IT Career Energizer

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Don Jones, who has worked in the IT industry since the 1990s, and in that time has been everything from a software developer to a network engineer. He’s written dozens of IT books, and now focuses on helping technologists become the owners of their careers. Don discusses why you should never underestimate your value. He also talks about why we must be thoughtful about our careers, and guide them selfishly in order to create our own unique path in the world.   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   TOP CAREER TIP Never underestimate yourself, and do not under-sell yourself. Don’t let what you see influence your entire opinion about something.   WORST CAREER MOMENT Don projected his negative perspective onto an employer with which he was having difficulty. He left but found a worse experience. But it taught him not to run away from things, rather run towards better opportunities.   CAREER HIGHLIGHT Don has now found his ideal career position – a company that encourages growth and development at every turn.   THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Don is eternally excited by the sheer explosion of growth directions – the unlimited potential of fields within IT and how they can change the world at such pace.   THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Don has always been in love with science fiction, the future, and computers What’s the best career advice you received? – You don’t have to respond to every email! What’s the worst career advice you received? – That we must be very good at mathematics in order to work with computers. What would you do if you started your career now? – Don would focus heavily on software development at the beginning. What are your current career objectives? – Don is spending time looking down the ladder and seeing who might need a hand upwards. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Writing and written communication How do you keep your own career energized? – Don looks for opportunities, and problems that need to be solved. Don actively seeks solutions and to empower others to do the same. What do you do away from technology? – Don writes fiction novels.   FINAL CAREER TIP Be thoughtful. Your career is the one thing that will be with you for your entire life. Consider each direction carefully and make sure it serves you selfishly.   BEST MOMENTS (5:12) – Don - “If you know the life you want, you can start to plan a career that can take you in that direction” (3:53) – Don - “Own that career, make it your own, and make it give you what you want” (8:01) – Don – “Be careful about making decisions based on incomplete thinking or an incomplete perspective. Keep an open mind” (10:03) – Don – “Don’t run away from something. Run towards something”   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/_philburgess LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess 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 – DON JONES Don Jones has worked in the IT industry since the 1990s, and in that time has been everything from a software developer to a network engineer. He’s written dozens of IT books, and now focuses on helping technologists become the owners of their careers.   CONTACT THE GUEST – DON JONES Don Jones can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/concentrateddon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/concentrateddon/ Website: https://ampere.club Website: https://donjones.com

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Jana Axline, the CEO and Chief Project Officer of Project Genetics where she drives ideas from initiation to implementation, achieving successful outcomes for clients. She has strong skills and a passion for project management, coupled with years of leadership experience across a variety of industries.   She is also an international speaker as well as an active PMP, ACP, CSM and Scaled Agilist.   Jana talks about the importance of volunteering in order to energise your IT career. She also discusses the importance of recognizing our unique gifts, and recognizing who we are, so that we can better identify our prospective career paths.   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   TOP CAREER TIP Volunteering for tasks that fall within your skill-set, can often increase your chances of standing out, building relationships, and securing the trust of those who can help to accelerate your career goals.   WORST CAREER MOMENT After a cultural faux pas due to her non-exposure to diversity, Jana experienced a pivotal moment in her life, where she learned that not everyone is the same, and a little effort is required in order to be as inclusive as possible.   CAREER HIGHLIGHT Jana was promoted three times during her tenure in project management, which seemed to gel perfectly with Jana’s skills, and ignited her desire to do better.   THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Technology is fast-paced, and wonderful, because the skills we acquire across pursuits can be adapted and transferred into new fields.   THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Jana had a passion for project management, and found her path opening up to her naturally. What’s the best career advice you received? – Get yourself a mentor! What’s the worst career advice you received? – Jana was told that her career path was too varied, but they were all stepping stones to where she is now, and all helped to shape her. What would you do if you started your career now? – Jana would go through an internship, and more formal education – where relationships and networks can be built for life. What are your current career objectives? – Scaling Project Genetics in order to grow. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Problem solving abilities, which can expedite solutions and help others to understand. How do you keep your own career energized? – Constant learning and development What do you do away from technology? – Sailing and outdoor activities.   FINAL CAREER TIP Always understand exactly who you are, what you’re good at, and what the opportunities ahead are like for you. Only then can you gain a clear perspective on what your future looks like.   BEST MOMENTS   (7:56) – Jana - “Volunteering within your discipline can help you gain experience you may not gain in the workplace, as well as build relationships with people” (13:56) – Jana - “Learn about the company and the marketplace and how those things connect, so that you can be a catalyst to drive the market forward” (25:37) – Jana – “If you get involved in societies, then you build a network that can create value for the rest of your life” (28:43) – Jana – “It’s important to understand who you truly are” CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:   Twitter: https://twitter.com/_philburgess LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess 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 – JANA AXLINE Jana Axline is the CEO and Chief Project Officer of Project Genetics where she drives ideas from initiation to implementation, achieving successful outcomes for clients. She has strong skills and a passion for project management, coupled with years of leadership experience across a variety of industries. She is also an international speaker as well as an active PMP, ACP, CSM and Scaled Agilist.   CONTACT THE GUEST – JANA AXLINE Jana Axline can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AxlineSolutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janaaxline/ Website: https://projectgenetics.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz0Z2FUJsciMBXJBIy-mxsA  

