How to Succeed in Male-Dominated Industries

Gone are the days when women were concentrated in lower paying service jobs like retail workers and administrative assistants. Now more and more women are holding high level and high paying jobs in previously male dominated industries. To be successful in these industries, women require a lot of joggling especially if they are married and have children to look after.

Here are a few suggestions for women to get ahead in an industry that is known to be male-dominated.

• Make sure your value is known - One of the main challenges faced by women in the ‘male-dominated’ industries is making their value known.  It can be intimidating for some women to play by men’s rules. Women need to play on their strengths and characteristic qualities that are sometime lacking in men. Many women think they need to change when working in a male-dominated environment. But, your unique qualities or working styles can be the catalyst that helps you to be noticed as a person of value.
• Don’t be the ‘Yes’ woman - In many industries, there is tremendous pressure to work hard and go the extra mile.  Women must not feel obligated to say ‘yes’ to anything that doesn’t remotely list under their responsibilities. Agreeing to taking on every project in striving to be a ‘good employee’ will not do any justice to you in the long run. If you don’t learn to say no, you will ultimately hurt both yourself and the company you represent. It is important, however, to stand up for the projects you really want to work on.
• Be Confident - Having confidence in yourself goes a long way and can get you where you want to be in your career. Being confident, you won’t feel the need to get the ‘approval’ from anyone as women are just as capable of holding certain positions that appear to be reserved for men only. Being a woman, you may be playing more than one role. It is advisable not to allow domestic worries impact upon your confidence and focus at work.
• Be strong and structure oriented - As a woman, you need to not only prove yourself, but be relatively outspoken about it too - something many women are not comfortable doing. Being structured in your work, organized, technically strong, and ensuring you’re assertive goes a long way to earning the respect and recognition for a job well done.
• Have patience, perseverance and positivity - Maintaining a positive attitude and focus, together with equal doses of perseverance and patience, will stand you in good stead. One step forward is one step closer to getting ahead.
• Build contacts – Networking after work is a big part of building contacts in any industry. This is often done in environments that aren’t particularly female-friendly, but breaking into this is a must.
• Motivation and mentorship - Going it alone up the career ladder is hard. One of the most valuable things is to have a mentor - someone who has succeeded in the system, understands the challenges, and can guide you through some of the peculiarities of the industry, as a result of his/her own experience and lessons learned. A mentor can also push you a little harder than you might push yourself.

Remember, the amazing thing about women is that we’re stubborn individuals who will build strong, supportive networks to help each other grow. Keep a positive attitude and always challenge yourself to learn more. With knowledge and confidence, you can enter any office and show that you’re a valuable addition to the team.

It’s Time to Make a Career Change

People change careers several times during their lifetime. The main reason is that they don’t make informed decisions about the careers they choose. They do not take into account their own interests, values, personality types while selecting career path. Because of these reasons, you may find yourself wondering whether you should be doing something different. Here are some valid reasons to leave your current career for a new one:

• Loss of purpose and passion – If your career has no meaning, you are no longer excited about it or you have grown tired of getting up in the morning to compete for something you don’t believe in anymore – it’s time to move on. The financial incentives are not enough, when the chance to find real personal significance and happiness is missing. 
• Talent potential is not valued - When your talent is not valued, it’s difficult to stay motivated. When your boss doesn’t trust your potential and will not sponsor your career advancement, it’s extremely hard to remain loyal. You must value your talent potential more than anyone else.   Never allow your talent to be taken for granted.  If it is, it may be time to move on.
• Professional growth is stunted - If you are unable to challenge yourself to grow and mature, then how can your employer help you? If you think your employer is not investing in your professional development, you must move on. If you don’t stretch yourself to do more or remain in your comfort zone for too long, you will have to pay the price later. Your resume should reflect enough success stories to merit advancement in your career.
• Workplace culture is not trustworthy - A hostile work environment that operates in silos - where the executives are not transparent - is difficult to trust.  This type of workplace culture becomes corrupted and begins to impact your performance and ability to advance. When you are part of an organization that is full of leadership and workplace problems, it’s time to consider a career change.
• Not sufficiently awarded - It’s easy to become contented in your career, but in today’s fiercely competitive and dynamic marketplace, you must be your own manager and continually be accountable to keep a “reward scorecard.”   Rewards are qualitative and quantitative measurements.  If you are not being rewarded for your work - based on industry standards (or better), it’s time to consider a career change.
• You make excuse for a day off - Do you make excuses to call in sick or let go opportunities to take lead? It may be time to assess your current career. If your sense of satisfaction fades away, you aren’t worried your performance review didn’t go well, or you spend more time on surfing internet than concentrating on business, it might be time to move on.
• Your life has changed - When you chose your career your life may have been different than it is today. For example you may have been single then and now you have a family. The crazy schedule or the frequent travel that is typical of your career may not suit your new lifestyle. You should look for an occupation that is more "family friendly."
• Your job is too stressful - Some occupations are inherently stressful. You knew that from the beginning about yours. You've come to a point, though, when it's become too much to handle. To preserve your mental and physical health, you will have to find a career that is less stressful.

