IT Career Energizer

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Roberta Matuson. She has helped leaders in Fortune 500 companies, as well as small to medium-sized businesses, achieve dramatic growth and market leadership through the maximization of talent. Roberta is a leading authority on leadership and the skills and strategies required to earn employee commitment and client loyalty. She is also the author of several books including the recently released “Evergreen Talent”. In this episode, Phil and Roberta Matuson discuss the importance of building strong interpersonal and people management skills. They talk about why, instead of waiting until you have acquired every skill asked for in a job advert, you should just apply. Roberta also explains how the IT job market is changing and how job hunters can adapt and benefit from the changes. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.16) WORST CAREER MOMENT Losing a great job, mainly because she had failed to build a good relationship with her boss and other members of higher management. As a result, when the firm let people go, there was nobody there to advocate for her so she could keep her job. That experience taught her not to just focus on managing down. She now actively works on and cultivates her relationships with her bosses. (5.36) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Landing her first executive role and starting her consultancy firm have both been career highlights for Roberta. (7.42) TOP CAREER TIP Take courses to help you to improve your interpersonal skills and your ability to communicate with non-technical people. It is also a good idea to acquire the skillset to manage your relationship with your boss. These softer skills will help you in many different ways, during your career. (9.43) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T There are not enough talented people out there. As a result, job applicants are in the driver´s seat. Unfortunately, some employers have still not woken up to that fact. At the same time, the recruitment process is becoming increasingly automated. It is now all about eliminating candidates from the list rather than searching out and nurturing talent. Applicants need to be aware of and adapt to the new reality. (10.50) THE REVEAL What’s the best career advice you received? – Just go for it. Don´t wait until you tick every box. If you meet about 70% of the criteria apply anyway. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Don´t worry that you are underpaid, be happy with what you get. What would you do if you started your career now? – Roberta says she would probably follow the same path. What are your current career objectives? – Roberta is focusing on working exclusively as an executive coach and a trusted advisor. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Being able to quickly build strong relationships. Business is all about relationships. How do you keep your own career energized? – Roberta stays energized by learning new skills and constantly reinventing herself. What do you do away from technology? – Roberta likes to cook, play tennis, be outside and socialize with friends. (15.40) CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT? Roberta´s new book shows leaders how to seed, grow and cultivate their workforce. For the majority, hiring enough talented workers is difficult. So, they have to know how to make the most of their own talents and of the ones their employees have. The book provides employees with an insight into the way their managers' minds work. It is also an excellent resource for anyone who wants to take on a management role. (17.59) FINAL CAREER TIP If you see an opportunity, don´t be afraid, just go for it. You won´t get a second chance.   BEST MOMENTS (4.00) – Roberta - “You always have to be learning, reinventing yourself and staying current.” (4.41) – Roberta - “Learn to manage your relationship with your boss. If you don´t, when redundancies happen you will get laid-off.” (11.44) – Roberta - “If you´ve got 70% of what´s on the job posting, apply. The worst that can happen is that they say no.” (14.28) – Roberta - “Learn to quickly build strong relationships. After all, business is all about relationships.” (18.00) – Roberta - “When you see an opportunity, don´t be afraid, go for it. You won´t get a second chance.”   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 – ROBERTA MATUSON Roberta Matuson has helped leaders in Fortune 500 companies, as well as small to medium-sized businesses, achieve dramatic growth and market leadership through the maximization of talent. Roberta is a leading authority on leadership and the skills and strategies required to earn employee commitment and client loyalty. She is also the author of several books including the recently released “Evergreen Talent”. CONTACT THE GUEST – ROBERTA MATUSON Roberta Matuson can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/matuson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-matuson/ Website: https://matusonconsulting.com/

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Steve Kahan. He has a distinguished career. Steve has helped to grow seven startup companies from early-stage development to going public or being sold, resulting in a total value of more than $3 billion. He is currently Chief Marketing Officer for Thycotic, a cybersecurity company, which he has helped take from $10 million to over $60 million in its first three years. And late last year his book “Be A Startup Superstar: Ignite Your Career Working at a Tech Startup” was published by Wiley. In this episode, Phil and Steve Kahan discuss the benefits of working for a startup, how to pick one with a winning product and quickly track down the best jobs within the sector. They also cover how to give yourself the best chance of landing the job you want. Then what you need to do to progress quickly and take full advantage of the chance to grow your skillset.