Ron Cantiveros wrapping up his IT Recruiting presentation with University of Winnipeg PACE students and instructors Natalie Bell and Genny Sacco-Bak.
I had the fortunate opportunity to speak in front of Cybersecurity students at UWinnipeg PACE program on the special invitation from my friend, Natalie Bell who also happens to be an instructor for their Effective Oral Communications course.
I’ve been in the IT recruiting field for a little over 5 years now. In that time, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned some hard-earned lessons. If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, these are the five things I would tell her:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
2. Be careful about which battles you pick.
3. Your network is your most valuable asset.
4. Don’t forget to take care of yourself.
5. You’re not in this alone.
1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. One of the biggest mistakes I made early on in my career was thinking that I had to know everything and never admitting when I didn’t. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak or incompetent, it just shows that you’re resourceful enough to know when you need assistance and isn’t that what any good employer wants? Now, I’m not suggesting that you go around asking people for help all the time, but when you find yourself stuck, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone who might be able to assist you.
2. Be careful about which battles you pick. When you’re new on the job, it’s easy to get wrapped up in office politics and territorial disputes with your co-workers. However, these battles are usually far more trouble than they’re worth and will only end up alienating you from the people you need to form partnerships with in order to be successful at your job. If someone comes to you with a problem or complaint, try to listen objectively and see if there’s anything you can do to resolve the issue without taking sides or getting too involved.
3. Your network is your most valuable asset. In any line of work, especially in IT, your professional network can be the key to your success or failure. The people you know can open doors for you, provide helpful information and insights, give referrals, and generally make your life a whole lot easier (or harder) depending on how well-connected they are within their own networks. So take the time to get to know the people you work with both inside and outside of your department or company – you never know when you might need their help down the road.
4. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. One of the biggest things I wish someone had told me early on in my career is how important it is to take care of myself both physically and mentally. Working in IT can be incredibly stressful at times and if I hadn’t learned how to manage my anxiety early on, there’s no telling how bad things could have gotten. It’s so important to find healthy coping mechanisms and take breaks when needed – our mental health should always be a priority.
5 . You’re not in this alone. Last but not least, one of the best pieces of advice I ever received was that I’m not alone in this, whatever “this” may be. We all face challenges throughout our lives and careers, and knowing that we have others who are going through similar experiences can make all the difference. There are plenty of online communities, support groups, and forums full of people who are more than happy to offer advice, provide comforting words, or just lend a listening ear. Sometimes just knowing that we’re not alone is enough to help us get through whatever it is we’re facing.
For anyone just starting out in their career, these five pieces of advice can make all the difference between success and failure. From networking and building relationships to taking care of ourselves both physically and mentally, there are a lot of things we need to keep in mind as we navigate our way through the early years of our careers. By following these simple tips, we can set ourselves up for a bright future full of possibilities.
