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1.
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Choose your skill sets carefully. Make sure that your portfolio of skills
matches the needs of the marketplace and that it complements your interests.
Speak to your recruiter about which skills are likely to be in high demand
and search for related articles in technical publications and on Web sites.
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2.
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Discuss options with your peers. This group of informal advisors does not
have to be limited to your immediate friends and colleagues. You'll find a
large number of news groups through dejanews, and there are a number of chat
rooms in Cyberspace.
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3.
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Budget your time. There are many different methods of training - you no longer
need to sit in a classroom environment to learn new skills. If you don't have
extra time, computer-based training (CBT) is becoming increasingly popular,
both in the form of CD-ROM and on-line. These convenient methods allow you to
manage your own training schedule - without having to leave your home.
Training companies also are taking advantage of video conferencing to provide
the most convenient locations for their clients, particularly for rare skill
sets.
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4.
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Get experience first. You have probably already come across the dilemma of
having the right skill set, but lacking the experience level specified in
the job description. One way around this is to get experience before you
embark upon training. If you're moving into a new field of IT, don't be
afraid of taking a lower level position for a few months. Also, try
volunteering your services to a non-profit organization. This will give you
the opportunity to try out a new skill set and determine if you want to go
in this direction.
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5.
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Manage your expense. The wide variety of training methods available also
varies widely in cost. Convenience aside, CBT is also considerably less
expensive and can save on traveling expenses.
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6.
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Save in taxes. Generally speaking, training expenses are deductible when
training is required by your employer. This does not apply, however, if you
are learning completely new skills which are unrelated to your current job.
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7.
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A long term investment. Training courses provide you with a portfolio of
skills that you can leverage in a variety of jobs. Once you've finished the
coursework you'll be adding value to your portfolio by gaining experience in
your chosen field. Look at the cost of your training from this perspective.
Also, if cost is a concern, many financial institutions will issue loans to
IT professionals for training purposes.
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