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.06) CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST STARTUP EXPERIENCE? Steve started by looking for startup companies in his area. He took a job with a company that was working to change the way applications were being developed.   On his first day, he noticed someone taking the coffee machine away. It turned out the company could not afford to pay the bill. But, with hard work, they turned things around and the business went public.   (4.54) WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND WORKING FOR A TECH START-UP OVER A LARGE CORPORATION? Startups are usually run by mavericks. People who want to do something different and are highly driven. They don’t let bureaucracy stop them. Startups move fast and change the world. Someone who can deliver will quickly progress within that environment.   Steve also explains why some large corporations now try to create a startup-like environment within some of their departments.   (10.05) HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT FINDING THE BEST STARTUP OPPORTUNITIES? In the podcast, Steve uncovers a source of startup jobs that many IT professionals don´t know about.   (13.15) WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR WHEN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO JOIN A TECH STARTUP? When it comes to narrowing down his options he starts by looking for firms with quality people, who share his values. It is the people who reflect the true culture of a startup, which is why, during a job hunt, he starts from that point.   Next on his list is the concept and product. In the podcast, he explains how to spot a winner.   (17.26) WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO GIVE YOURSELF THE BEST CHANCE OF JOINING A STARTUP? At this point, Steve shares a list of questions you should be asking. Questions that demonstrate that you are the right person for the job as well as uncover what you need to know about the startup. He also recommends engaging with the starters online and via social media.   (19.20) CAN YOU SHARE A CAREER TIP THAT WOULD HELP SOMEONE BE SUCCESSFUL AT A STARTUP AND PROGRESS THEIR CAREER? Learn to protect your calendar, so you can achieve work-life harmony. If you have not scheduled time to do things you and your family enjoy, there is something wrong. Without that, you cannot do your best work.   (22.15) THE REVEAL What’s the best career advice you received? – Before accepting a new job make sure you ask enough questions to establish whether you will be truly happy in the role. What’s the worst career advice you´ve ever received? – Don´t acknowledge the elephant in the room. In the podcast, Steve explains why he ignores this advice. If you were to begin your career again in today’s world, what would you do? –  Steve would immediately start work in the start-up world. What’s the number one non-technical skill that has helped you in your career so far? – Communication. In the podcast, Steve explains how being a good communicator goes beyond just being a good listener and speaker. How do you keep your own career energized? – By being a constant learner. Steve is always looking for something new to learn. Things that enable him to deliver something extra. What do you do away from the world of tech startups? – Steve enjoys paddle boarding and learning the guitar. He has also recently started taking Cessna pilot lessons.   (36.55) STEVE, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A FINAL STORY ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE ON THE INSIDE OF A HIGH-FLYING STARTUP, AND WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL? In this section, Steve shares a story about a site security firm he worked for. He explains how they overcame what appeared to be an insurmountable problem and were able to do so at lightning speed. Something that enabled them to beat their competitors.   (39.04) CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BOOK “BE A STARTUP SUPERSTAR”? Steve´s book is all about attitudes, behaviors, and actions you need to take to be a success while working at a startup to be able to take your career to the next level.   (39.36) WHERE CAN LISTENERS GET A COPY OF THE BOOK? The book can be bought from most online book retailers or from startupsuperstar.com   BEST MOMENTS (6.46) – Steve - “When you work for startups, there's a better chance of moving up quickly, provided you deliver.” (10.30) – Steve - “When looking for a startup to work for, use the websites of technology accelerators to find jobs.” (11.25) – Steve - “Engaging with the leaders of a startup online is a great way to improve your chances of landing a role.” (22..17) – Steve - “During a job interview don´t stop asking questions before you have all of the information you need.” (28.47) – Steve - “Working for start-ups, quickly broadens your skillset. Plus, potentially, your stock options can make you a lot of money.”     ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations 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 – STEVE KAHAN Steve Kahan has a distinguished career. Steve has helped to grow seven startup companies from early-stage development to going public or being sold, resulting in a total value of more than $3 billion.   He is currently Chief Marketing Officer for Thycotic, a cybersecurity company, which he has helped take from $10 million to over $60 million in its first three years.   And late last year his book “Be A Startup Superstar: Ignite Your Career Working at a Tech Startup” was published by Wiley.   CONTACT THE GUEST – STEVE KAHAN Steve Kahan can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevekahan1 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stevekahan Website: https://beastartupsuperstar.com/