If you want to make a career change, talk to the career counsellor for guidance and making a right move. Think about roles or jobs where you can use the knowledge and skills you already possess. If you are convinced that you want to make a career change, then take a dive! There is never a perfect time, so don’t wait. Try to prepare plan B, and then do it!

How to Deal with Workplace Harassment?

Workplace harassment and office bullying are unfortunately common incidents these days. It refers to any repeated, intentional behaviour directed at an employee that is intended to degrade, humiliate, embarrass, or otherwise undermine their performance. It can come from colleagues, supervisors, or management, and is a real problem for workers at all levels. It's no joke. By learning to recognize and address workplace bullying behaviour, you can help to create a healthier, more productive environment for yourself and your colleagues.

What women can do

• Communicate your disapproval - If you can avoid the colleague who makes you uncomfortable, do so. If you have to work in close proximity to him, avoid being alone with him and tell him to stop his specific behaviour. If the person has sent you a joke through an email or SMS, reply through email or SMS when asking him to stop.
• Keep a record - If your colleague isn't getting the message, prepare to report him. Gather evidence to substantiate your claims. 'Note down the date, time and details of each incident. Save any emails or text messages that contain inappropriate language. Try to use your mobile phone recorder to discreetly record his remarks.
• Find a friend to share this information - Share the situation with a colleague you trust in the office. She may be able to keep a watchful eye on the situation. But be picky about who you share this information with, and ensure that this person is trustworthy. A senior colleague or mentor who carries more weight in the organisation would be ideal. 
• Formal complaint - If the above doesn't work, make a formal complaint to senior members of the organisation, with whatever evidence or notes you have. Make the complaint in writing and keep a copy. Remember an oral complaint can be hushed up. Often women don't report sexual harassment for fear they might lose their jobs, but unless you are willing to take action, your problem will persist.
• Contact EEOC - If your complaint does not result in your supervisor or senior manager taking action, you can file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigates sexual harassment incidents in the workplace. Inform the EEOC of your employer's name, the name of the offender and the details surrounding the incidents.
• File a lawsuit - After you file a complaint with the EEOC, you can possibly file a lawsuit. You can seek monetary damages, or try to get your job back if your employer fired you due to the incidents. If you plan to file a lawsuit, you should seek legal representation from an attorney who handles sexual harassment cases.

Why Interns Should be Hired In Startups?

For some start-ups it is inevitable to hire interns at the initial stages of their company’s growth. While this may initially appear to be a good practice, especially with start-ups’ tight financial constraints, the grind of managing the interns could overshadow the benefits of having them in your office.

Internships are a “give and take” relationship because the commitment goes both ways - an intern works for your start-up, but you have to teach the intern the necessary skills and give him or her individual learning plan in return. The intern is working for you because he or she wants to learn and get experience in his or her field of expertise.

Pros and cons of hiring interns

There are mostly ‘pros’, but you need to be aware of one con: Interns are time consuming in the beginning of their internship. You need to take the time to teach them a new set of skills and integrate them into the workplace.

Here are the benefits of hiring interns:

• The most important benefit to the start-ups is that they get cost effective dynamic workforce.
• For most interns, it is their first job, so they give their best to the employer. They are motivated and have desire to learn and progress within their field.
• Interns fill positions and assist employers with innovative ideas and technology.
• Internships allow employers to connect with and build relationships with students early in their academic careers
• Employers can test the candidates before offering him/her full time position within an organization.
• Smaller, less important tasks could be given to interns, so that experienced workforce could devote their full attention to more productive work.

However, these benefits could come at a cost of your time and energy.

• You spend more time teaching them how to work and what to work on
• If you have more number of interns, your business activities may suffer when interns go back to school.
• Most start-up founders will take the interns under their wing and teach them what they know. As an internship cycle usually repeats itself every 3/6 months, it can be quite taxing.
• If handover is not done properly when an internship comes to an end, you could lose your business.

