Robert Half Technology surveyed over 8,000 North American IT workers to gather their most valuable career advice, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, effective communication, and adaptability in a rapidly changing industry. Key insights include mastering a few technologies, prioritizing relationship-building, and understanding business needs over merely following technology trends. The document underscores the significance of delivering on promises and taking responsibility for tasks in career advancement.

1. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
IT Workers Share Their Best
IT Career Advice
Robert Half Technology

2. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Robert Half Technology recently asked over
8,000 North American IT workers,
“What was the best career advice
you’ve ever received?”
Here are some of their responses.
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3. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Keep up to date with technology.
It’s changing faster than you think.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

4. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
“Feedback is a gift,” a former boss told me,
which really taught me the value of both
positive and negative feedback and how to
effectively deliver and consume it.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

5. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Always be willing to learn something
new from anyone in the company,
from the lowest position to the highest.
Being willing to see someone’s point of view
will help you do your job even better.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

6. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Aim for white glove service in
everything you do.
So much of what we know and do on a
daily basis isn’t difficult. It’s the manner
in which you conduct yourself
when things are easy that will earn trust and
confidence for more difficult projects.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

7. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
There are thousands of people that
can handle technical jobs. But there are
only a few that can communicate with their
customers and business partners effectively.
Master that skill and you can go far.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

8. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Remember that you don’t know the answer
to everything – but you better know
where to find it.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

9. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
You cannot be a master in all technologies.
Master a couple and be the expert on
your team or in your organization.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

10. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Don’t change the policy of the company
to ‘fit’ technology. Change technology
to fit the company needs.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

11. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Things change all the time (process,
technology, organizations, industries),
so you need to adapt quickly –
don’t get bogged down on how
things are not how they were before.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

12. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Surround yourself with people smarter than
you. This pushes you to strive harder
and gives you many more chances
to be exposed to new ideas.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

13. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
If you accept responsibility for a task,
complete it. If you screw up – own it,
admit it and have a plan to correct it.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

14. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Take a technical writing class.
Management lives on communication
and collaboration lives on communication,
but engineers often don’t learn how to
communicate with people.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

15. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Ninety percent of being perceived as a
high-value employee is delivering
what you promise.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

16. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
Continue to build professional relationships.
Who you know is more important
than what you know.
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“
– Respondent in our IT worker survey
”

17. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
You’ve got to understand the business.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

18. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
When looking for a job, don’t chase
the money. Take a job that fits
what you want to do.
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“
”– Respondent in our IT worker survey

19. © 2017 Robert Half Technology. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. All rights reserved.
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advance your career today.
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