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Siddick Elaheebocus. Siddick has worked in the IT industry for 18 years.  He is currently a Director and Technology Strategist for an IT services company based in the French Pacific providing vendor-agnostic digital advisory, professional services and training. Siddick is also a Chartered IT Professional, a long-standing Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), a technology conference speaker and a mentor. He is also a former Microsoft TechIdol winner In this episode, Phil and Siddick Elaheebocus discuss how continuous self-development provides security and opens up exciting possibilities. In the podcast, Siddick goes over numerous ways you can do all of this efficiently. They discuss why having a purely technical skillset is no longer sufficient for IT professionals. As well as why failure is not a negative thing. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (6.37) TOP CAREER TIP Invest in yourself continually. Things change fast you never know when your role will change drastically or disappear, and you need to find a new one. Growing your knowledge, skills, and networking will ensure you are ready for the move. You also need to work on your soft skills and personality. (9.43) WORST CAREER MOMENT When Siddick took on his first management role he had to learn on the job. The firm he worked for did not provide any formal people management training. Unfortunately, he made a mistake. One that started to impact his professional image negatively. He could not fully fix the issue, so ended up leaving a job he loved. This experience prompted him to learn people skills. Something that Siddick found has helped his career immeasurably. (13.39) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Being involved in the launch of the first public cloud in Tahiti is Siddick´s biggest career highlight. There were a lot of challenges, but they succeeded and provided an affordable cloud service. Microsoft uses it as an example and other island nations are replicating it. (16.33) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Siddick is excited by the fact that we are on the edge of the next big tech revolution. The availability of cognitive and artificial intelligence, big data and augmented reality will all lead to huge changes. This is likely to transform the role of most IT professionals. They will still need their technical skills but will also play a far greater role in driving change through innovation. It is no longer sufficient to have only technical skills; you need an understanding of business too. (19.13) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?– When people started to ask Siddick to repair their hardware he became curious about how PC worked which started his IT career. What’s the best career advice you received?– Siddick´s dad told him - work isn´t life. What’s the worst career advice you received?– There´s no room for failure. Siddick believes no failure means you are not trying anything new. What would you do if you started your career now?– Siddick would start by working in the cloud, AI or cybersecurity fields. What are your current career objectives? – Building some specialized skills in data center and cloud tech and building a stronger tech community, in his area. What’s your number one non-technical skill?– Active listening. In the podcast, Siddick shares several examples of how that has helped his career. How do you keep your own career energized?– Learning from his customers and business partners and working to understand emerging technologies. What do you do away from technology? – He loves to travel and spending time enjoying the beautiful island he lives on. (26.00) FINAL CAREER TIP If you want to excel in your profession, become passionate about what you do. You will naturally become good at what you do and be inspired to carry on learning and contributing.   BEST MOMENTS (6.37) – Siddick- “Invest in yourself continuously. Today, your role is important, tomorrow you might be redundant.”  (17.13) – Siddick- “The shift in the technology landscape means IT professionals have to become innovation agents.” (19.17) – Siddick- “You need a combined knowledge of IT and business to be a real asset for companies.” (20.43) – Siddick- “When you have work-life harmony, you are happy. In time, this happiness translates into better productivity.” (23.33) – Siddick- “It's amazing how much you can learn simply by shutting your mouth and opening your ears.” (0.00) – Siddick- “If you want to excel at what you do, become passionate about your work to fuel your career.”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations 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.comand 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 – SIDDICK ELAHEEBOCUS Siddick Elaheebocus has worked in the IT industry for 18 years.  He is currently a Director and Technology Strategist for an IT services company based in the French Pacific providing vendor-agnostic digital advisory, professional services and training. Siddick is also a Chartered IT Professional, a long-standing Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), a technology conference speaker and a mentor. As well as a former Microsoft TechIdol winner   CONTACT THE GUEST – SIDDICK ELAHEEBOCUS Siddick Elaheebocus can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI-ssqhQd-wIIm3t49zE_w LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddick-elaheebocus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siddicke

