Whether you are planning an IT career or have had one for a while, you are destined for greatness. This industry is expected to grow steadily and faster than any industry. Especially due to the greater emphasis on cloud computing, information security, and big data. 

But while there are many ways to ensure your success, such as getting an IT certification, there are equally as many ways to bomb your career. 

Here are five mistakes you should avoid or stop making altogether. 

1) Running Away from Bad Experiences 

Not every project will be a success. However, that does not mean that you should give up and decide to give up your job. 

There is an important lesson you can learn from the world’s leading project management method, PRINCE2. Its principle, learn from experience, preaches the need to learn from everything you do. Including the failures. 

First, you need to understand that all failures are not created equal. According to a professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, failure may occur because of other blameworthy reasons such as:

• Process Inadequacy – In this case, a competent individual may fail due to a faulty or incomplete process. 
• Task Challenge – Failure here occurs because a task is too difficult to be carried out reliably every time. 
• Process Complexity – If a process comprises many elements, it may break down if a new interaction occurs. 
• Uncertainty – Without clarity into future events, everyone may take steps which they deem is best. However, these may result undesired results. 
• Hypothesis Testing – A praiseworthy type of failure, hypothesis testing entails testing an idea or design only to lead to failure. 
• Exploratory Testing – In this scenario, an experiment to expand knowledge or investigate an opportunity leads to failure.  

Each of these is the type of failures you can learn from and benefit others. So, do not give up just because of a hurdle in your way. 

2) Talking Only About Technical Details 

Business success is the ultimate goal of every professional in an organization. Even if your work responsibilities are limited to the IT department, your output is linked to achieving business objectives.

So, if you speak only in the language of bits and bytes, you may alienate other senior executive members.

Having the right level of communication is a critical factor for the success of a business. Therefore, consider enrolling in business communication classes to learn how to communicate with non-techies. 

3) Skipping Getting IT Certifications 

Earning an IT degree is not enough these days, especially since this is a constantly changing field. That is why you need to earn IT certifications to prove your knowledge and skills. And if you need another reason to be certified, know that 63% of decision makers factor them in their hiring decisions. 

Depending on your field of expertise or interest, you can find several good certifications. For instance, you can opt for an IT governance certification such as COBIT 2019. 

If you need help deciding which certification is best for you, ask your seniors about the ones your organization needs. Not only will this guide you in the right direction, but it will also save you from spending a considerable sum on a certification that will not boost your career. 

4) Molding Your IT Career to Fit Every Role  

Some IT professionals believe they fit in every role related to their field within the organization. This mistake is especially common among entry-level IT security professionals. 

Realistically speaking, IT is a vast field that is almost impossible to cover by a single person. For instance, IT security includes risk management, asset security, security architecture, and security assessment. Each of these is an extensive area which you must master to work in it.

Therefore, you need to assess your area of interest and expertise before deciding which one to specialize in. Inclined towards more than one? Work towards specializing in one before moving on to the next. 

5) Not Working on Your Soft Skills 

Ever had a less competent colleague progress quicker than you in your organization? Chances are they have excellent soft skills which give them an edge and allow their career to grow. 

In addition to communication, some skills you can work on are:

• Organization – Being organized ensures your efficiency and productivity at work. Especially if you are multi-tasking on a regular basis. 
• Analytical Abilities – This skill allows you to find solutions frequently, diagnose and fix issues, and even identify issues before they occur. 
• Creativity – While not a requirement for a career in IT, it can be quite helpful while coming up with groundbreaking products and unique ideas. 
• Project Management – This soft skill with enable you to juggle different projects and responsibilities, all while meeting deadlines and benchmarks. 

In a Nutshell

You might get away with a few blunders for some time, but it may cost a lot in the longer run. So, avoid these five mistakes to maintain a good reputation, and prevent damaging your career and future growth opportunities.

And if you need help rectifying mistake #3, get in touch with our Training Advisors to find a good IT certification for you.