In a small start-up, interns can either make or break your company. However, if handled and planned correctly, internships can be meaningful to both you - the employer and your interns.

If you plan to hire interns for your start-up, register on TheGongzuo.com and advertise your open positions to get qualified interns.

Best US Cities for Tech Start-ups

When we think of tech start-ups, Northern California region comes to our mind. Companies in Silicon Valley area receive the largest share of funding from venture capitalists, but there are several other promising cities around the country to launch tech start-up.

The following ranking is based on start-up survival rates, available talent pool, day-to-day start-up costs etc.

1. Austin, TX – Austin has topped the list, becoming alternative to Silicon Valley. It has a smaller population and that is  great for quality of life. It has the necessary talent available needed for tech industry.
2. New York, NY – This is city is very much open for business. Internet businesses are thriving in Manhattan. NYC’s mass transit system is a big plus in its digital success.
3. Seattle, WA – Seattle has great universities producing engineering and IT graduates. So, it has the highest density of tech talent. This is the biggest advantage for entrepreneurs.
4. Denver, CO – It has comparatively low office rents, affordable for budding CEOs and CFOs. It has smaller population, so people enjoy great quality of life.
5. Atlanta, GA – It has great public transport and subway system for commuters. Low cost of office spaces is good news for start-up owners. They get more money in hand to expand their business or to hire quality workforce.
6. San Francisco, CA – Here, over half of the population holds a Bachelor's degree. This is fantastic as it means there is a good spread of academic qualification and experience throughout the city to aid recruitment. Major downside is, it is the costliest place to open a new office.
7. Washington, D.C. – Academic talent pool is larger than most of the cities. This is fantastic news for anyone looking for a more academically qualified workforce, or looking for specific qualifications that come out of advanced degrees.
8. Miami, FL - Miami has one of the most thriving local business cultures of the entire Top 10 cities of this list. It can attract many different businesses from different sectors. It can attract many different businesses from different sectors.  Miami is blazing ahead in terms of number of new company formations.
9. Los Angeles, CA – It has second lowest transportation cost among the top cities listed here - good news for employees needing to get to their workplaces and the bosses who need to get them there early. LA is great place to start and grow business. It has a high rate of new entrepreneurs.
10. Houston, TX – Houston is the best city in terms of office prices. Being highly populated, it gives great local market for businesses. It has a wide variety of skills available, which is a big plus.

Ways to Make Money Online

When money is tight, an extra $1,000 a month could be life-changing. Although an additional $12,000 a year might not sound like a ton of money, for a single-income home, or for a family with a hefty car payment or medical bills, it could make all the difference.

You can start an online business if you have the right attitude and willingness to learn. Follow these steps to utilize your spare time and invest it into an online business.

• Find what interests you most and what are you good at – This is the starting point of setting up your online business. Spend enough time on thinking about this. Write down whatever comes to your mind and then make a short list of 5 such business ideas. Finally, you can come down to one such niche area, which you love the most or enjoy doing in your spare time.
• Develop your own website – The next step is to write blogs or articles about your interest area on a website. You don’t need tech skills for building a website. You will find online resources where you can get ready-to-use templates. You will get visitors to read information on your website. Your website contents should aim to solve their problems. For specific information, you can develop a video or present expert’s interview clip or info graphic and can ask for viewer’s email address in return. For additional free resources, visitors will share their email ids with you. In this way, you regular visitors become your subscribers.
• Start selling – Once you generate the list of subscribers, you can start selling your product. For example, if your niche area is tutoring, you can actually develop an online course for which your loyal visitors will pay you fees. Once you provide them quality information for free, they are ready to buy such services from you. People compare the cost of actual tutoring and the pain of commuting with the online resources.

Once you follow these steps, then the sky is the limit for how much you can earn. Keep updating your website contents to get repeat visitors. Keep growing your number of subscribers and enjoy being a successful businessman!

Steps to Design Start-up Business Plan

Launching a business without a plan is like going on a road trip without a map or GPS to guide you. Whatever may be the type of your start-up business, you have to have a business plan in place. Its real value lies in the process of researching and thinking about your business in a systematic way. Another advantage of having a start-up plan is that, you can present it to the investors to give them a clear idea about your business.

Start-up plan is nothing but the “to-do” list of everything to start your business. Once you list out the actions that need to be taken, assign a responsible person for every action and write down the deadline by which it needs to be completed. Any task without a deadline will never get completed.

