No Brain, No Gain

Stay Sharp So You Can Move Ahead

by Sacha Cohen

Adapted By: Rick Baron

If you think that years of industry experience, glowing

references, and a stellar resume are enough to help you

land your next job, think again. Whether you're employed

and casually looking for other opportunities or unemployed

and anxiously trying to land a job, you must spend time

each week learning and keeping your skills sharp.

Sounds easy, right? Well, you'd be surprised at how few

people recognize the value of what I call "informal learning."

This includes reading trade publications and

industry-specific magazines, active networking,

participating in listservs and user groups, and attending

seminars and events.

It's not enough to rely on employers for training. In the

ferociously competitive IT field, you need to pay special

attention to your own career development. Each week, you

should spend at least a few hours reading about your

industry, researching new trends and emerging

technologies, and learning what it will take to manage your

career more effectively.

Although this may sound like just another chore that you

don't have time for, if you approach it the right way, it will

become as much a part of your daily routine as brushing

your teeth or going to the gym.

The following six simple steps are cheap, painless and

essential if you want to get ahead.

1) Join listservs and discussion groups.

Ask colleagues what listservs they belong to and research

groups on the Internet. If possible, sign up for the digest

version of the list, so you will receive posts in an aggregate

form and can manage them more efficiently. Spend 30

minutes or so each day catching up with email, reading the

lists and organizing information that can help you in your

job search.

2) Actively read.

In the IT industry, there are dozens of magazines and

weeklies that offer insider information, technology trends

and analysis, industry statistics, company news and briefs,

announcements of changes in executive-level management,

in-depth company profiles and more.

Pick one or two broad-interest publications (e.g., Wired,

The Industry Standard, Business 2.0, Fast Company) and

several targeted publications (e.g., Windows Developer's

Journal, Java Developers Journal, Network Computing, PC

World, MacWorld). You don't need to read each magazine

cover to cover. Focus on what interests you and what will

enhance your career. Then skim the rest.

3) Sign up for e-newsletters.

Cut back on endless surfing by getting relevant content

delivered to your email in-box. E-newsletters from

Monster.com, CNET, ZDNet, AOL, Hotwired, Netscape's

In-Box Direct and others include advice, tips and news. The

best part? They're concise, timely and free.

4) Recruit a mentor.

What better way to get support and advice than from a

seasoned industry professional? You can find out about

mentoring opportunities through associations, on listservs

and while you're networking (see #6).

5) Work the Net.

Hunt for news you can use on the job and in interviews.

Spend time consciously looking for news pertaining to your

career, the companies where you'd like to get hired and the

technologies that will change how you do your job. That

way, when you are being interviewed, you'll be able to talk

intelligently about your skills and expertise, and also about

the "big picture."

6) Socialize with a purpose.

Attend industry events, business-related happy hours and

job fairs. Volunteer at an association where you can

network with others in your field, and take the time to have

fun while you make connections. One unusual networking

resource is Fast Company's Company of Friends -- groups

of individuals around the country who meet informally to

discuss the issues raised in the pages of this hip business

magazine.