With the high demand for skilled IT workers, many employees job hop frequently, in search of more challenging, better paying, and more enjoyable opportunities. Other IT employees want stability and job security that allows them to remain in one position and develop in-depth knowledge of a company's business and applications. That stability can be hard to find in the industry, as changes in technology and changes in business priorities can lead to projects being cancelled and jobs being eliminated—not to mention the risk of failure.
But not all IT workers are equally vulnerable to losing their jobs. While no one is indispensable, here are six tips you can follow that can help lead to IT job security.
Emphasize your core capabilities.
Sometimes managers forget that you know other things than the skills that you use in your current job. Find ways to remind your boss that you know other programming languages than the one your current project uses. Also, demonstrate that you're willing to help out in other ways. When there's a problem, your attitude shouldn't be "Not my job"; it should be "I can fix that."
Develop new skills.
Don't rely only on the skills that got you the job. As the industry changes, the technology used by your organization changes. Make sure you participate in training classes to learn the new skills that are being used on new projects within your company.
Develop the business, not just code.
The more you understand about the industry, the company, and its clients, the more effective you will be at developing code that meets the true requirements, not just the ones documented on paper.
Help your company adopt and adapt to new technology.
Don’t just go along with the old way of doing things. Use your understanding of the company to identify ways that new technology can solve problems. One successful idea can lead to lots of visibility for you within the company.
Don't hide behind your desk.
The more people who know you and your capabilities, the more people who will stand up for you and try to find a position for you when jobs are eliminated. Don't just hunker down behind your desk writing code. Participate in cross-departmental projects to meet other developers and managers. Become comfortable standing up in front of a room to make a presentation.
Commit to doing your best.
"Good enough" work really isn't. Your peers and managers can tell if you're just phoning it in. Make a commitment to yourself to continually do your best work with passion.