Review the following steps to write your start-up plan:

• Mission statement - This is your reason for starting your business. Maybe you want to provide a specific service that's missing in your community. Your mission statement should explain your reasoning in a few clear and effective sentences.
• Your own background and information – Add a section about yourself, mentioning your qualifications and experience.
• Employees’ information – List the names of your employees, if you have already identified them or else you may write the titles, job descriptions, the responsibilities they would be handling etc. You may also include the salaries and benefits you are planning to offer to your staff.
• Market study – This includes the description of market that you are targeting. It includes either the geographical locations or people of particular age groups.
• Competitors - Besides their name and business type, note a brief reasoning as to why each business is considered competition. End with why your business will overcome the competition and be successful.
• Partners - These would be the distributors, vendors and contractors that you may need to hire as part of your business.
• Description of your product/service - Be specific about how you plan on producing or providing the product or service, and how you will deliver it. You will also need to explain the methods you will be using to sell the product or service and what modes of marketing your will implement.
• Financial section – This includes information about your credit status, sources of funds, business expenses and projected sales and profits.

It typically takes several weeks to complete a good plan. Most of that time is spent in research and re-thinking your ideas and assumptions. Be sure to keep detailed notes on your sources of information and on the assumptions underlying your financial data.

If you need any help in launching your business, register at TheGongzuo.com for free. We have mentors and advisors to help you in every single task – from building your start-up plan to market your product/service.

Want to Work at Google?

Among many IT professionals, working at Google is seen as a dream job. And no wonder. The flourishing company is a driving force in Internet development. Working for Google means working for an organization that’s extraordinarily well funded. It also means working alongside top talent. With as many applications as Google receives, the company has its pick of the best.

The good news is that Google is hiring. The bad news is that getting hired at Google isn’t easy. It requires a unique set of characteristics to land a gig with the search giant.

As per Google’s Director of Staffing, this is what you need to have, if want to be a ‘Googler’:

• Entrepreneurial spirit - While working in the IT department of any large manufacturing facility might not require entrepreneurial spirit, working at Google most certainly does. With the search giant’s rapid growth and its aggressive moves in arenas held by competitors, the need for smart, self-motivated and self-starters seems clear. It is also important from company’s “20 per cent time policy” point of view. As per this policy, employees are free to pursue projects they're passionate about on company time. It takes an entrepreneurial (and disciplined) spirit to use this unstructured time in ways that benefit the bottom line.
• Business skills – Google prefers to hire a candidate with business skills, because such a person can relate business and technical aspects and look at the mission-critical needs to the company, and really understand some of the context around why we’re building some of the infrastructure.
• Technical skills – Learn programming languages like C++, Java, Java Script, CSS etc. Understand algorithms and data structures. Get to know operating systems.
• Problem solving skills – Google wants to hire candidates who have handled analytically difficult problems. They want someone who has actually interacted in a real-world situation and during an interview; the interviewers get a sense of what the candidate considers to be difficult.
• Analytical skills – The skills that that differentiate you from rest of the pool. Google doesn’t care much about GPAs. According to them, in schools, people are trained to give specific answers. But they want people who like figuring out stuff where there is no obvious answer. They believe that GPAs and test scores don’t correlate with success at the company.
• Leadership skills – They want people, who at the appropriate time, step in and lead when faced with a problem.

Start-up Advice for Women Entrepreneurs

More and more women are starting their own businesses and getting aware of the opportunities available outside their 9-to-6 jobs. But, for women it is challenging to focus on their new mission, as they have to struggle to strike work-life balance.

Here are the few tips that may help them to start a new business:

• Find your passion - You are going to spend long hours working for your business, so pick an industry that you don’t just like, but are passionate about. When you are passionate, it shows, and your enthusiasm and belief in what you are doing translates to your customers, sparking their enthusiasm about what you are offering.
• Keep your home and work life separate - It is important to set aside time for both personal and work lives, in order to give each the attention it deserves. Set specific office hours and unless there is an emergency, stick to them. Train yourself to work during office hours and do not accept calls or check emails after hours. Your customers and clients will also conform to your schedule as long as you stick to it.
• Don’t pay attention to any disadvantages - Don't put any energy into wondering if you have different challenges than any other leader or business owner because you are a female. If you are good at what you do, that's all that matters.
• Be positive, flexible and patient - It takes a good amount of time to build a business. Continue to have a positive outlook and don’t stop believing in yourself. There has never been a successful business owner that hasn’t run into some challenges!
• Don’t let the lack of confidence or fear hold you back – Women are generally more afraid of failure than their male counterparts. Moreover, cultural traditions also discourage women from taking leadership positions. Women are less confident than men in starting businesses. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from being an entrepreneur.
• Believe in yourself – Actually, women have better communication and consulting skills, are more caring and loyal towards their organisation and peers and, compared to men, are less competitive, confrontational and aggressive, and less driven by money. They are far more dynamic and capable than previously believed. So, believe in yourself and be a leader!
• Get the right support - Seek out networking groups, coaches and mentors that will not only cheer you on, but challenge you to take your business to the next level. Network with other businesswomen in your field that can give you an eagle’s view of what’s working and what’s not.

