Stories by Rich Hein

12 Common IT Hiring Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Bringing a new employee into your IT department has the potential to make or break your team. Avoid these common hiring mistakes and build a team of IT pros that fire on all cylinders.

Written by Rich Hein31 Jan. 13 14:24

How IT mentors can help advance your ICT career

You've worked hard in your IT job, you've attended classes and even have all the latest certifications. Still, your career is stuck in neutral. While dedication, education and training are irreplaceable, sometimes they aren't enough. Sometimes you need a personal touch. Sometimes you can't beat the insight you gain from someone who is where you want to be someday.
After all, when it comes to professional development and career planning who couldn't use a trusted advisor to bounce questions off of? Whether it's something as mundane as how to approach a specific assignment or something more life-altering such as weighing job offers from different companies, having a mentor in your corner who's "been there, done that" can help turn your job into a career.

Written by Rich Hein28 Jan. 13 22:00

Eight tips for firing an employee the right way

Firing people is awkward and uncomfortable, even if they were a habitual nonperformer," says Stephen Van Vreede, resume strategist and IT career coach. Assuming you're a human being, letting an employee or multiple employees go may be one of the most difficult and emotional experiences you have to perform as a boss.
Remember: If it's that way for you, its magnitudes worse for the person(s) being let go. There are no secrets here--this is tough work but if you are respectful and empathize with the person(s) being let go it will make this emotional moment easier for everyone.

Written by Rich Hein21 Jan. 13 22:00

How to Revive a Stalled Job Search

Have you been looking for a job longer than you'd care to say? Well, maybe it's time you changed up your game plan. Here are some tips to help you form a new career strategy.

Written by Rich Hein09 Jan. 13 14:47

IT Departments Battle for Data Analytics Talent

Few areas of the IT job market have seen the growth and disparity in supply and demand that the data analytics field has experienced. As big data continues to get bigger and the analytics field continues to mature, it's becoming a core part of business and the decision-making process. Competition for top analytic talent is going to be fierce as more companies enter the hiring fray.

Written by Rich Hein12 Dec. 12 15:14

Career Mapping Offers a Clear Path for Both Employees and Employers

Career mapping, or career pathing, is a great way to increase employee retention and grow IT talent organically. Often times employees leave their jobs because there is no clear path for them to advance or they are not sure how to rise to the position they desire. Career mapping provides employees and employers with a clear roadmap that outlines what it takes for workers to get from their current position to where they want to be.

Written by Rich Hein05 Dec. 12 15:15

Tips for Leaving Your Job the Right Way

Who hasn't wanted to throw up their hands and just walk out of the office? Don't do it. Learn the proper etiquette for leaving your job and ensure that your career and reputation remain intact after you leave your current position.

Written by Rich Hein26 Nov. 12 13:56

How to hire, manage and even appreciate millennial IT staff

Generation-Y, Net Generation, millennials or whatever you choose to call the generations of IT workers between the ages of 20-30 have gotten a reputation for being tech-savvy, but also a needy, job-hopping generation with a sense of entitlement.
CIO.com talked to industry experts to find out what's behind these perceptions and to learn how companies and millennials can better work together. After all, an entire generation of baby boomers is easing out of the job market, so the reality is you will have to learn how to hire, manage and promote millennials.

Written by Rich Hein19 Nov. 12 22:00

Seven things to consider when hiring an IT consultant

Hiring an IT consultant for a mission-critical task or project that drives core business sometimes is more cost- and time-efficient than hiring a full-time employee that you can train, work with and guide. These specialised IT pros are normally brought in to work on critical, deadline-driven tasks, making it an imperative that you find the right IT consultant for the job.

Written by Rich Hein07 Nov. 12 22:00

10 Noncertified IT Skills That Pay a Premium

The economic down turn that began in 2008 prompted many companies to rethink their employee-hiring requirements and practices---which largely involve acquiring employees with unique IT skill-sets. Many of these skills and areas of expertise do not require certifications and are more about experience and IT acumen.

Written by Rich Hein04 Oct. 12 14:33