IT Career Energizer

Phil Burgess

IT Career Energizer is a weekly podcast hosted by technology consultant Phil Burgess. If you’re looking to advance your career in tech, learn from over 300 industry professionals and experts about their career experiences and career development advice. Listen in to add to your skillset and invest in your own tech career success.

Episodes

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Sep 7, 2020 • 22min

266: Listen To The Voice That Guides You And Don’t Be Afraid To Speak Out with Brad Finkeldei

Phil’s guest on today’s show is Brad Finkeldei, a former IT professional who is now on a mission to help 10,000 people-pleasers become confident, and to do what they love. He teaches his clients how to find their purpose, and how to powerfully share their stories so that they stand out in the job search process. Brad discusses the importance of listening to the voice inside that guides us from time-to-time, and why we should endeavour to find the confidence to speak out on our own behalf when opportunity knocks. KEY TAKEAWAYS: TOP CAREER TIP Always speak up for yourself when you have the chance to. A missed opportunity to share ideas and put yourself out there can haunt you for a long time afterwards. It can also help to identify issues earlier, and prevent unnecessary pain later on. WORST CAREER MOMENT Brad once turned down a huge opportunity for career development because of a lack of self-belief. Sometimes the opportunities that we are given are as a result of an outside perspective that other have of us. CAREER HIGHLIGHT After arriving at a new position, Brad discovered that despite a glossy exterior, the back end was archaic, and the turnover of staff was high. Brad could see the trajectory he was about to follow and took the brave step of leaving for a new position. THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Everything in IT is gradually becoming simpler and easier through refined systems and processes, and the advent of new technologies that allow us to achiever far more. THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – From an early age, Brad was enthralled by the creative opportunities that technology provides, and yearned for a career there. What’s the best career advice you received? – To always speak up for yourself. Far too many people never share what it is that they want. What’s the worst career advice you received? – To do a job for the money and nothing else. It’s far better to be happy in what we do, than to be unfulfilled in exchange for money. What would you do if you started your career now? – Brad would stick to his strong points and focus on the areas in which he works better, such as people management. What are your current career objectives? – Speaking up is Brad’s current focus and doing his best to build his own business. There have been confidence issues in the past, but they are gradually being overcome. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Effective listening and always trying to discern the other person’s experience. To always attempt to understand what someone may be bringing from outside the job. How do you keep your own career energized? – Service is everything. Working with people and focusing on how to make them better provides instant feedback, and boundless inspiration to do better. What do you do away from technology? – Travelling has opened up a new world in terms of perspective and cultural influence. FINAL CAREER TIP We should always listen to the instinctual voice inside and investigate why it is raising red flags. Sometimes we react to circumstances on a primal level. We should never discount this reaction. BEST MOMENTS (1:20) – Brad- “I have a passion for people, and I didn’t realise that when I was in my tech career because I’d been stuck behind the computer for so long” (3:10) – Brad - “Have the guts to speak up and really share what your heart says, that needs to be said in the moment” (7:30) – Brad - “You’ve got this thing on top of you that’s weighing you down, and it’s hard to see and understand, but once you hit it, it feels great and you feel really aligned” (11:58) – Brad - “I believed that I could get a job because I knew I had the skills, and I also knew that this was not for me” (14:48) – Brad - “One of the biggest things in IT right now is not being acknowledged enough. So many systems are behind systems that are behind systems that are behind systems, and you never get the acknowledgement” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey. CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer ABOUT THE GUEST – BRAD FINKELDEI My guest on today’s show is Brad Finkeldei, a former IT professional who is now on a mission to help 10,000 people pleasers become confident and to do what they love. He teaches his clients how to find their purpose and how to powerfully share their stories so that they stand out in the job search process. CONTACT THE GUEST – BRAD FINKELDEI Brad Finkeldei can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradfinkeldei LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfinkeldei/ Website: https://bradfinkeldei.com Website: www.dontbeachickendowhatyoulove.com

Aug 31, 2020 • 26min

261: Manage Your Manager and Learn to Interview and Network Well with David Bishop

