Tech Survival 101
()
About this ebook
Don't just survive a technical career, thrive in it! This book helps you understand technology positions and titles. We also outline potential tech career landmines and pitfalls. Branding isn't something just for marketing people, analysts, developers, and network engineers need it too! To thrive in your career you need the right mindset to take you where you want to go. Leading and building great tech teams are important too. So we cover it all in this great work from two experienced professionals. Pick up a copy today to go from surviving to thriving!
Tom Henricksen
Coder. Speaker. Power Skill Enabler.
Read more from Tom Henricksen
Agile Basics in 60 Minutes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Know Thy Client: A Technical Primer For Technical Staffing Professionals Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond Agile: What Is the Next Big Development Paradigm? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAgile Aggravations Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5TechnoLeaders: Steps to Enhance Your Technical Leadership Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJust the basics of JavaScript Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProject Management Basics in 60 Minutes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuick Start Basic HTML and JavaScript Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Joy of JavaScript With a Side of Vue.js Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDevOps Basics, Principles, and More Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow Project Management Can Quickly Enable Substantial Innovation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrafting a Classy Coder Career Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTake Your First Steps into Vue.JS Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMusings of a Developer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHumans Are Hard, Code Is Easy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings5 Books for Every DevOps Professional Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond the Basics of JavaScript Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Habits of Great Developers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Tech Survival 101
Related ebooks
Avoiding Software Project Pitfalls: Seven Simple Ground Rules That Could Save Your Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Technology Intelligence Quotient Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of The Phoenix Project: by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford | Includes Analysis Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSoftware Development Ideology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEnterprise Architect’s Handbook: A Blueprint to Design and Outperform Enterprise-level IT Strategy (English Edition) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPragmatic Enterprise Architecture: Strategies to Transform Information Systems in the Era of Big Data Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDevOps Patterns for Private Equity: Technology organization strategies for high performing software investments Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings8 Things We Hate About IT: How to Move Beyond the Frustrations to Form a New Partnership with IT Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Beyond Agile: What Is the Next Big Development Paradigm? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThoughts from the Big Chair: A Leader's Guide to Digital Transformation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAI factory: AI IS A MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE, NOT A TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFuture Boss - a no-nonsense guide to leadership in times of AI Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTechnology Made Simple for the Technical Recruiter, Second Edition: A Technical Skills Primer Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The New IT Leader Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRemote Work Technology: Keeping Your Small Business Thriving From Anywhere Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGoing Remote - Guidline to build and manage remote teams: Going Remote, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEverything you want to know about Organisational Change Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFundamentals of Systems Management Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEnterprise DevOps Framework: Transforming IT Operations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI/T Architecture in Action Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIT Project Management: 30 steps to success Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Executive's Handbook to Digital Transformation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew Technology for Problem Solving: Three Disciplines for Systematic Innovation in Business Information Technology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTop Jobs: Computer and Information Technology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScrum: What You Need to Know About This Agile Methodology for Project Management Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Release and Deployment: An ITSM narrative Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Careers For You
The Everything Guide To Being A Paralegal: Winning Secrets to a Successful Career! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Everything Career Tests Book: 10 Tests to Determine the Right Occupation for You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ultimate Side Hustle Book: 450 Moneymaking Ideas for the Gig Economy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Write a Grant: Become a Grant Writing Unicorn Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5From 150 to 179 on the LSAT Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pathless Path Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Can't Lie to Me: The Revolutionary Program to Supercharge Your Inner Lie Detector and Get to the Truth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Start Your Own Business Bible: 501 New Ventures You Can Launch Today Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Notary Business Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Gig Workers of All Types Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wise as Fu*k: Simple Truths to Guide You Through the Sh*tstorms of Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Think Like A Game Designer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 4-Hour Workweek (Review and Analysis of Ferriss' Book) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Quitting: Why I Left My Job to Live a Life of Freedom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Designing Your Life - Summarized for Busy People: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mean Girls at Work: How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Perfect Phrases for Performance Reviews 2/E Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Tech Survival 101
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Tech Survival 101 - Tom Henricksen