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Patrick Lynott, the Head of UK Admissions & Placement at Boolean, a tech education company that teaches their students to be software engineers and then helps them to land their first job in tech. Patrick talks about why people should consider a career as a software engineer and how Boolean can help. He also discusses the positive ways in which investment is changing the shape of the tech sector in the UK, the best ways for aspiring engineers to begin their careers, and the best resources that can energise your own tech career plans.   KEY TAKEAWAYS: WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER BECOMING A SOFTWARE ENGINEER? Software engineering and coding provides a problem-solving approach and set of challenges that many with an analytical mind find appealing. The career prospects are incredible, and potential for diversity and growth is limitless.   WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN? Begin by building a mental map of the industry itself, We can best achieve this by hearing from people in the industry through YouTube, blogs, vlogs and other social media. Forming this map of the sector in your own mind will give you a far better idea of what kind of role you’d like to play in it.   WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET STARTED? Networking in places such as LinkedIn and Eventbrite are a great way to begin getting to know people and the kinds of skills that have helped them. Resources such as Codebar can help those at the start of their tech journey, and pairs you with people already in the industry, and allow you to solve problems together.   WHAT’S THE STATE OF THE TECH INDUSTRY IN THE UK (AND THE WORLD) RIGHT NOW? The tech industry is a boom town right now, and has proved resilient and robust, even through the pandemic. The UK right now is the third hottest area for investment in tech, behind only the US and China. Most investment is staying in the south of the country, and specifically London. This has led to a hiring frenzy in the sector.   HOW DOES A NEWBIE OR JUNIOR DEV GET HIRED? The first step is to combat any feelings of impostor syndrome and build confidence in the skills you’ve accumulated. Gathering effective feedback will help you to identify any potential parts that may need development in your skill set. The next step is correctly identify the terms being used when it comes to tech roles, and better select the career path you want.   WHAT IS BOOLEAN AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TRAINING PROVIDERS? Boolean is an online international tech academy that began in Italy three years ago, and which has partnered with 800+ companies on its hiring platform. It follows a “Six months course with six months career coaching” program of learning. Boolean prides itself on its one-to-one support, and the fact that it directs students in how to solve problems on their own.   HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN THROUGH YOUR COURSE, AND GONE ON TO SECURE JOBS? 1,300 students have been trained by Boolean. Last year alone Boolean had a 95% placement rate for students.   BEST MOMENTS (1:50) – Patrick - “The aim is to turn coding newbies into software developers” (9:17) – Patrick - “A question you should ask yourself is ‘As a developer at this company, what would my role be in helping a company to achieve its goals?’” (14:55) – Patrick – “Tech is genuinely a way in which we could level up” (18:38) – Patrick – “The tech community is so powerful, so strong. Not just for finding a job, but also for personal growth”   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/_PhilBurgess LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess 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 – PATRICK LYNOTT Patrick Lynott is the Head of UK Admissions & Placement at Boolean, a tech education company that teaches their students to be software engineers and then helps them to land their first job in tech.   CONTACT THE GUEST – PATRICK LYNOTT Patrick Lynott can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricklynott/ Website: https://boolean.co.uk/