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is David Bishop. He is a technologist, consultant, researcher, entrepreneur, and instructor with experience across telecommunications, transportation, government and utilities. He is an author of numerous books and articles as well as a frequent contributor to the IEEE’s Engineering Management Review. David is also founding chair for the Atlanta chapter of the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society. In this episode, Phil and David Bishop discuss how to manage your manager to improve your career opportunities. They talk about the importance of focusing on the business and what it does rather than just the tech. David also talks about the challenge of selling your skills and how to do it well. As well as explaining why being happy to take risks is a good idea in the IT industry. David also briefly covers solving business problems using his Metagility approach to Managing Agile Development. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (5.30) TOP CAREER TIP Manage your manager. They are your gatekeeper. It is your manager who determines what your goals are, which opportunities you are given. As well as, to a certain extent, how you are perceived by others within the business. In the podcast, David shares several ways to do that. (7.54) WORST CAREER MOMENT In his 30s, David was set to become the chief of staff for the CIO of a big telecommunications company. He sailed through the interview stages. But, when he sat down to talk directly with the CIO, David spoke mostly about the tech, instead of focusing on what the business was all about. That switched the CIO off and he did not get the job. That experience taught him that at the end of the day everything you do at work has to be about what the business needs. The tech is just a means to an end. (11.43) CAREER HIGHLIGHT For David, starting to work for himself was a career highlight. When he did it forced him to exercise his intellectual and marketing skills as well as use his IT knowledge in more innovative ways. It pushed him to become a continuous learner and not be afraid to take on challenges. At this point, David shares what he learned about selling his skills. In particular, how to stay in the game long enough to close a deal that can take months to come to fruition. (13.44) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The fact that IT is everywhere is exciting. But, it also means that the stakes are high. A failure could lead to a plane falling out of the air or the economy being affected when a financial system goes down. (16.39) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – David started programming at 13, so for him, a career in IT was a natural progression. What’s the best career advice you received? – Don’t worry about what other people think. Just focus on yourself and what your needs are. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Always go for the highest paying job. What would you do if you started your career now? – David would be prepared to take more risks rather than playing it safe and automatically taking a job with a big company. What are your current career objectives? – Evangelizing his Metagility approach. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Writing. It is a skill that is all too often overlooked. How do you keep your own career energized? – David constantly networks with people. In the podcast, he talks about how he is coping with doing that despite CoVid. What do you do away from technology? – David reads a lot and enjoys working on classic cars. (25.19) FINAL CAREER TIP Learn how to interview well and network well. Both skills are critical when you are starting out. BEST MOMENTS (5.37) – David - “Manage your manager. They are your gatekeeper and have a bit impact on how you are perceived.” (10.02) – David - “If you want to convince someone to adopt a certain technology focus on what it can do for their business.” (21.18) – David - “Go where the startups are. Get associated with some incubators. That is your best chance for long term gain.” (23.10) – David - “Writing is a particularly important skill especially for people who work in the IT industry.” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey. CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer ABOUT THE GUEST – DAVID BISHOP David Bishop is a technologist, consultant, researcher, entrepreneur, and instructor with experience across telecommunications, transportation, government, and utilities. He is an author of numerous books and articles as well as a frequent contributor to the IEEE’s Engineering Management Review. David is also founding chair for the Atlanta chapter of the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society CONTACT THE GUEST – DAVID BISHOP David Bishop can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidAnthBishop LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbishop/ Website: https://agile-worx.com/ Metagility: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R8WGCLL/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 The Big Brother’s Guide to Job Interviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079BS9FNJ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2 Book – The Big Brother’s Guide to Networking: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0795BKFQC/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

