Seven steps for the IT professional to stand out in the market

By Rosana Silva Luz, Resources and Services Coordinator at Homine

Systems, bits and gadgets are part of our IT business. We execute projects to update systems and improve their performance, and we create innovative solutions that bring more efficiency to our clients' processes. But there is a component behind all this, fundamental for the IT industry and its companies to move forward: people.

In my daily work, my team and I assign professionals or assemble teams of experts to work on clients. And we act like headhunters looking for the best profiles for companies. Because we are in permanent contact with all segments of the segment – market, customers and professionals – we have a privileged view of the trends and demands of the IT sector, that is, where we are heading.

In charge of the Resources and Services area of homine, I am aware of what the market has demanded of professionals, both from a technical and behavioral point of view. Our company has been dealing with IT professionals for over 15 years.

As many ask me – “Rosana, what has the market been asking for? Why wasn't I chosen for the job? What attributes do I need to develop to be more employable?” –, I took the initiative to systematize these answers and thus help in understanding some of the main needs of the technology market. Here they go, therefore, seven fundamental steps for the IT professional to stand out in the market:

1. Be a multi-module consultant. If you are an expert in a single SAP module, hurry up to learn about the others as well. Companies no longer look for consultants whose activities are restricted to their own module, they are not interested in hiring several professionals for different problems.
2. Be constantly updated. Customers follow innovation and professionals should do the same. In practical terms, and again speaking of the SAP market, consultants who work with SAP S/4 HANA, for example, a top-notch version of ERP, are at the forefront and are more targeted by the market.
3. Scratch in English? So do not lose more time. The IT market demands fluency in the language. Speak and write like a native speaker. It's what customers want. But, on the other hand, it is the great difficulty of the market and the cause of the bottleneck we have today in the selection of professionals. Therefore, qualifying in this regard will make you a desired professional in the market.
4. Erratic behaviors are no longer acceptable, such as unexpected absences, low attendance or productivity, and inappropriate postures at work. These professionals are passed over. There are a lot of good people in the market. Be technical, efficient, punctual and committed to the job.
5. To stay up to date, resort to coaching to exchange ideas and receive valuable input on the best career direction, according to the envisioned scenarios for the market, and what you can improve in your professional life to be more employable.
6. Try to adapt to global profiles. The large customers in the IT sector are global and are the ones that invest the most in Brazil. Want to work with them? So if suit the way they work. Don't complain or judge the way they act. Remember: work involves cultural factors. You can't expect a German professional to act like the Brazilian. So, accept the differences and grow with them.
7. And not less important: take care of your mental health. Take time to meditate, silence, oxygenate the brain. Rest. This time dedicated to you will positively impact your professional performance. Body and mind in balance make the difference.

I hope I have contributed with these tips and that some of them will be useful for you to advance and be more successful in your career in the IT area.