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Slater Victoroff, who has been building AI, machine learning and deep learning solutions for the enterprise for the better part of the past decade having worked with everyone from the federal government to two-person startups to the Fortune 100. He has also educated hundreds of business users in the successful implementation of deep learning through a simple framework that helps executives rapidly accelerate the adoption of the technology in their businesses. Slater talks about the importance of effective communication, and how your skills as a storyteller can inspire and motivate others. He also discusses the importance of reflecting upon the “why” that drives us onwards.   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   TOP CAREER TIP Regardless of the field that you are in, so much of your ability to drive change will depend on the way you communicate and are able to create narratives that will inspire and lead others to go the distance.   WORST CAREER MOMENT Slater was a CEO, and while he did not underperform in the role, he found that his skill-set was not what the company deserved. Sometimes we need to recognize when we are not the right person for the job.   CAREER HIGHLIGHT Slater marks out the “feeling of togetherness” he experienced when bringing together a team, and the sense of high spirits and camaraderie that he helped to construct along with the team.   THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The idea of building shared spaces where non-technical subject matter experts can contribute to the technical solutions being developed – a broad church of skill-sets and backgrounds that combine to enrich the IT sector.   THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – When Slater realized that empires can be built through technological means. What’s the best career advice you received? – Slater has always found that the best way to advance his career is to not follow too much advice. What’s the worst career advice you received? – That control makes you successful. What would you do if you started your career now? – Slater would still tread the path he’s walked, as he believes his company has always been his calling. What are your current career objectives? – Growing Indico and helping their customers to be able to tell their own stories. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Acting and performance have helped Slater to deliver presentations more effectively. How do you keep your own career energized? – Talking to interesting people, and continuously improving his outlook, is the best way to keep the creative juices flowing. What do you do away from technology? – Martial arts, vegan baking, and reading science fiction..   FINAL CAREER TIP Don’t forget the “why” and focus on the foundational reasons behind what it is that you’re doing.   BEST MOMENTS (1:47) – Slater - “I never want to be doing something that I believe will get done without me” (4:52) – Slater - “So much of your ability to be effective and drive change in your organization is going to pegged to how well you can story-tell” (6:10) – Slater – “The further you go in an organization, the bigger the problems you’re solving” (18:26) – Slater – “So many of our limitations are self-imposed. You can do so much on a laptop!”   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/_PhilBurgess LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess 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 – SLATER VICTOROFF Slater Victoroff has been building AI, machine learning and deep learning solutions for the enterprise for the better part of the past decade having worked with everyone from the federal government to two-person startups to the Fortune 100. He has also educated hundreds of business users in the successful implementation of deep learning through a simple framework that helps executives rapidly accelerate the adoption of the technology in their businesses.   CONTACT THE GUEST – SLATER VICTOROFF Slater Victoroff can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/sl8rv LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slatervictoroff/ Website: https://indico.io/

