Chicago W suburbs, intelligent young women in their mid 20s, with a little experience unrelated to the high paying positions they obtained, but with the ability (after some mentoring) to market themselves. A big problem is that geek/nerd/pocket-protector types don’t know how to market themselves.
You’d think hiring managers in IT are logical. Big mistake. they are governed by emotional first impressions.
Check people here in FR, or any web site, who whine about them not getting a good job. Go to their homephage/profile and get a first impression. Would you hire that person for a high paying job? They put themselves down. They are pessimistic paradoids. They have spelling and grammar errors. They do a lousy job of organizing data logically.
(please don’t go to my page. But I’d guess my FR page generates 2 or 3 of my 20 emails per week.)
I have gotten my last few jobs from doing presentation for local user groups. Usually potential employers are there, as it is a great way to seek out potential candidates. And they usually stick around for the presentation. I got so many phone calls from potential employers, that it got to be a nuisance after awhile.
But that is the key to landing a good job, find ways to make them seek you out, instead of the other way around.
You have to take an entrepreneurial approach to your career, whether you like it or not. That’s just the way it is now. Develop a “knowledge portfolio.” Have skills that may not pay as much, but are always useful. Then pick out some cutting-edge areas, and become an expert on them, seek out opportunities to present them to your local user groups, it’s not hard to do. Odds are most won’t pan out financially, but one just might, and you build a reputation as someone who is up to date.
Read, Read, Read!!!! In IT, it’s all about keeping up. When Manning or O’Reilly comes out with new books, it’s a pretty good sign that technology is going to take off. You can usually read one or two chapters for free online.
There are plenty of opportunities out there in IT, but you have to do the legwork to get them.