Cash In On the Future of IT

Twenty years ago, IT existed as a business silo: The organization conducted its business, and IT supported day-to-day operations. As technology has advanced, however, IT has grown in importance to the everyday functions of business. No longer just technology for its own sake, IT is expected to help an organization prosper from strategic, process and efficiency perspectives.

As a result, there is a growing need for IT professionals to possess business skills. Those candidates who can align technology to business goals and strategies are becoming increasingly sought after in almost every industry. Although that doesn't mean you need to have an MBA (even if having one can be an advantage), it does mean that you need to understand the industry you're working in so that you can effectively use your skills to help your company.

It's no longer enough for an IT professional to have great IT skills. IT pros must understand how to use their skills in the business setting to help the company thrive. In the health care industry, for example, IT professionals who clearly understand the federal government's HIPAA requirements are better able to assist health care professionals in complying with records retention and privacy regulations. Without that combined knowledge of the industry, regulatory requirements and technology, an IT professional could create serious problems for a health care organization.

If you're not as knowledgeable as you would like to be about your industry or about business concepts in general, don't despair. Many organizations are willing to teach you how the business works and how IT can make it run better. Look into options such as mentoring or shadowing employees in other departments, for example. You'll gain a business perspective from the ground floor that will be invaluable as your career progresses.

Some human resource departments, too, can arrange to send IT professionals to business classes at local community colleges. They also can find ways for you to participate in business meetings, even if it's just to attend as the proverbial fly on the wall, so that you learn about business goals and strategies. And there's a benefit to participating in on-the-job activities; such opportunities foster greater understanding throughout other departments about how IT works and how it can support the efforts of those departments.

There's another bonus to understanding your business as much as the technology you work with. You'll be part of a new trend toward decentralized information management supported by IT pros who work within business units instead of in a centralized IT department. Plus, it's harder for organizations to outsource positions that depend upon highly evolved business knowledge as much as IT skills.

It's a good idea, then, to position yourself as a problem solver who can manage both business and technology issues simultaneously. If you can, you'll cash in on the future of IT.

To find the organization that needs your specialized skills, contact Ken Peters at The Connors Group at 201-537-0010 or by email at ken@theconnorsgroup.com.