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Derick Rethans. Derick is a PHP internals expert and author of Xdebug.  He works as an independent contractor and consultant on PHP extensions and related projects. Derick has contributed to the PHP project in numerous forms and is the host of the PHP Internals News podcast as well as being a frequent speaker at conferences. In this episode, Phil and Derick Rethans discuss why asking for help is a strength rather than a weakness. Derick shares how he counters his introvert tendencies so that he can fill in his knowledge gaps and help others. They also talk about how to take on challenging roles and build new skills, while still maintaining the right work/life balance. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.18) TOP CAREER TIP Asking for help should be a skill that you use liberally. Doing so saves you a huge amount of time and hassle. Often, it is a mutually beneficial experience. They answer your questions and, often, will ask you a few of their own. We should all be leveraging off each other´s knowledge base. (4.47) WORST CAREER MOMENT At the start of his career, Derick was asked to fix an SEO Unix machine. He knew a bit about Linux and Unix II, but the machine he was working on used an older version. One he was not familiar with. As requested, he attempted the fix. A decision that nearly led to disaster. He explains what happened, in the podcast. From this experience, he learned not to assume you know things about technologies you have never touched before. Things are not always as similar as you might think. (7.10) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Being approached by people at conferences who say to him “It is nice to meet you; I like what you did on x project…” feels particularly good. Although, at first, it felt very weird to him. (8.23) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Derick finds the pace of change and the fact that there is always something new to learn to be exciting. For example, he has only recently started to learn new languages. He has also had a lot of fun playing a game that teaches you how to build a computer from scratch. Something he tells you about in the podcast. (10.39) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?– Derick´s interest in the industry was sparked by the fact that, as a kid, he was allowed to play around with a computer. What’s the best career advice you received?– You need to take the leap. What’s the worst career advice you received?– You have to work 80 hours a week to be successful. This is not a sustainable way of working. What would you do if you started your career now?– He would focus on his language skills so that he could better communicate with others right from the start. What are your current career objectives? – Derick wants to start hiring this year, so he is focusing on building the skills he needs to do that effectively. What’s your number one non-technical skill?– Being able to put himself out there by writing books, public speaking, and blogging. How do you keep your own career energized?– Pushing himself to have contact with other people keeps him energized. He explains why in the podcast. What do you do away from technology? – Derick loves walking. He walks everywhere, even if it takes a couple of hours to get there. (16.44) FINAL CAREER TIP With the help of others, actively work to teach yourself the things you are not good at. Even if you are very shy you should still push yourself to do this. Derick is naturally quite introverted. But he forces himself to talk to random people, especially at events. Doing so makes it easier to fill in the gaps in his knowledge. BEST MOMENTS (3.17) – Derick- “Asking for help should be a skill that you use liberally. Often, it is a mutually beneficial experience.” (6.52) – Derick- “Don't assume that you know things on stuff that you've never touched before. It is too easy for things to go wrong.” (11.26) – Derick- “Don´t be afraid to take the leap. Most of the time it will pay off.” (15.42) – Derick- “Don´t keep doing the same thing for years. Instead, learn about how others are utilizing that tech.” (17.09) – Derick- “With the help of others, teach yourself the things you're not great at.” (17.29) – Phil- “Standing in the middle of the room, at conferences, draws others to you. So, you can learn from more people.” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations 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.comand 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 – DERICK RETHANS Derick Rethans is a PHP internals expert and author of Xdebug.  He works as an independent contractor and consultant on PHP extensions and related projects. Derick has contributed to the PHP project in numerous forms and is the host of the PHP Internals News podcast as well as being a frequent speaker at conferences.   CONTACT THE GUEST – DERICK RETHANS Derick Rethans can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/derickr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derickrethans/ Website: https://derickrethans.nl Podcast: https://phpinternals.news

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Stephen Woolston.  Stephen is a program and service delivery consultant with an extensive background in IT infrastructure.  He holds a first-class computer science degree from Nottingham University and started his career working on mainframe systems at Norwich Union. He is also a professional coach, helping people to become happier and more successful in what they do. In this episode, Phil and Stephen Woolston discuss how to quickly adapt your approach to problem-solving, in an ever-changing landscape, by using radical adaptability and positive direction-finding. How to quickly adapt to new environments, find and fix more problems effectively. As well as the importance of having confidence in your abilities. KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.04) TOP CAREER TIP Develop radical adaptability and a positive direction finder. You need to have the ability to drop into any commercial environment and quickly figure out what is happening and how to move things in the right direction. During the podcast, Stephen explains, what he means by radical adaptability and positive direction-finding. As well as how you can develop those skills. (5.23) WORST CAREER MOMENT Stephen was once an operational planner, responsible for the governance of approving renewal costs. When he started, he was handed a cost schedule that he assumed covered everything. Unfortunately, a big expense had been left off that schedule. From this experience, Stephen learned it is not enough to simply check your work. You also need to be on the lookout for mistakes that have slipped through the net. The experience taught him that no colleague can produce flawless work every time. (9.46) CAREER HIGHLIGHT For Stephen, the highlight of his career was taking a leading role in Norwich Union´s Unix systems management. At the time, Unix was in its infancy. So, Stephen had to develop backup, recovery, monitoring and alert systems because they were not really available elsewhere. (12.56) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The fact that there are always new problems to solve is exciting. But it is also a huge challenge. You have to constantly be learning new things to keep up. Something that will also be the case in the future. (15.12) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?