Jul 27, 2020 • 33min

260: Be Ready for the Next Big Tech and Stick to Your Plan with Broadus Palmer

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Broadus Palmer. He is a Google Cloud Training Architect and Cloud Career Coach. Broadus is focused on helping individuals who are strongly committed to changing their lives by advancing or transitioning careers in the cloud industry. He’s an in-demand coach, specialising in hands-on coaching with the industry’s hottest tools and skills along with motivation aimed at changing your mindset. In this episode, Phil and Broadus Palmer discuss how to be ready for the next big thing, so your skills are always in demand. They talk about the importance of having a plan and sticking to it. As well as how to leverage what you are learning to help others, build a community and move your career forward. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (11.41) TOP CAREER TIP Sometimes success loves speed. At times, you will need to fast track your learning to take advantage of new opportunities. To push yourself to be ready. If something new comes out and you think it is going to be hot, go for it. Learn all you can, when it takes off you will be ahead of the game and be in high demand. At this stage in the podcast, they also talk about how to improve your ability to see the whole picture and problem solve using the tech you already know. (13.18) WORST CAREER MOMENT When Broadus wanted to switch to an IT career he was advised to secure cloud certifications and was told that if he did that he would easily get a job. He secured the AWS solutions architect, developer, and sysops associate certificates. Only to realize at his first job interview that it was not enough. He could not answer most of their questions. It was pretty embarrassing and deflating. But, this did not stop him. In the podcast, he explains what he did to fix the problem. (17.00) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Building his own business and creating his first few courses, which enabled him to start helping people to change their life. (18.23) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The fact that there is always something new means it is always possible to change direction, which enables you to find your purpose. You can create whatever you want in the IT industry, there are no limits. (21.00) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The opportunity to change my life. What’s the best career advice you received? – Learn it, Lab it, Cert it. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Just getting certifications is not enough to get you an IT job. They are just the start; experience matters far more. What would you do if you started your career now? – Create content and share what you are learning from the very start. It is critical to building your brand. What are your current career objectives? – Building out his cloud coaching business and help at least a 1000 people take things to the next level. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – His ability to connect with people and being able to create content that helps others. How do you keep your own career energized? – Broadus is a continual learner. It keeps things fresh and gives him new material to create courses about. What do you do away from technology? – Broadus enjoys spending time with his family creating new memories and making sure they know they are important to him. (30.11) FINAL CAREER TIP Stick to your plan. Too many people jump from one thing to another. If you do that, you cannot capitalize on what you are learning and move forward. BEST MOMENTS (11.21) – Broadus - “Success loves speed. When you see an opportunity to push yourself and accelerate your learning so you can take advantage of it.” (12.27) – Broadus - “When new technology comes out if you think it will be hot, learn it immediately. Get ahead of the curve.” (16.14) – Broadus - “Learn to look at the problem from an aerial view. It is a skill that will make you a valuable asset regardless of your role.” (16.20) – Broadus - “Get out of your silo and look at the whole picture to understand exactly what a company is doing.” (22.17) – Broadus - “Learn it, Lab it, Cert it.” (25.27) – Broadus - “Create content, share and help others, to build a community and your brand fast.” (30.16) – Broadus - “Stick to your plan. If you keep jumping around you will just be confused and not get anywhere.” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey. CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer ABOUT THE GUEST – BROADUS PALMER Broadus Palmer s a Google Cloud Training Architect and Cloud Career Coach. He is focused on helping individuals who are strongly committed to changing their lives by advancing or transitioning careers in the cloud industry. Broadus is an in-demand coach, specializing in hands-on coaching with the industry’s hottest tools and skills along with motivation aimed at changing your mindset. CONTACT THE GUEST – BROADUS PALMER Broadus Palmer can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/BPalmerLA LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/levelupwithbroadus Website: https://www.levelupwithbroadus.com/

Jul 20, 2020 • 48min

259: What IT Professionals And Bridge Builders Should Have In Common with Tom Gilb

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Tom Gilb, the author of ten books and hundreds of papers on requirements, design, project management and related subjects. His ideas on requirements are the acknowledged basis for CMMi Level 4, which were based upon his pioneering book, ‘Software Metrics’, where he also coined that term. Tom has lectured at universities across the globe, and has been a keynote speaker at multiple technical conferences. In 2012, he was named an Honorary Fellow of the British Computer Society. Tom joins Phil today to discuss his extensive business journey, his outlook upon the analytical approach to solving problems, and why the future of IT may lie in adopting an engineering approach. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4:08) TOP CAREER TIP Always try to volunteer to help people who may be facing a challenge. Gain permission to help, make friends and learn along the way. Even if you aren’t always successful, you will mark yourself out as a useful colleague. (9:08) WORST CAREER MOMENT Tom tends not to think of his career in best or worst terms, but there have been scary moments. The most memorable involved his being asked to solve a complex problem by Israeli rocket scientists. Tom succeeded, despite his reservations, and was rewarded by having his computer confiscated! (14:15) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Working in India, Tom was able to convince the workers there to increase the quality of their workmanship instead of selling themselves as the cheapest. Soon all the workers were accredited, and competing on a global scale, which in turn changed the face of IT services in India, which became a leading force. (19:20) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T We need to do better in terms of failure rates when it comes to IT projects, which often leaves our clients disappointed. By adopting engineering principles, we can increase our agility and reduce the failure rate to rubble. It’ll take time, but it is incredibly exciting. (22:42) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Being a typical nerd, Tom was attracted to IT because of the technical challenges and opportunities. What’s the best career advice you received? – No matter where you are career-wise, study. Keep on educating and training yourself. What’s the worst career advice you received? – What would you do if you started your career now? – Invest in learning basic skills, hone them in practice, and be more open and alert to the prospect of radical change. What are your current career objectives? – To ensure that all the lessons learned during his long and varied career, can be taught and disseminated to the next generation. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Quantification – the ability to quantify any critical variable, and any other value. How do you keep your own career energized? – Always make sure you’re having fun and doing the things you love. What do you do away from technology? – Tom is an avid reader on all subjects, and tries to read around 35 books per year, as well as studying and absorbing history on television. (42:11) FINAL CAREER TIP Select the guiding books you read very carefully. There are far too many IT books out there, containing poor advice. You can filter out the not-so-helpful ones by looking for authors who use case studies and proven data that resulted in successful outcomes. BEST MOMENTS (4:44) – Tom- “I would use a combination of persistence and intelligence and creativity, and I would solve the problem that nobody else could solve” (7:58) – Tom - “Where others give up and say “It can’t be done”, say “Well that sounds like an interesting challenge”” (17:53) – Tom - “I was able, with simple observation, to participate in building up the whole Indian IT economy” (22:33) – Tom - “There are still this 95% of people who persist in treating a large IT system as though it’s a programming problem” (33:38) – Tom - “You need people and books to help ideas survive” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey. CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer ABOUT THE GUEST – TOM GILB Tom Gilb is the author of ten books, and a specialist in requirements, design and project management. He has acted as keynote speaker at technical conferences around the world, and in 2012, wwas named an Honorary Fellow of the British Computer Society. CONTACT THE GUEST – TOM GILB Tom Gilb can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/imtomgilb LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tomgilb Website: https://www.gilb.com

