Communications of the ACM
Five Things to Do If You Lose Your It Job
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While it's only natural to feel apprehension about IT job security, some are discovering opportunity in the wake of unemployment. The most successful job seekers are making looking for a job their full-time job. By doing so, they are uncovering new opportunities and tapping into connections that are already within their social networks. Since even the most aggressive job hunt won't take all your waking hours, most career experts advise that it's important for unemployed IT workers to find other outlets for their physical, intellectual, and emotional energy. This might mean signing up for new training courses, volunteering in your community or even starting a new venture.
Most importantly, take the time to learn about leading-edge technologies that might help you land a job in a hot new area. There are many opportunities to pick up new skills, including classes, books and Web sites. Even IT workers that have jobs might think about taking a little time during their current workday to learn new skills that will insulate them from future layoffs. For free, using nothing but time, you can become a master of a skill like CSS or HTML. Launching a new venture is another option. Although there's less financing available from venture capitalists, opportunities with Web 2.0 technologies, new handheld devices, and other innovations are bountiful. Moreover, the tools to develop these ventures are plentiful and many of them are free.
From TechCareers
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