– As a child, Stephen liked sci-fi, so a career in IT was a natural choice. What’s the best career advice you received?– Every day you are creating your career. Things are constantly changing so you need to regularly review the direction you are going in. What’s the worst career advice you received?– Get into one big, rich and powerful company and stay there. What would you do if you started your career now?– Stephen would network more and do so from the very start. What’s your number one non-technical skill?– Communication skills, if yours are good you can work anywhere on any project you want. How do you keep your own career energized?– By seeking opportunities to work in new environments. What do you do away from technology? – To relax, Stephen listens to movie soundtrack music and spends a lot of his downtime coaching others. (19.40) FINAL CAREER TIP Have confidence in your abilities, don´t worry that you don´t know everything. Nobody understands a technology or subject completely. Tech moves too fast for that to be possible. No firm is running perfect systems. There is no shortage of things to fix or update, so you will always be able to contribute something important. BEST MOMENTS (3.26) – Stephen- “You cannot fit the client's problem to your solution, you have to fit your solution to the client's problem.” (7.03) – Stephen- “If there is an error somewhere, find it before it finds you.” (12.44) – Stephen- “With every evolution, we solve old problems, and we create new ones. They're the ones we need to focus on.” (14.14) – Stephen- “Develop adaptability and positive direction-finding skills to meet the new challenges in IT.” (17.36) – Stephen- “Good communication skills enable you to solve many more problems and work with far more people.” (20.17) – Stephen- “Have confidence in your abilities. Don´t worry that you might not know everything about everything.”  ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations 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.comand 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 – STEPHEN WOOLSTON Stephen Woolston is a program and service delivery consultant with an extensive background in IT infrastructure. He holds a first-class computer science degree from Nottingham University and started his career working on mainframe systems at Norwich Union. He is also a professional coach, helping people to become happier and more successful in what they do. CONTACT THE GUEST – STEPHEN WOOLSTON Stephen Woolston can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/woolers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenwoolston/ Website: https://theswcoaching.com

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Aslam Khan. He has more than 20 years of experience in software design and architecture, leveraging his background in Electronic Engineering. He is a regular speaker at local and international conferences on software development and agile methodologies as well as the author of Grokking Functional Programming. He says that he is convinced that software development is hard, very hard. In this episode, Phil and Aslam Khan discuss how to better understand the problems you are trying to solve for your clients so that you produce better solutions and designs. As well as why everyone needs to be prepared to take the lead sometimes. They also discuss how the IT industry is evolving into a more diverse and accessible one.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.24) TOP CAREER TIP Don´t change jobs simply to earn more money. It is far better to do so to learn something new. Aslam has always sought out people who can teach him something and it has greatly benefitted him to do so.   (5.07) WORST CAREER MOMENT Not long after apartheid had ended, Aslam found himself leading a team of about 40 people from different ethnic, tribal and socio-economic backgrounds. The old wounds were still raw, and the team quickly divided. It got so bad that people were accusing each other of being racist, sexist and white supremacies. Aslam was young and overwhelmed by the situation. Sadly, the project failed. But he learned many lessons and started to speak publicly about what he learned from the experience. First in Europe, later in South Africa.   (9.24) CAREER HIGHLIGHT For Aslam, the highlight of his career was realising that he is good at explaining complex concepts to other software developers. It took him a long time to understand that he had that talent. When he did, it led to his being able to help a lot of other developers.   (11.54) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The industry relies on people innovating. It is OK to get it wrong sometimes. You are bound to when pushing the boundaries. Information Technology is an incredibly accommodating career path and will continue to be so, in the future.   (15.15) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – All of Aslam´s family were doctors and pharmacists. He didn´t want to get involved in the medical industry, so he chose IT instead. What’s the best career advice you received? – The compiler does not care if you are macho or not. In the podcast, Aslam explains why this curious piece of advice proved so helpful to him. What’s the worst career advice you received? – He was once persuaded to stay in a job he hated because it paid well. What would you do if you started your career now? – Aslam would work and study at the same time. He feels this approach would have helped him immensely. What are your current career objectives? – Aslam is currently working on becoming a better leader. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Being self-aware and accepting critical feedback. How do you keep your own career energized? – Aslam seeks out problems that challenge him and finds people to help him to solve them. What do you do away from technology? – Aslam reads widely and occasionally watches movies to switch off.   (20.45) FINAL CAREER TIP At some point, you will be asked to lead others. Don´t resist it, step up instead. When you know more or have a certain skill people will turn to you. We all have something unique to offer, so at some point, everyone ends up taking the lead.   BEST MOMENTS (4.22) – Aslam- “Don't change jobs for money change jobs to learn.” (11.31) – Aslam- “Becoming a public speaker is an inexpensive way to connect with others, share ideas and get feedback.” (16.29) – Aslam- “What really matters is how you share your code with other people.” (21.50) – Aslam- “You're not going to like it, but you will end up being a leader, so lean into it.”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations 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 – ASLAM KHAN Aslam Khan has more than 20 years of experience in software design and architecture, leveraging his background in Electronic Engineering. He is a regular speaker at local and international conferences on software development and agile methodologies as well as the author of Grokking Functional Programming. He says that he is convinced that software development is hard, very hard.   CONTACT THE GUEST – ASLAM KHAN Aslam Khan can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/aslamkhn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aslamkhn/ Website: https://foldleft.com/

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Kevin Kline. He is the Principal Program Manager at Sentry One, a leading provider of award-winning tools for database management and monitoring. Kevin is a founding board member and former president of the international Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS). He frequently contributes to database technology magazines, websites, and discussion forums. Kevin is also an author or co-author of several books including SQL In A Nutshell, published by O’Reilly Media which is now in its third edition. In this episode, Phil and Kevin Kline discuss how seeking out ways to actively practice your skills pays dividends. They talk about why soft skills really matter for IT professionals and how to develop them. Kevin shares his insights into the future of the IT industry. Including how automation and big data will greatly benefit everyone. Show notes for this episode can be found at https://itcareerenergizer.com/e241

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Madison Kanna. She is a software developer working at Keeper Security.  Madison is also the host of the CodeBookClub, an online community with live online meetups for beginners and intermediate developers.  She blogs about JavaScript and teaching yourself how to code without attending a Bootcamp.    In this episode, Phil and Madison Kanna discuss how someone who is new to the industry can map out what they will learn and in what order. Madison explains how to motivate and organize yourself to acquire the knowledge you need.     KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.22) TOP CAREER TIP If you are a new developer, create a curriculum for yourself. Try to map out what you will learn. Knowing, in advance, what step you are going to take next will help you to keep momentum, so your career does not end up stalling before it has really got started.   (5.41) WORST CAREER MOMENT Early in her career, Madison just did not enjoy her work. The firm she worked for did not believe in mentoring or collaborative working. So, she had to basically teach herself at night and during the weekends.   It was a tough time for her. But it taught her that sometimes you just have to be your own mentor. It also made her realize that you need to recognize when something is not right for you and not be afraid to move on.   (8.05) CAREER HIGHLIGHT For Madison, joining Keeper Security has been a career highlight. Working in a truly collaborative environment has helped her to grow her skillset far faster.   Releasing her free JavaScript course, a couple of years ago, was another highlight. It played a big role in enabling her to figure out what she did and didn´t understand. Pushing her to learn more about JavaScript and do so in a structured way.   (9.05) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Madison is excited by the current developments surrounding JavaScript. It still has a lot to offer and sites like Egghead.io are making it far easier for people to keep up with the changes.   (10.05) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Madison took a coding tutorial and was hooked immediately. What’s the best career advice you received? – You don´t have to be the smartest person on the team. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Learn at least two more languages at the same time as learning JavaScript. What would you do if you started your career now? – Draw up a roadmap to ensure that she was on the right track from the very start and wasted no energy wondering what to do next. What are your current career objectives? – Madison wants to learn more about JavaScript, React and cryptography. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Being an effective learner. How do you keep your own career energized? – Running the CodeBookClub. What do you do away from technology? – Madison loves to work out and spending time with her family. She also reads a lot.   (13.07) FINAL CAREER TIP Figure out what you are curious about and learn about that. Don`t just stick to learning the things you need for your job and the sector you work in. Learning about unrelated things that you are curious about will take you to new places and enable you to acquire fresh skills.   BEST MOMENTS (4.04) – Madison - “If you want to become a developer, create a plan for what you'll learn and when you'll learn and which courses you'll take.” (7.13) – Madison - “Sometimes, to prevent your career from stalling, you will have to be your own mentor.” (10.50) – Madison - “Surround yourself with people who know more than you, it is the fastest way to learn.” (13.05) – Madison - “Figure out what you are curious about and learn about that.”   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 – MADISON KANNA Madison Kanna is a software developer working at Keeper Security.  Madison is also the host of the CodeBookClub, an online community with live online meetups for beginners and intermediate developers.  She blogs about JavaScript and teaching yourself how to code without attending a Bootcamp.   CONTACT THE GUEST – MADISON KANNA Madison Kanna can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Madisonkanna LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-kanna/ Website: https://madisonkanna.com/  

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Anna Murray. She is a nationally recognized technology consultant, speaker, and blogger as well as the owner of a successful software development company.  She founded one of the earliest web-development firms, emedia, in 1996 and is a double recipient of the Stevie Award for Women in Business.   She also serves as the President of the Board of the International Women’s Writing Guild.   In this episode, Phil and Anna Murray discuss the fact that there are a lot of roles within the industry that do not require you to have an engineering background or degree. They speak about practical ways to progress your career on a daily basis.   Anna also explains why she has focused on what she wants to get out of her working life, rather than chasing after a specific job title.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (3.41) TOP CAREER TIP You need a day-to-day to-do list. But it is very important to have a second one, a career to-do list. Things that you need to do to move your career forward. For example, writing a book, completing a specific training program or landing a certain role.   Don´t let your daily to-do list drown out what needs to be done to progress your career. In the podcast, Anna shares several practical ways to do this.   (6.58) WORST CAREER MOMENT Very early in her career, at a young age, Anna was in charge of a massive project. But she missed something important. An error which cost about $250,000. She was horrified and paralyzed by shame and fear.   But, luckily, she had a wise and understanding mentor to help her through. The experience taught her that she, nor anyone else, could be perfect. When there are issues, you need to fix the problem rather than fixing the blame.   (9.39) CAREER HIGHLIGHT Having her book, The Complete Software Project Manager, published was a big career highlight for Anna. In particular when, a few years later, she met someone who told her it was so good that he keeps it on his nightstand and refers to it regularly.   (11.14) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The fact that when you work in IT you are always moving the world forward is exciting. IT is an industry that has always had a big impact on the world and that is going to continue.   (13.21) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Anna´s journalism major entailed working with technology, as a result of which she was drawn into the IT industry. What’s the best career advice you received? – Anna´s dad once told her to focus on getting the job. But, at the same time, not to be afraid to turn it down. In the podcast, Anna and Phil discuss why this is good advice. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Always speak up and get your voice heard at meetings. You need to be careful not to speak just for the sake of it. What would you do if you started your career now? – Anna would probably focus on big data. What are your current career objectives? – Anna is trying to find the time to write more. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Being able to explain something that is very technical and complex in a way that anyone can understand. How do you keep your own career energized? – Taking enough time out to relax and stimulate her mind in other ways enables Anna to stay fresh, energized and think about things in new ways. What do you do away from technology? – Anna enjoys horse riding, as well as spending time with her puppy and her family. She also travels and goes to the theatre a lot.   (21.58) FINAL CAREER TIP Stop thinking so much about what position or role you want to attain. Instead, focus on what you want to get out of your work.   BEST MOMENTS (4.04) – Anna - “Don´t let your daily to-do list drown out the tasks that need to be done to progress your career” (14.13) – Anna - “Get the job then turn it down. Doing this gives you the opportunity to interview and find out more about what is out there.” (17.07) – Anna - “Don´t be afraid to speak up. But, learn to read your audience and deploy information effectively.” (20.18) – Anna - “Understand the decision that your client has to make. This will enable you to come up with better solutions.” (21.11) – Anna - “Somehow getting away from the thing you are working on for a while pours positive energy back into it.” (23.35) – Anna - “Think more about what you are looking for from your work, as opposed to focusing on attaining a certain position.”   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 – ANNA MURRAY Anna Murray is a nationally recognized technology consultant, speaker, and blogger as well as the owner of a successful software development company.  She founded one of the earliest web-development firms, emedia, in 1996 and is a double recipient of the Stevie Award for Women in Business.   She also serves as the President of the Board of the International Women’s Writing Guild.   CONTACT THE GUEST – ANNA MURRAY Anna Murray can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/apmurray123  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-murray-a04255/ Website: https://emediaweb.com Book: The Complete Software Project Manager  

