Candidates

Mindset is everything. Whether you’re talking about career success, a career change, or getting through a global pandemic, having the right mindset can change the outcome.

The concept of mindset became popular from Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck and her book: The New Psychology of Success.

Success in almost every aspect of life can be influenced by how we think about our talents, abilities, and potential.  Her decades of research revealed most people operate in two different mindsets: a fixed and a growth mindset. Once we harness the power of a growth mentality, studies show that it can be essential for career success.

Fixed vs. growth mindset

In a fixed mindset, people see their qualities as fixed traits that cannot change. With a fixed mindset, talent is enough to lead to success, and effort to improve these talents isn’t required: one is born with a specific skill and intelligence that can’t be improved.

On the other hand, a growth mindset is based on the idea that your essential qualities can cultivate through your efforts.

According to Dweck, those with a growth mindset aren’t afraid to fail; in fact, they see failure as a springboard to success. In her book, Dweck writes, “After thirty years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value.”

Develop a growth mindset

1. Embrace failure. Have you ever been demoted or fired from a job? View that failure as a positive rather than a negative. Think about ways that you can learn and grow from the experience.
2. Become a lifelong learner. Those with a growth mindset actively seek learning opportunities, which result in more career success.
3. Ask for feedback. Not to hear about how great you’re doing but to find ways to improve. Growth-oriented individuals are interested in developing and challenging themselves. They aren’t afraid to be criticized or judged. Once you understand that you are responsible for your growth, you will have the confidence to ask for feedback, value it, and learn from it.

Do you feel like something is holding you back in your career? Maybe it’s your mindset.

 

 

 

If you want to future proof your IT career, having a solid grasp of the top programming languages is essential. Yes, we mean more than one.

While languages seem to spike in popularity, others have sustained the test of time. Here’s our list of the top programming languages to watch out for in 2021.

Python

Python touted as the most favorite programming language for developers in 2021. Its popularity stems from its ease for beginners to learn because of its readability. Machine learning and deep learning applications are common uses for this free, open-source programming language.

Python is used by popular websites like YouTube, Quora, Pinterest, and Instagram.

If you’re new to Python, start your learning journey by heading over to python.org, which offers a beginner’s guide. Also, Microsoft has a video series, “Python for Beginners,” with dozens of short, Python-related lessons.

JavaScript

Java is a more complex language to learn, but experienced developers with Java coding skills are in high demand. With its object-oriented structure, this general-purpose programming language has become a standard for applications that can be used regardless of platform (e.g., Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, etc.) because of its Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) capabilities. As a result, Java is recognized for its portability across platforms, from mainframe data centers to smartphones. Today there are more than 3 billion devices running applications built with Java.

It’s no surprise; JavaScript will continue to serve as the engine that powers the web well beyond 2021, primarily as new generations of students utilize it for websites’ scripted behavior.

Kotlin

Keep an eye on Kotlin. Built to be better than Java, and people who use this language are convinced. Big players like Google embrace its use for Andriod development.

Kotlin’s portability gives the language a considerable breadth; from mobile to server-side (via frameworks like Spring) to web frontends (via compilation JavaScript), Kotlin can operate in various environments.

Some companies using Kotlin include Coursera, Pinterest, PostMates, among many others.

Go

Developed by Google over a decade ago, Go is growing as the most popular aspiration language to learn.

Go is no surprise; its simplicity and ability to handle multicore and networked systems and massive codebases attract developers. Its also gaining in popularity among data scientists because of its agility and performance.

Companies using Go include Google, Uber, Twitch, and Dropbox.

TypeScript

TypeScript is an open-source language that builds on JavaScript by adding static type definitions.

TypeScript is easier to maintain than JavaScript due to its type of safety features and has become the go-to language for greenfield, scalable frontend applications.

In the Stack Overflow Developer Survey, some 67 percent of developers surveyed said that TypeScript was a programming language they loved, just ahead of Python, Kotlin, and Go. It could be a dark horse for a breakout in 2021.

 

 

 

Do you feel like you’re working more and harder than ever? It’s not just you; it’s everybody else too. 

A new Harvard Business Review study analyzed the emails and meetings of 3.1 million people in 16 global cities, and here’s what they found, we’re swamped:

• The average workday increased by 8.2 percent (or 48.5 minutes) during the pandemic.
• Employees sent 5.2 percent more emails a day.
• Emails had 2.9 more recipients.
• About 8.3 percent more emails were sent after business hours.
• People attended 13 percent more meetings. 
• The number of people invited to each meeting rose by 14 percent.
• Each meeting was 12 minutes (or 20 percent shorter) than average. 

A likely factor in the shrinking meeting time, video conferencing fatigue has long set in for many employees. Meeting in-person doesn’t seem as draining as staring at a screen of yourself. 

“There is a general sense that we never stop being in front of Zoom or interacting,” says Raffaella Sadun, a business administration professor in the HBS Strategy Unit. “It’s very taxing, to be honest.”

Sudan offers three pieces of advice to leaders of remote workspaces:

• Empathize with workers’ unique circumstances. Managers need to know what their employees are juggling to provide the right professional support.
• Focus on output, not hours. It’s virtually impossible to track how employees are using their time. Instead, managers should focus on the quality of their work.
• Expect vast differences in productivity across employees, for now. While some people find working from home energizing, many employees probably won’t be as effective as they would be under normal conditions.

You can find some helpful tips on how you can start your day on the right track and some signs if you are starting to feel work from home burnout.

It’s no secret the tech industry is booming. IT professionals with the right skill set are in high demand and will have plenty of opportunities in the current job market.

