I spent a lot of time with family and friends over the last couple of weeks, and had lots of conversations about the possibility of getting laid off, getting a new job before companies folded, and anything related to jobs. And it’s also a new year, which is the most likely time for folks to think about setting goals. Those topics together got me thinking – what should the average networker do for setting professional development goals in 2009? Get deeper skills, or get broader? Get certified, or focus on the skills while ignoring the certs? Save cash in case layoffs happen, rather then spending the $$ to get a cert? Or, do you even look to change careers away from IT?
For example, just a few days ago, I talked with a friend whose contract with a large Service Provider just ended. No one in his group is getting their contract renewed, so while he’s looking for the next gig, he’s going to take the step from knowing a lot of CCNA/CCNP level stuff already to getting his CCNA. A family member of mine is looking for a new job because the layoffs at her current company have been happening every few months – so it may be better to jump to a more stable company now. Another family member is looking at helping his company iron out processes so the work can be outsourced outside of the USA. Those examples aren’t meant for complaining or grousing, even by proxy – it’s just a microcosm of what’s happening in the world today.
So, back a little closer to the general topic of my ongoing blog – Cisco certs – what impact do these times have on our development plans and goals for 2009? Personally, I think it’s important to spend the time to think about this year’s goals, and we all tend to think more about goals around new year’s anyway. I do find it useful to write down the goals as well, although I admittedly don’t do as well at that personally as I’d like to do.
In light of your current environment, I’d be curious to know what you’ll do differently this year. Will you be more diligent in setting, writing down, and reviewing your development goals? Will you be more or less aggressive in going for Cisco certifications? Will the economy make you more likely to get Cisco certs, or more likely to focus on skills but ignore the cert process?
Weigh in with your comments and votes in the surveys, and I’ll spend some more blog space on this general topic on my next post.