Phil’s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Mandy Michael. She is a community organizer, speaker, writer, and developer.  Mandy is currently working as a Development Manager at Seven West Media in Western Australia.  Her passion is front end technology and she’s a strong advocate for women in technology, volunteering at events such as She Codes and Muse JS.   She is also Founder and Organiser of Fenders, a local meetup for Front End Developers, co-organizer and director of MixinConf and was named as one of the Top 20 Women in Tech in Western Australia in its inaugural year.    In this episode, Phil and Mandy Michael discuss why it is worth taking the time to learn how to use organizational tools effectively. They talk about the best way to challenge decisions others make that affect you.   Mandy also talks a little about variable fonts, how they can be created and what you can achieve by using them. She explains how public speaking and becoming more empathetic have both helped her career.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: (4.12) TOP CAREER TIP Be organized. Mandy is not a naturally organized person, but she has found that making extensive use of tools like Asana has made a huge difference to how much she can get done. This has made it easier for her to take full advantage of the opportunities that have come her way.   (6.47) WORST CAREER MOMENT A while ago Mandy switched from working exclusively on development and moved to also working on the front end. But a new boss insisted that she choose between the two. Mandy now regrets not challenging their decision, instead of just going along with things.   If you feel strongly about something, it is wise to trust your instincts and speak up. In the podcast, Mandy explains why this is good for your team as well as for you personally.   (11.03) CAREER HIGHLIGHT The amazing reception the variable font she made and uploaded to CodePen got is Mandy´s current career highlight. When she created it, she did not really realize that nobody had used variable fonts in that way before. Coming up with something that had such a big impact felt great. Since then, quite a few big companies, for example, Google and Microsoft have used and shared her work.   In the podcast, Mandy tells the audience a bit more about variable fonts and what can be achieved using them.   (14.59) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The fact that the industry does not have to be limited by what has already been created is exciting. It means that everything is still possible. If you want to do things differently you just code it to prove that your concept works. Within the IT industry, there is plenty of time and space to invent and develop new things.   (17.09) THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Mandy first got interested in IT by building fan sites on GeoCities. What’s the best career advice you received? – Express your ideas and opinions and do it in a confident way. What’s the worst career advice you received? – If you are yourself, nobody will take you seriously. What would you do if you started your career now? – Mandy comments that if she had her time over again, she would have paid more attention during science and maths classes. What are your current career objectives? – Becoming a good public speaker and using that skill to make herself a better communicator in the workplace. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Being able to pick up on other people´s behaviors and feelings. How do you keep your own career energized? – Mandy finds that creating small demos and getting them out there via CodePen and CodeSandbox energizes her. What do you do away from technology? – Mandy enjoys spending time with her dog Jello, reading comic books and watching anime. She also likes making costumes and props for cosplay.   (22.03) FINAL CAREER TIP Make the most of the people around you. Mandy runs her own meetup group and volunteers at events. She finds that doing those things opens up more opportunities for her to be able to learn from others.   BEST MOMENTS (5.34) – Mandy - “Be organized. Planning ahead enables you to focus, avoid overcommitting and get more done.” (8.41) – Mandy - “If you feel really strongly about something, then you should trust your instincts and push for what you think is best for you.” (16.38) – Mandy - “Don´t hold yourself back by trying to replicate what has already been done. Instead, try to do things differently.” (17.30) – Mandy - “Express your ideas and opinions and do it confidently.”   ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations 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 – MANDY MICHAEL Mandy Michael is a community organizer, speaker, writer, and developer.  Mandy is currently working as a Development Manager at Seven West Media in Western Australia.  Her passion is front end technology and she’s a strong advocate for women in technology, volunteering at events such as She Codes and Muse JS.   She is also Founder and Organiser of Fenders, a local meetup for Front End Developers, co-organizer and director of MixinConf and was named as one of the Top 20 Women in Tech in Western Australia in its inaugural year.   CONTACT THE GUEST – MANDY MICHAEL Mandy Michael can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/mandy_kerr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandykerr/ Codepen: https://codepen.io/mandymichael/ Medium: https://medium.com/@mandy.michael