Dear Career Adviser,
I've spent 12 years in the IT industry in various roles including support, sales and marketing and software development and I have been working as a company director/development manager for an e-commerce/multimedia design firm for four years. Our client base is primarily large corporates.
I manage a team of 10 people, develop apps in Cold Fusion/HMTL and I also do corporate consulting, client support and web server administration. I have extensive experience in new media design disciplines including streaming media, PhotoShop, Director, Premiere, NT 4 Server, web servers and Windows-based networks.
Does this sound like someone who needs a holiday? Or is it more apt that I specialise?
Busy
Pinnacle Recruitment replies: Sounds like you should take that holiday and spend some quiet time trying to figure out what you are best at. Then have the courage to make the decision to pursue a career that provides you with what you want.
There is an old saying that goes "if you want something done, then give it to a busy person" and this may be applying to you right now. Specialising can be beneficial, however make sure you specialise in something that is going to be around for a while — maybe try just managing or just consulting or leave these activities to someone else and just do the programming. My advice would be that you will not be productive if you remain in the position of doing everything yourself.
Readers with career questions can have them answered in this column by IT recruitment specialists. Send questions via Computerworld journalist, Darren Greenwood, with "Dear Adviser" in the subject line.