 If you are dreaming of setting up your own business, log on to TheGongzuo.com. We will help you in launching your start-up.

Tech Jobs with High Salaries

Everybody knows tech industry pays well. But specifically which jobs will put you in higher income tax bracket? Check out these tech jobs with enviable salaries:

• Software Architect - Designs complex software applications. Average salary - $130,000
• Software Development Manager – Project leader for software projects. Average salary - $123,000
• Solutions Architect – Designs and engineers complex software or computer systems. Average salary – $121,000
• Analytics Manager - Performs business and financial analysis to help the company measure its success and predict its needs. Average salary – $115,000
• IT Manager – Manages a company's technology infrastructure. Average salary – $115,000
• Product Manager - Helps run the teams that design and market a product. Although a product manager isn't a tech-specific job, it's a major role at many tech companies. Average salary – $114,000
• Data Scientist - Helps a company find insights out of heaps of data. This is one of the super-hot fields within IT. Average salary – $105,000
• Security Engineer - Designs, deploys and monitors systems that secure a company's network, software and other assets. Average salary – $102,000
• QA Manager - Performs tests to make sure a product, service or software performs like it should. Average salary - $101,000
• Computer Hardware Engineer - Designs computers and all sorts of other electronic devices. Average salary - $101,000
• Database Administrator - A company's database is among the most important bits of software it owns, keeping track of customers, transactions, and inventory. A database administrator runs it. Average salary - $97,000
• UX Designer - A "UX" designer, or "user experience" designer are the ones who make sure the product looks and feels good and functions in a way that is easy for people to use. Average salary - $97,000
• Software Engineer/programmer - Every company needs them, from the tech companies building software to sell to others, to the Sales Engineer - The technical resource for the sales force that helps them make sure bids and contracts meet the customers' technical specifications. Average salary - $91,000

Tech Skills in Demand

It’s a perfect time to be in Information Technology field. In the US, unemployment rates in this industry are lower than other industries. There are plenty of opportunities for IT professionals.

Here are the top IT skills in demand today in the US:

• UI/UX designers/developers - User experience and user interface (UX/UI) designers are going to be in high demand to help make software interfaces as intuitive as possible. Consumers won't settle for anything less than a quick, seamless and painless user experience.
• Web and product developers – Web developers, especially skilled in Java, JavaScript, PHP are in high demand.
• Network engineers - Networking is the foundation of web and streaming technologies. For digital businesses as well, networking professionals are in high demand.
• Security professionals – Actually there is a shortage of this particular skill in the US. Hackers are creating threats to breach systems, so businesses and governments are scrambling to find security talent.
• Mobile engineers – Mobile is the most heavily used digital platform. There is a major market for mobile application developers.
• Business analysts – Business analysts play a critical role, as they are liaison between IT department and business. They ensure IT projects are meeting business needs and meeting strategic goals. Organizations need them as they speak both the languages – language of business as well as IT.
• IT project managers - With an increase in IT spending to pursue new innovation, IT project managers are in great demand. Managers who specialize in one particular field, for example banking and financial sector have the best chance to get placed.
• Cloud architects - With the continued shift toward public cloud infrastructure and hybrid cloud adoption, IT pros skilled at setting up, performing integration and securing cloud deployments remain in high demand.
• Data scientists - Companies are currently struggling to handle the overflow of data they're receiving - everything from user data, customer behavior data, purchasing data, sales leads, marketing data etc. Professionals who can develop solutions to capture, process, analyze and interpret data continue to be necessary for an organization's success.

If you are an expert in any of the above mentioned areas, please log on to TheGongzuo.com to find which employers are looking for your skill sets and apply today to get hired!

Best American Cities for Women in Tech

Based on a research conducted by SmartAsset.com in February, 2016, the list of top 10 cities for women in technology has been revealed. In this research, 4 major factors were taken into account: the percentage of tech workforce that is female, the gap between men and women’s salaries, women’s median income and three-year tech employment growth in that city. The research team used Census Bureau data to evaluate 58 metropolitan areas.