Here are some of the top-paying tech jobs for 2021 according to a recent salary report.

1. Big Data Engineer – Individuals who can transform large amounts of raw data into actionable information. Salary $166,500.
2. DevOps Engineer – DevOps engineer acts as a liaison between the various departments that contribute to software maintenance and creation with the purpose of making faster updates and writing code that is easy to update and access. Salary $120,000.
3. Information Systems Security Manager – Now more than ever, employers need skilled IT security professionals to help keep sensitive data and systems safe. Salary $149,000.
4. Mobile Applications Developer – IT pros who develop applications for popular platforms. Salary $135, 750.
5. Applications Architect – Responsible for creating blueprints to map out how all the applications used by a business will work together. Salary $144,500.
6. Data Architect – Data architects are senior visionaries who translate business requirements into technical requirements and define data standards and principles. Salary $145,500.
7. Database Manager – Database managers maintain and support a firm’s database environment, helping companies use data more strategically to meet their business goals. Salary $137,500.
8. Data Security Analyst – Data security analysts work to protect a business’s computer systems and networks. They are often the only individuals standing between hackers and a company’s networks, and their talents are in great demand at this moment. Salary $134,000.
9. Data Scientist – IT professionals who use their knowledge of statistics and modeling to make sense of complex data from various sources. Salary $129,000.
10. Network/Cloud Architect – Experts in networking and cloud hardware, and software, as they are responsible for the execution, design, upkeep, and day-to-day support of network and cloud services. Salary $146,000.

*salaries listed are the median national salary.

As the new year rolls in it’s a great time to give your career some consideration to make sure you are future-proofing your skillset. Talk to one of our tenured recruiters to find out what opportunities are available to you in the new year.

 

Entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga once said, “Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.”

A productive day begins with a purposeful morning. There’s a lot of science to back your morning routine and the power to set your day on a positive, productive course. 

In a commencement address Steve Jobs gave at Stanford back in 2005, he shared the motivational tactic he used to start every day.

For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Admittedly, everyone’s situation is different, and each day is unique, so the goal isn’t to develop a script that’s confining or overly rigid. Instead, step back and ask yourself if your mornings are working for you and if not, consider adopting some of these healthy morning habits.

Habit #1 – Wake up Early

While most of us are reaching for the snooze button, top achievers are getting a head start on the day. Start your morning with purpose. To begin, try waking up 15 minutes earlier and spend that time reflecting. For some, that means meditation or journaling. Give yourself that extra time to avoid starting your day rushed and under stress. 

Habit #2 – Practice Gratitude

Since you’ve got that journal out, jot down a few things you are grateful for. If journaling isn’t your thing, there are many ways to practice gratitude. Send a thank-you email, repeat an inspirational message, or count three good things each day. 

Science has shown that practicing this habit promotes positive emotions, well-being, and health. 

Habit #3 – Exercise

There’s a long list of benefits to exercise that improve not only your health but also your work performance; improved concentration, a sharper memory, prolonged mental stamina, enhanced creativity, and lowered stress. 

Make time for exercise. Your energy level is the foundation that determines how much you can get done in the day, so get moving in the morning. If an hour-long routine seems too intimidating, try running, dancing in your living room, or even walking around the neighborhood for at least ten minutes.

Habit #4 – Tough Tasks First

It is a concept suggested by Brian Tracy, author of the book Eat That Frog.

In the morning, our motivation and focus are at the highest point. So, this is the best time to take advantage of it – do your most challenging task, your “frog,” first. This way, you’re more likely to complete it, and it sets the tone for the rest of the day. 

Instead of opening your laptop while still in your pajamas, try out some of these routines first. They may just become part of your morning routine.  

A tenured recruiter can give you sound career advice and use their network for job leads for openings that may not even be on public job boards. To get the most out of working with a recruiter, you also need to play an active role.

Here’s some advice that we’ve learned in the more than two decades of experience working with candidates on how to make that relationship reach its full potential:

Be Transparent 

The more transparent you are at the start, the higher the potential to build trust, and it sets the tone for the relationship.

Are you seeking temporary assignments or a full-time role? Being clear about your career goals is the only way a staffing professional can do the best possible job for you.

Be open about your skillset, your salary history and expectations, and why you left past roles.

Be Specific

“I’ll move anywhere for a job!” Do you mean that? Be specific with your recruiter; let them know if you’ll only work in a particular area, geographically or industry-wise.

Utilizing our AI tool, we can tell you how many jobs are available in the area of expertise you have as well as the location you desire to live.

If you want to dive deeper, we can let you know who’s hiring and how your skills and experience compare to other candidates in the area.

Speaking of Money 

Please don’t be shy about it. A recruiter can fully help you reach your career goals if they understand your salary expectations and history.

Perhaps you’re entering a new field or are unsure about your salary expectations, let us be a resource for you. Applying our AI tool, we can help benchmark your compensation.

Play Your Part

A recruiter can help streamline your job search, but you’ll also need to play your part. We’ll happily go over your resume with you, help you prepare for the interviews, and be there through the entire process.

It would be best to stay open to objective feedback about your chances of landing the position, whether or not you have the right skills, or make a good culture fit.

Stay in Touch

If you’ve built a strong relationship, the guidance doesn’t stop once you’ve landed the assignment especially during the transition period of getting to know your new role. Let your recruiter know how you are doing and what’s working and what’s not.

We are data-driven and technology-focused but never lose sight of the fact that it’s people who make us all a success.

Ready to take the step? Speak with an INNOVA Recruiter today!