Jul 13, 2020 • 35min

258: Refocus Regularly to Stay Relevant and Shoot for the Top with Joe Carson

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Joe Carson. Joe is a cybersecurity professional with over 25 years’ experience in Enterprise Security & Infrastructure. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, an active member of the Cyber Security Community, and a frequent speaker at Cyber Security events around the world. He is currently the Chief Security Scientist at Thycotic. In this episode, Phil and Joe Carson discuss how to keep your skills fresh and relevant. Joe explains that it is not just about learning new languages. He shares how he uses physical experiences to help him to identify the right way to approach projects. Joe also identifies several areas of technology that are set to take off, in the near future. They also discuss how to get started in the cybersecurity field. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (5.38) TOP CAREER TIP Never stop learning. Being a continuous learner ensures you do this and keep moving. It is now normal to have to switch roles and tech every five years or so. Knowing when to let go of a technology you love and move onto other things is important. Joe explains how he works out what the trends are and stays ahead of the curve. As you will see from the podcast, that does not always mean learning a new programming language. (11.26) WORST CAREER MOMENT In 1999, Joe was working on the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service system, which is clearly a critical system. Naturally, around that time they were preparing for the year2K switchover. So, they had to take the system down completely and restart it from scratch. When they did, the screen was blank. A truly awful, heart-stopping moment. In the podcast, Joe shares the strange reason behind that situation. (15.39) CAREER HIGHLIGHT In the early days of TEDX, Joe was asked to speak. He enjoyed the experience. But the highlight came after he had given his speech and sat back down. At that point, he looked at the list of people were speaking with him and was blown away when he realized that he was in the company of people who had achieved amazing things. Olympians and quite literally rocket scientists. Until that moment, he had not really appreciated how far he had come and what he had achieved. (18.23) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Joe is excited by the pace of change. Provided we embrace things like AI, with responsibility, he believes that our lives will improve in unimaginable ways. The other thing that Joe talks about is the way in which humans interact with technology is changing. We will soon be using our brains rather than our fingers or voice to interface with all kinds of devices. So, right now the fascinating areas of data, cognitive, and neuroscience are especially hot. (22.59) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Joe´s love of gaming is what ultimately lead him to a career in IT. What’s the best career advice you received? – Don´t be a perfectionist. What’s the worst career advice you received? – You need to be prepared to relocate to be successful. What would you do if you started your career now? – Joe says he would not want to change much. What are your current career objectives? – Learning more about RFID, radio frequencies, and IoT. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – The ability to simplify things and explain complex things to practically anyone. How do you keep your own career energized? – Joe is always trying new things, which keeps his career energized. What do you do away from technology? – Joe enjoys photography, scuba diving, and travel. (30.27) FINAL CAREER TIP Shoot for the top. You do not necessarily have to take baby steps to get to your ultimate goal. Often, you can take a big leap and get there far faster than you think is possible. BEST MOMENTS (6.03) – Joe- “Keep moving forward and motivated. Embrace new ideas and never think it is too late to learn something fresh.” (8.11) – Joe- “When creating something new, fully understand what you are trying to achieve by studying how it has to work in the physical world.” (11.03) – Joe- “Dedicate blocks of time to something specific. This is the best way to deepen your understanding.” (22.01) – Joe- “How we interface with technology is going to change drastically. So, that is a big growth area.” (23.48) – Joe- “Don't try to be a perfectionist and don't be afraid to share and ask for advice.” (31.46) – Joe- “Bypass all those small steps. Focus on your big goal, and just go for it.” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey. CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer ABOUT THE GUEST – JOE CARSON Joe Carson is a cybersecurity professional with over 25 years’ experience in Enterprise Security & Infrastructure. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, an active member of the Cyber Security Community, and a frequent speaker at Cyber Security events around the world. He is currently the Chief Security Scientist at Thycotic. CONTACT THE GUEST – JOE CARSON Joe Carson can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/joe_carson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephcarson/ Website: https://www.thycotic.com/

