Bridging the Gap

It’s no secret that the financial services industry is navigating a difficult road these days and that many IT professionals within that industry are interested in seeking opportunities in different industries. That can be an equally difficult road because of the financial services industry’s heavy use of legacy mainframe-based systems and specialized software. IT pros who have specialized in financial services are sometimes discovering that they have become pigeonholed with skills that don’t transfer easily into other industries.

With the current slowdown in IT hiring in the financial services industry, it’s a good idea to consider now how to retool your skills to appeal to a broader audience of hiring organizations. If you find yourself forced to make a move you’ll be in a better position to land a new job more quickly.

Technology project management mentor Tom Mochal recommends that the most obvious objective is to start learning — increase your knowledge about the IT world in general, and determine which additional technical areas appeal to you. Once you decide on a direction, sharpen or add skills in that area on your own time by taking classes, tinkering on a system in your basement, and reading everything you can get your hands on.

Next, Mochal emphasizes, take a good look at IT trends. Open-source, XML, offshore sourcing, Web 2.0, SAP, CRM — understand what’s happening in IT and how it could impact both your current job and any new area you might want to go into. The beauty — and the curse — of technical jobs is that they are always changing. The more you can stay in touch with what’s happening in IT and gain new skills, the more confident you can be that you’ll land on your feet if your spot in financial services ever fades away.

Are your IT skills up to the challenges of the financial industry? To find out, contact Sheri Breitstein, vice president for client development at The Connors Group, at 201-537-0030 or by email at sheri@theconnorsgroup.com.