Career advice

[hamstertrance]

Hi big brother and sister, I would hope to get some advises from experienced people who've been in this IT industry more than me. I recently changed my career. Previously in SI industry for 3 years with 2 years working as a SharePoint developer. Due to the long working hours and stress (personal and work), i decided to switch job to an end user role.

I've managed to get an end user role as a SharePoint system analyst. It's a short time in the company and I sensed that my career might just stop here. I was previously experienced in SP2010 & 2013. Now this company is using 2010 foundation version. I also realized that sharepoint wasn't really utilized in the company. Although things are alot less busy, i can go home on time. I felt like i might learn nothing in future.

I still aim to be in end user environment as a service delivery manager or management roles. I am afraid that this path gets me no where 2-3 years ahead. I am thinking of getting some courses such as itil to strengthen ny functional skills. But I was thinking, no actual experience to back me even if i have certifications. Should i continue or just leave my job while on probation (1mth notice). If not it will be 3mths notice period after confirmation. I gonna get married soon also.

 

[hamstertrance]

Any advise? Thanks!

 

[koxinga]

It's ok to be product centric the first few years of your career, but you should try to take on other job roles if you want to do service delivery such as operations with exposure to mgmt/soft skills like service level mgmt, customer engagement etc.

 

[koxinga]

Btw, you also need to consider who and where you work. Like it or not, the last employer on your resume will also determine how much you are paid in your next job, as much as your knowledge and experience.

Career mgmt and profiling very important skill.

 

[nicesingapore]

Hi big brother and sister, I would hope to get some advises from experienced people who've been in this IT industry more than me. I recently changed my career. Previously in SI industry for 3 years with 2 years working as a SharePoint developer. Due to the long working hours and stress (personal and work), i decided to switch job to an end user role.

I've managed to get an end user role as a SharePoint system analyst. It's a short time in the company and I sensed that my career might just stop here. I was previously experienced in SP2010 & 2013. Now this company is using 2010 foundation version. I also realized that sharepoint wasn't really utilized in the company. Although things are alot less busy, i can go home on time. I felt like i might learn nothing in future.

I still aim to be in end user environment as a service delivery manager or management roles. I am afraid that this path gets me no where 2-3 years ahead. I am thinking of getting some courses such as itil to strengthen ny functional skills. But I was thinking, no actual experience to back me even if i have certifications. Should i continue or just leave my job while on probation (1mth notice). If not it will be 3mths notice period after confirmation. I gonna get married soon also.

I was a dot net developer for many years before before transiting into business analyst and now into mgmt. career has alway been about attaining the next level before being given the chance to be at that level. my suggestion is to improve communication, networking skill. in additional IT is short lived. thus i have also now started my own sidelines (not IT), this has sharpened my communication and my knowledge in broad sense.... makes it easier to anticipate and make better judgement call... also sharpen my customer service skill....

sorry for being long winded... in short i suggest that every one
a) improve their communication + networking
b) try something different like starting an online biz.... this will tremendously sharpen you as a well rounded , preparing your guts and mindset into mgmt.

good luck

 

[hamstertrance]

I really hope things would not be too bad. I wanted to move from a developer to system analyst to gain communication skills, client facing in requirement gathering. Their SharePoint is rather small scaled and backdated. I am the only one handling their SharePoint since it is not widely adopted by the company. On other hand, the company is not small. It has quite a number of subsidies locally and overseas(totally never use SharePoint). I hope they will expand their SharePoint usage and get the latest version, ask a vendor to implement it. In that case, i would be able to have vendor mgmt skills which is something that I hope to get.

I agree that I need soft/functional skill sets. I am planning to take up certifications (ITIL, PMP). Hope that will also come in handy. I agree with koxinga that company profiling is also important. The company i work in is a local listed engineering company which has subsidiaries overseas as well. It's just that their SharePoint is under utilized. On other hand, their dynamic AX is widely used. I will also be looking to pick up AX's knowledge if i am still staying in that company.

May i ask nicesingapore, how did you transit from developer to business analyst? Internal transfer or change company? I hope that i am making walking on the correct path. Gonna learn how to communicate and network as I personally feel that I am weak in that. As for sideline, I am clueless at the moment about starting one but I wouldn't rule out any possibilities.

Thanks all for the advises. More advise are welcome and more discussion too. Xie xie everyone!