Jul 6, 2020 • 57min

257: Consider Zigging Instead of Zagging and Set Clear Career Goals with Austin Belcak

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Austin Belcak. He teaches people how to land jobs they love in today’s market without traditional ‘experience’ and without applying online. His strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., Fast Company, and USA Today. His clients have landed job offers at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook to name but a few. In this episode, Phil and Austin Belcak discuss how to land an IT job with a major company even if you do not have traditional experience or qualifications. He explains how to establish a connection, build relationships, and leverage them. They talk about how to demonstrate to your target firm that you have something that they need. They also discuss how not to fall into the trap of simply following the crowd. As well as looking at how the CoVid crisis is changing the way everyone works and lives. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (29.32) TOP CAREER TIP If you see everybody else recommending something, take a step back and ask if that is truly the best way to do things. Ask yourself why people are doing it that way. Are they getting results? If not, in all likelihood you will be able to come up with a better approach. Often, being different is a good thing. It can help you to get noticed. (31.47) WORST CAREER MOMENT For Austin realizing that graduating from university was not enough to get him a decent job was a bad moment. He ended up in an awful job that paid poorly. Worse, he had a bad boss. Yet, even after applying for hundreds of jobs online, he could not get out of the situation. In the podcast, he explains, in quite some depth, how he managed to break this negative cycle and find success. (35.24) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Landing his current job with Microsoft is Austin´s career highlight. For him, it has been life changing. During this section, he explains why that has been the case and what steps he has taken to ensure that he gets the most out of being in that position. (39.04) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The emergence of more flexibility in the workplace is exciting. It opens up all kinds of opportunities. Working from home has many potential benefits for the planet as well as for individuals and companies. Austin and Phil also talk about how easy it now is to start something on your own. (42.14) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The fact that working online and in IT offers the best lifestyle. What’s the best career advice you received? – Only take advice from people who already have what you want. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Go through the traditional job application process. What would you do if you started your career now? – Austin would prioritize working on his storytelling and copywriting skills, so he could be a more effective communicator and marketer. What are your current career objectives? – Doing well at Microsoft and helping as many job seekers as possible. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Being a good copywriter, in particular, being able to write a persuasive resume or email. How do you keep your own career energized? – Austin works on projects and hobbies outside of his work life. What do you do away from technology? – Austin and his wife make their own hot source and are home brewers too. (50.00) FINAL CAREER TIP You need to be clear about what you want to do. It is important to choose one of the things you are interested in and focus on mastering that. Speak to other people who work in those fields and roles to help you to narrow down your options. Then try Austin’s 30-day pilot method, which he talks about in the podcast. BEST MOMENTS (3.40) – Austin - “Step outside of traditional boundaries, get creative, demonstrate what you can do and the value you have to offer.” (31.30) – Austin - “Consider zigging while everybody else is zagging. Often, it is a better way to get results.” (0.00) – Austin - “Identify people who are doing the things you want to do and follow them. They have not got to be far ahead of you.” (42.53) – Austin - “Only take advice from people who already have what you want.” (50.00) – Austin - “The first step in anything is getting clear about where you want to go. You need to focus on one thing at a time.” (52.43) – Austin - “Dip into something for 30 days. Take some courses, do a project. If you don´t like it, just move on.” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey. CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer ABOUT THE GUEST – AUSTIN BELCAK Austin Belcak teaches people how to land jobs they love in today’s market without traditional ‘experience’ and without applying online. His strategies have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., Fast Company, and USA Today. His clients have landed job offers at Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook to name but a few. CONTACT THE GUEST – AUSTIN BELCAK Austin Belcak can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/abelcak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abelcak/ Website: https://www.cultivatedculture.com/

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