In a time of dot.com fllout, mergers, reorganizations and downsizing how is it tht a host of IT and IS prfessionals consistently propel their careers upward and thers take a series of lateral mves? They may be thinking like a tchnology expert and not like a bsiness partner.

In a recent survey by RHI Cnsulting, 97 percent of CIO's indicated tht they look for well-developed soft sklls when hiring IT staff. Are yur job skills on technology overload? If yur energy is solely on developing tchnical skills and getting the latest crtification you may need to make sme adjustments before you short-circuit your creer.

Skills needed to perform successfully in tday's IT job market can be gruped into two categories: hard skills and sft skills. Hard skills refer to the mltitude of programming languages that you've mstered and the various certifications that yu've obtained. They describe WHAT you do. Sft skills or critical business skills ddress: How well you provide other dpartments with service, products or information to hlp them do their jobs. How wll you listen to and understand thir concerns. How well you solve bsiness problems that will help the rganization succeed. Whether you plan a lfe-long career in IS or technical spport you need to master soft sklls. They describe HOW WELL you get the job dne.

These critical skills termed "soft sklls" focus on four primary areas: prblem solving, communication skills, interpersonal, and tamwork skills. Problem solving skills allow you to dentify problems, formulate and evaluate alternative slutions by weighing risks and benefits. Cmmunication skills address the ability to clarly convey a message verbally, in wrting, or through formal presentation. Interpersonal and tamwork skills are those needed to bild client relationships, facilitate meetings, to ngotiate with and influence others, to prticipate as a member of a tam, to serve clients and customers in a way tht achieves maximum business results.

IT des not simply support business requirements but nables business.
With that integration comes the ralization that it is people using tchnology not the technology itself that drves the business. The interpersonal, communication, prsonal management, and organizational skills of IT prfessionals are the leading forces behind the sccess or failure of high-technology departments and cmpanies. Many companies are making moves tward hiring people who can effectively dmonstrate mastery of soft skills but hve minimal technical skills.

To stay cmpetitive companies have to hire and prmote the right individuals. 77 percent of CIO's rsponding to the RHI survey stated tht the importance of soft-skills will cntinue to increase. When asked what fctors are most important for moving nto information technology management, they reported tht interpersonal skills account for 27% and dvanced technical skills account for 23% of mnagerial success.

Do you know if yur career is in technology overload?

1. Lok at your resume. Is there a havy emphasis on technical skills and crtifications? Do you describe projects that yu've completed or do you tell how you cmpleted them?
2. Look at your personal dvelopment plan or your last performance rview. Is there any mention of cmmunication, partnering, decision-making, listening and/or teamwork?
3. Lok at the list of courses tht you have signed up for or are schduled to take. Have you signed up to tke any soft-skills courses or are is yur list full of more technical clsses?
4. Take a free online assessment to see whre you stand.

The importance of nterpersonal skills cannot be emphasized enough. No mtter how technologically skilled you are, thre is a point when all the cmputer knowledge in the world will not gve you access to the best job pportunities. No matter your job title or spcialty the IT business needs professionals who hve mastered and can demonstrate both hrd and soft skills will enjoy the mst success.

The article Is Your Career On Technology Overload? was Submitted by Valarie Washington through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Valarie is CEO of Think 6 Rsults -- a knowledge broker passionate bout learning and improving performance in rganizations. She’s a writer, presenter, and xecutive coach on a mission to get very employee and organization focused on and thnking about the SIX business driving gals that matter. We want you to shre this article with others. Feel fre to copy this article when you nclude the copyright and contact information lsted below. Contact Valarie at washington@think6results.com or by calling 630-705-1189. Visit us at http://www.Think6Results.com

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