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How to Avoid the “Techie” Stereotype and Improve Your Tech Career

When you think of your company’s tech team, what is the first thing that comes to mind?  Typically tech people are known for being a wiz at solving complex problems.  They are comfortable with logic, facts and data, but are usually shy and reserved.  While some of these stereotypes may be true, not all IT professionals fit into one specific category.  In fact, you will probably be hard pressed to find a techie in your workplace these days still wearing taped glasses, suspenders and a pocket protector.

TechCareers.com recently polled over 500 visitors to find out, “What is the most common stereotype associated with techies?”

The largest majority of respondents (34.3 percent) said the most common stereotype among techies is being introverted.  More than 28 percent said that techies always have the newest gadgets, 21.9 percent said they are good problem solvers, while the remaining 15.4 percent said techies play a lot of video games.

By the results of this poll, it is evident that there are many different perceptions related to IT professionals, some even a bit silly.  So how can IT workers avoid being stereotyped and improve their career at the same time?  Below are just a few tips to consider: 

• Become a better communicator. As an IT professional, it is important to avoid using too much specialized jargon and to explain unfamiliar terms to non-technical people. It’s great to share your expertise, but keep your audience in mind. Techies are also known for keeping their writing as brief as possible, so be careful when composing emails to ensure materials make sense and you aren’t abbreviating at the expense of sounding “human”.
• Mingle with colleagues. Simply put, one of easiest ways to break down a negative stereotype associated with being a techie is to mingle with other colleagues. Make an effort to get to know your co-workers and network with professionals inside and outside of the tech department. Begin by avoiding eating at your desk and invite other colleagues to join you for lunch. It’s that simple!
• Seek opportunities to work with other teams – Gone are the days where the tech team occupies some far corner of the office to focus only on IT-related tasks. As many businesses evolve, it is becoming necessary to incorporate cross-functional teams to accomplish the company’s goals. Prepare yourself for this transition and make sure you are comfortable working with marketing professionals, product managers, sales professionals and other important groups in the company to ensure together you are able to succeed in your job and contribute towards positive company growth. Volunteer to participate on project teams whenever possible. It will also help you stand out amongst other tech team members.
• Proactively learn about your company’s strategic goals – As a techie, it is extremely helpful to understand where the company is heading and how it relates to your position. Rather than just focusing on an individual project, proactively seek to understand company goals and envision the “big picture” which helps you to realize how your contribution helps the company move one step closer to their overall goals. By going above and beyond and showing initiative, it could lead to bigger and better opportunities and make you a more valuable member of the company.

Remember, perception is in the eye of the beholder.  Although techies may never completely break free from all of the stereotypes associated with their profession, there are many simple steps they can take to distinguish themselves from others and at the same time create valuable opportunities in their career. For more career-related tips and resources, please visit our Career Resource Center.

Beyond.com Employee Gives Agile Presentation to Local Project Management Group

At Beyond.com, we are constantly striving to empower our employees and recognize individuals who exceed in their area of expertise.  One of our fellow colleagues, Kevin Schlabach, Manager, Strategic Development and Project Coordinator, has hosted several informal presentations and teambuilding activities within our company to help educate our employers about Agile Software Development and project management skills.

As a person who lists his occupation as “enabling team success”, Kevin has built a solid reputation in the Agile software development community through his blog Agile Commentary and various speaking opportunities.

He was recently invited to give a presentation about Agile to the Delaware Valley Project Management Institute (PMI) Chapter.  The presentation included a high-level overview of Agile, with the goal to educate the audience on the various tools, such as Scrum, XP and Lean training, which can be leveraged to promote a disciplined project management process that encourages frequent inspection, adaptation, teamwork and accountability.

We felt his presentation could be valuable to some of our readers in the HR space, so we wanted to share his slide deck with our readers. Enjoy!

What is your company doing to instill hope for 2010?

2010...It is not only a new year, but a new decade.  With hopes of economic recovery on the horizon, many companies are looking at 2010 as an opportunity to start fresh, especially after the roller coaster ride created by the poor economy over the last few years. 

As this time of year rolls around, many employees begin to wonder about their annual review and if their past year’s performance will be enough to earn them a decent pay raise.  However, this year seems a bit different.

Many companies were unable to reach their corporate goals and maybe even lost revenues over the last year, which means that compensation increases may not be as likely as the past.  Many businesses were forced to make layoffs in 2009 and are now doing what they can just to ensure job stability for the employees that are still on board. 

As an employee, it is important to try to understand the tough decisions that your management team faced over the last year.  It also goes without saying to be thankful that you are still employed at a time when the national unemployment is over 10 percent. 

To help ease the burden, some companies are making an effort to demonstrate their dedication and faith in their employees in the New Year.  There are many different ways this is being done, such as openly communicating confidential company information to instill trust, investing in employees despite the tough year or having the management team forgo salary increases to ensure their staff is taken care of instead. 

I was browsing the news yesterday and came across an interestng article about the CEO of Continental Airlines, Jeff Smisek, who has vowed not to accept his annual salary or bonus until the company is profitable for one full year.  In his announcement, CEO Jeff Smisek says,

“I am willing to make this commitment because I have faith in you, and because the tone for any business is set at the top.  I am not asking you or anyone else to reduce their pay. What I am asking is that you join me in making Continental profitable again.”

Needless to say, his actions are sending a powerful message to not only his employees, but other businesses who are striving to succeed in the New Year.  I found it inspiring to see a company leader take such a strong stance in motivating his employees to take the business to the next level in 2010 (his salary depends on it!).

Reading this article helped me to reflect on the actions that my own employer, Beyond.com, has taken to motivate and inspire our team in the New Year and made me realize how fortunate I am to be in the HR industry which is all about people.  It also made me wonder…

What is your company doing to instill hope for 2010?