CIO.com, June 1, 2020—6 ways to recession-proof your IT career
Tech leaders are known for planning ahead, and many foresaw a recession looming well before the coronavirus pandemic hit. The same forward-thinking approach that’s served tech companies as they’ve transitioned to remote work can also be applied to your career. Tech leaders say you should start thinking now about how to stay ahead of the curve.
There are steps you can take to protect and advance your career in difficult economic times, including developing new skills and changing old habits. Progressive companies invest in their infrastructure in a downturn, and you can do the same by making good use of your time and seeking new opportunities.
Here are tech leaders’ top tips for navigating downward turns in the economic outlook ahead.
Be proactive
Now is the time to make yourself visible and build relationships — before you need them, says Tommy Weir, a CEO consultant, whose firm Enaible uses AI to offer leaders advice on team productivity.
“It can be tempting to sit back and be responsive, but this puts the control of interaction in others’ hands,” Weir says. “I urge tech pros to offer examples on the importance of building relationships with bosses and co-workers outside of the office, and how they’ve done this in previous jobs. Be proactive, be seen and get known. After all, organizations are social. And whether you like it or not, people that are liked get attention.”
Get uncomfortable
During the Great Recession during the late 2000s, Steve Tcherchian, CISO at XYPRO, took time to reinvent his career approach by brushing up on new skills.
“I saw a huge opportunity to work on myself,” Tcherchian says. “I worked 20-hour days, stayed up all night studying, researching, experimenting and learning — knowing I might not immediately see a return.”
Tcherchian used that time to transform himself into the person others rely on during difficult times. “I got used to bearing the responsibility, and it can be stressful,” he says. “But you’re not going to learn and grow from being comfortable.”
Steve Tcherchian, CISSP, PCI-ISA, PCIP is the Chief Product Officer and Chief Information Security Officer for XYPRO Technology. Steve is on Forbes Technology Council, the NonStop Under 40 executive board, and part of the ANSI X9 Security Standards Committee.
With over 20 years in the cybersecurity field, Steve is responsible for the strategy and innovation of XYPRO’s security product line as well as overseeing XYPRO’s risk, compliance, and security to ensure the best experience for customers in the Mission-Critical computing marketplace.
Steve is an engaging and dynamic speaker who regularly presents on cybersecurity topics at conferences around the world.
