-Finding Guide
by Phil Bartlett (Barron's)
Although Bartlett gives a wealth of information on resume preparation,
all of it valuable, this book stands apart from other resume guides for
its glimpse into the IT job market and changing IT fields. Bartlett is
also brave enough to tackle interviewing, and that scary "what now?"
moment once a job offer is tendered. With every subject, Bartlett
approaches the material from the point of view of the IT job seeker,
which is a valuable perspective, and far better than the vague vantage
point of general career books like "What Color is Your Parachute?"
Although such tomes have their place, IT is a different world than, for
example, sales or factory work, with particular nuances that have to be
addressed, especially with certifications on a resume and so forth. This
book handles it all beautifully, and is a must for any IT bookshelf.
Careers in Information Technology: WetFeet Insider Guide (WetFeet Inc.)
Just when most dot-coms were going under, WetFeet soldiered on,
providing career advice for everyone from interns to executives. Over
the past few years, the sweetly grubby site has undergone a number of
changes and spiffed itself up into a powerhouse for its Insider Guide
series. Its contribution to the IT career advice world is a scant 109
pages, but it packs quite a punch, with items like how the industry
breaks down, where IT gurus can find work outside of the industry,
detailed descriptions of main IT functions, and the type of lifestyle
you can expect in an IT career. The book isn't a love letter to the
industry, refreshingly, and includes a reality check on the fact that
several sectors haven't quite bounced back from the economic malaise. It
also points out what IT professionals don't like about their jobs (hint:
think "long hours"). Although it's best suited for young pups just
starting out--getting their feet wet, basically--the glimpse of the
industry's health is valuable for those already in the field, too.
ACE the IT Job Interview!
by Paula Moreira (McGraw-Hill)
There are scads of books out there purporting to give you the inside
scoop on how to interview, and rightly so, because let's be honest--it's
a horrible process and the more advice you can get, the better. But
these general works aren't usually enough for IT professionals, because
they don't delve into the nuances of the field, like certifications,
network implementations, and the like. So, although I tend to gravitate
away from books that have exclamation marks in the title, I couldn't
help but love Moreira's approach to giving interview advice. She talked
to dozens of IT professionals and hiring managers from top technology
companies, giving readers an idea of what interview questions will be
asked, how a hiring manager sees candidates, and possible scenarios that
might come up. The exercises are also helpful for getting you in that
interviewing frame of mind.
IT Manager's Handbook: Getting Your New Job Done
by Bill Holtsnider and Brian Jaffe (Morgan Kaufmann)
For those who've gone beyond job hunting and actually landed a
managerial job, there can be a scary moment on that first day, when the
question becomes, "Do you know how to transfer all that tech skill into
management?" Although this book will seem basic to any manager already
in the field, for newbie managers, it can be vital for laying out issues
like hiring, equipment management, project planning, and budgeting. With
staffs still being asked to do more with less, many technical types are
finding themselves promoted to management, or asked to handle financial
aspects of the job. This handy guide can go a long way toward making a
former support star become a management superstar.
So there you go, gentle reader--less than a handful of books, but they
pack a great deal of advice into those pages. What are you waiting for?
Get shopping, and good luck on your searches and career adventures.
Elizabeth Millard is senior editor of ComputerUser and ComputerUser.com.