In this week’s show, Phil talks to James Stanger, CompTIA’s Chief Technology Evangelist. James has consulted in cloud security, open source, and networking for organizations such as Northrop Grumman, Tesco, AWS, West Point, SoftBank, and Symantec. He has also developed education programs on a myriad of subjects, including security analytics, cloud administration, Linux, British Romantic literature and kayaking. In this episode James talks about the importance of interpersonal skills and why we should always remember that IT is a people business. He also discusses the value in developing your own network of people. KEY TAKEAWAYS: TOP CAREER TIP Always keep on top of your power skills, especially the ability to act effectively in an interpersonal way. Remember that IT is a people business, so we must show respect for others. WORST CAREER MOMENT Early in his working life, James realized that he had spent much of his time training and gaining qualifications, only to be stuck in a job that would not pay him accordingly. CAREER HIGHLIGHT James’s public speaking touched the mind and heart of an audience member who later approached him to tell him that the advice he had given had been life-changing. THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The incredibly rapid change that happens in IT. So long as we have the foundational skills, we can always adapt and pivot in the sector and find new opportunities. IT has also impacted the world in incredibly positive ways throughout the COVID experience. THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – James recognized the need to make technology do very interesting things for humanity. What’s the best career advice you received? – Always be curious. What’s the worst career advice you received? – Follow the money! What would you do if you started your career now? – James would have worked harder in learning the foundations of IT and tech. What are your current career objectives? – Understanding security elements and analytics, as well as project management and how to be more “agile”. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Developing empathy and working out where people are coming from. How do you keep your own career energized? – James likes to do deep dives into specific topics and really get to the heart of matters. What do you do away from technology? – Scuba diving, kayaking and working on cars. FINAL CAREER TIP As well as being curious, always do your best to develop your network. Learning from others is the best way to grow. BEST MOMENTS (8:55) – James - “If you can’t manage your time, you’re not as useful as you think you are” (13:52) – James - “It comes down to listening to your network of friends and people you work with and for” (18:20) – James – “Technology, when it’s used right, can be there to help us out as long as we use our tools correctly, and don’t use them for ill” (22:06) – James – “If you have an innate sense of trying to figure out how something works, you’ll always get into the meat of a situation” 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/_philburgess LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess 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 – JAMES STANGER James Stanger is CompTIA’s Chief Technology Evangelist. He has consulted in cloud security, open source, and networking for organizations such as Northrop Grumman, Tesco, AWS, West Point, SoftBank, and Symantec. He has also developed education programs on a myriad of subjects, including security analytics, cloud administration, Linux, British Romantic literature and kayaking. CONTACT THE GUEST – JAMES STANGER James Stanger can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamesstanger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesstanger/ Website: https://www.comptia.org/home

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Seth Hammerman, a Senior Cloud Security Sales Engineer for a large Cybersecurity vendor having made a mid-career change from the construction industry into IT. He has been either a pre-sales Sales Engineer or Sales Engineer Manager for most of his IT career, but has also held roles such as Technical Sales Manager and Director of Channel Sales Enablement. Seth talks about the importance of choosing the right career in IT, and following the path towards the things you truly love. He also discusses why the great IT careers are built upon an attitude of gratitude. Check out the show notes for this episode at https://itcareerenergizer.com/e302

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Kyle Prinsloo, who helps web designers and developers to launch and grow their freelancing careers. He is a developer, consultant and course creator as well as host of The Freelancer Podcast where he shares freelancing and marketing nuggets for web developers. Kyle talks about the importance of curiosity and inquisitiveness. He also discusses the value of forging strong relationships so as to better learn from those who can teach. Show notes for this episode can be found at https://itcareerenergizer.com/e301

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Jan Muhlfeit, who has a proven track record in building and leading successful teams which he acquired through an extensive, 22-year career at Microsoft Corporation where his last role was that of Chairman for Europe. Since leaving Microsoft in 2014 he has been coaching individuals and teams on how to uncover their personal strengths and find the best in people. He also coaches high-level executives, Olympic games winners and artists from different countries and continents. And he still manages to find the time to be a highly-regarded global speaker, having spoken at Harvard, MIT and Cambridge to name a few. Jan talks about the importance of self-awareness, and why discovering ourselves can lead to better understanding of others. He also discusses why having a growth mindset will allow us to become the best version of ourselves. Show notes and links can be found at https://itcareerenergizer.com/e300

in this week’s show, Phil talks to Deenita Pattni. Deenita is a leading expert on LinkedIn marketing and has been helping her clients gain more visibility on LinkedIn, be seen as an authority and generate opportunities. This episode gives you opportunity to listen in to parts of a longer interview recorded for the Transform Your Career podcast, due to be launched in July 2021.

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Jeff Perry, Jeff helps engineering and software professionals develop soft skills to unlock hidden potential and remove self-imposed roadblocks. This includes Leadership Training & Development, Career & Mindset Coaching and Personal Branding. He is the founder of More Than Engineering and the host of The Engineering Career Coach podcast. In this episode Phil and Jeff talk about the importance of increasing your awareness, why we can sometimes over value career stability & much more. Check out the episode's show notes at https://itcareerenergizer.com/e298