San Francisco – the hub of tech jobs didn’t appear in the list for the two major reasons: skyrocketing housing prices and the fact that women earn only 85% of salaries of their men counterparts. Moreover, 75% of tech positions in San Francisco are held by males. Other tech hubs such as San Jose and Seattle have similar ratios.

Whereas, in some other cities, there is a better culture of payment equality among men and women and also percentage of women workforce is not too low.

Here’s the list of best cities for women in technology field. The percentage figures in bracket indicate tech jobs held by women.

• Washington D.C. (40%)
• Kansas City, MO (34%)
• Detroit, MI (44%)
• Baltimore, MD (34%)
• Indianapolis, IN (29%)
• Chandler, AZ (28%)
• New York, NY (26%)
• New Orleans, LA (38%)
• Denver, CO (24%)
• Fremont, CA (25%)
• St. Paul, MN (26%)

In top-ranked Washington, D.C., pay for women is statistically equivalent to the pay for men. There is no gender pay gap in D.C. Kansas City ranked second and its tech community continues to stand out for both pay and the makeup of its tech workforce.

Necessary IT Skills For An App Developer

Mobile phones and applications are growing and adjusting with how we communicate and work. The technology is exciting and evolving, new devices are popping up all over the place, and there is a very high demand for developers. 

There is no specific minimum qualification for this career. However, a person looking forward to learn Mobile Application Development is expected to have received some sort of computer programming training, either from a school/college or a training center. Acquaintance with the programming basics is a must, since application development is all about programming and creativity. Any computer savvy person might be fit to learn how to develop mobile applications but being able to develop mobile apps requires a specific set of skills.

Following are the technical skills, which will help a programmer/developer to excel in app development.

IT Job Search Tips: What Successful Job Seekers Do Differently?

After polishing the resume and carefully drafting the cover letter, candidates apply for the desired jobs and wait for a favorable reply. But, when they get that discouraging reply from an organization, they start to wonder what went wrong.

As a job seeker, you need to realize that mere clicking on the “Apply” button passively is not going to work. You need to practice certain methods throughout your job search. If you are actively looking for an IT job, check out the tips below shared by successful job seekers.

• Learn new technical skills – Learn new skills, which are current and are in demand so that IT recruitment agencies or IT employment websites can find you when they look for candidates of your background.
• Follow companies that interest you – Be well aware with the latest news as well as IT opportunities within those companies. Try to connect with people who are already working there.
• Keep adding new connections – Grow your network to be more visible. Expose yourself to new opportunities.
• Use social media effectively – Join groups such as LinkedIn and look out for IT job openings in your industry posted by other group members.
• Read relevant information – Take out some time each day to read news, interviews in IT industry. Stay informed about emerging technologies and latest trends in IT.
• Be consistent with your job search activity - Successful candidates set milestones for themselves. Every day they dedicate some time to visiting job search sites, sending applications, calling friends and family for introduction, talking to recruiters, etc. If you are seriously looking for a job, you cannot send applications only when you feel like.

Besides practicing these methods, register yourself with top IT job search website TheGongzuo, where you can find hot IT jobs for different profiles, industry experience and skills. Apply for free and get hired by your dream company today!

Effective Ways To Improve Technology Skills

Improving technical skills could be one of the ways that leads towards your personal development. Here are few things you can do to improve your technical skills.

• Best way to learn anything is by doing it. You can read all the manuals and look at all the websites you want, but until you actually make your hands dirty, you're not really going to know how to do it. For website construction and any programming type stuff, this is all the more important - just do it and play with it. Of course, there is so much you can learn from those that are more experienced.
• Once you have basic skill set, find a mentor either at your own workplace or outside. Ask if you can shadow them, help out, or watch over their shoulder and ask questions. Ask them for advice. Take their inputs in your IT career planning. With their experience and knowledge, you can have wisdom of the ages.
• Sometimes skills in different areas help you in IT field. Make effective use of what you have learned so far. For example, if you have been building and repairing electronic equipments, these skills will help you in programming, troubleshooting, software testing etc.
• Visit tech websites daily. By visiting those sites everyday you'll be introduced to new technology, news and ideas.
• Read technical books/magazines.
• Take online tutorials.

To decide which technical skills you want to pick up or to get an idea which IT skills are in demand, register at TheGongzuo.com and search IT jobs relevant to your current or desired skillsets.