According to a recent Washington Post poll, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. workers have considered an occupation change since the beginning of the pandemic1. I myself am one of these workers.
As a corporate IT Professional, I’m expected to follow a linear career path. Start in something entry-level such as Desktop Support, move up to a senior team like Networking or Systems Administration, become the head of the respective IT department, and so on all the way up to the top of the corporate ladder. Those who stick with this path often achieve a high level of success, but the opportunity cost of such a prevalent career trajectory (for those like myself) is inherently lower than one of a more interdisciplinary nature.
IT consultants partner with companies to help them analyze and troubleshoot technical problems, develop data based solutions, and maintain information technology systems.
This type of non-traditional IT role creates thorough and customized technology based solutions, and increases the partnering company’s competitiveness in the market. IT consultants also gain the opportunity to experience all of the roles in a traditional IT career path while maintaining the ability to determine their own business practices.
Over the next eight weeks I will analyze and determine the strategic position of a company known for IT consulting. My goal is to identify the company’s core values, competitive advantage, and distinctive capabilities in order to use this knowledge to pursue my own IT consulting career.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/16/us-workers-want-career-change/