Have you been feeling sluggish with your IT career? While looking for a new job can help advance your experience there are also some things you can do right now to change your situation at your current job and take it to the next level. Even if you begin job search while you are currently working try the following tips to give yourself an advantage in the workplace.

1. Assess your personal skills. Maybe your current job just doesn’t fit what it is you really want to do with your career. What do you enjoy most about your job? What skills do you have that you aren’t using at work but would like to? This is also a great way to revamp your resume and create a document that truly expresses what you’re looking for in a new company.
2. Learn to market your experience. IT specialists have a reputation of being shy or introverted. This is not always true and even computer people understand that having sales and marketing skills can be necessary to land the right opportunity. Once you determine what it is that you want from a job you can develop a personal brand and sales strategy to market yourself to the right companies.
3. Focus on problem solving. If you are dissatisfied in your current position start thinking of the ways you can make small improvements. Often disgruntled employees will focus on all of the things that are wrong rather than thinking about solutions to these problems. Every time you feel negative about a situation at your job turn it around and determine if there is anything you can do to improve it.
4. Create new opportunities where you are now. Before leaving a job think about ways you can make a change within the company. Talk to your supervisor or manager about additional opportunities. Volunteer to take on projects that aren’t currently being completed by anyone in your department. Restructure your job to make it a better fit for you long term.

Are you seeking a new opportunity in IT? VincentBenjamin offers placements for IT professionals in Phoenix, Orange County, Los Angeles and Denver.