Tom Henricksen
Tech Survival 101
Copyright © 2024 by Tom Henricksen
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
First edition
This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy
Find out more at reedsy.com
Contents
I. INTRODUCTION TO THE TECHNOLOGY FIELD
1. How Does Technology Work in an Organization?
2. IT Titles, Departments, and More
3. Finding the Right Fit for You
4. More than a Paycheck: Salary and Benefits
II. OPERATION AND ENGINEERING ISSUES
5. Understanding Business Stakeholders
6. Common Engineer Issues
7. Operations and Security Pitfalls
8. Programmers Be Crazy!
III. ASSETS AND BRANDING
9. It Is Great to Be Here!
10. Building Your Personal Brand
11. It Is All in the Performance
12. Your Online Brand with LinkedIn
13. Branding Through the Community
IV. MINDSET AND CULTURE
14. Participate and Share
15. Permission to Succeed
16. Don’t Be Bashful, Just Ask!
17. Evolving Your Mindset
18. Developing Your Own Tech Radar
19. Defining Your Core Values
20. What Do I Look for in Culture?
21. Are You Looking for Abundance or Scarcity?
22. Are You Real or an Impostor?
23. Staying Above the Line: Drama or Presence
V. LEADERSHIP
24. Stepping to the Front
25. Leader Performance = Team Performance
26. Building a Great Tech Team
About the Author
I
Introduction to the Technology Field
1
How Does Technology Work in an Organization?
As you start your career in technology, you might wonder about the big picture. How do all the pieces work together? What does the chief information officer (CIO) do? How does the chief technology officer (CTO) fit into the picture? Depending on which level you enter into the technology organization, you may have different vantage points. My first role was as a programmer/analyst at a small consulting firm. Each organization does things a little differently. Overall though, they have some similarities.
C-Suite
The leaders of an organization are commonly referred to as the C-suite or executives. This includes the chief executive officer or CEO, the person in charge of everything and who answers to ownership or the board. The chief information officer is responsible for the technology team or Information Services and sets the tone on policies and procedures and helps drive major initiatives. Some organizations have a chief technology officer. Executives in this role set high-level technology operations. The CIO and CTO often work together on overall technology strategy. The chief operating officer or COO is responsible for day to day operations of the company. Depending on the business field the organization is in, they may also have a chief security officer. This person is responsible for enforcing policies and procedures that ensure security breaches do not occur.
VPs and Directors
The next level below is for the vice president. Some companies will include executive and senior vice presidents, too. This is usually the case for larger organizations. Further down the leadership hierarchy, decisions transition from more strategic to more tactical, day-to-day operations. Some leaders, as they move up the ladder, still appear to keep their heads ‘in the weeds’ of the day to day, i.e., immersed or preoccupied with the details. Directors are at the next level down and usually have multiple managers reporting to them. The technology team may have a director of software development, director of infrastructure, and directory of security. The responsibilities can vary quite a bit for each organization.
Architects and Engineers
Architects in the technology sector generally lay down high-level plans similar to their distant occupational relatives who create plans for buildings. Architects can be found in software design, infrastructure, networks, and a few other areas. Engineers work alongside the architects to put the plans into practice. For example, the software architect creates the design and the software engineers write the code. There is usually a lot of collaboration between these two areas.
Managers
Managers are at the lowest management rung. They work in the day-to-day operations exclusively. Team sizes may vary but often the number of employees who report directly to a manager is five to ten. As a former manager of software development, up to ten people reported to me an any given time. If you enjoy developing people, this is a great level to be at. Expect to have ample opportunity to lead a team and help people.
Analysts
When I first started out of college, I was a programmer/analyst. I thought my title was odd since I mostly developed or programmed software. Although, I got the chance to do more analysis at various points during my first job. For my next job, I worked with a larger organization. They had people who only did the analysis.