Find a New IT Job through User Groups

16 October 2009 316 views No Comment

Finding a new IT job can be very challenging, but joining local user groups can really help. Information Technology specialists are among the hardest hit in this economy. For the last ten years, many companies have been “keeping up with the Joneses” when it comes to their IT budget. Most felt like they had to have the latest, greatest, and coolest technology to be viable. However, when the market started to decline many of these technology projects were put immediately on the back burner to keep the doors open.

The new mantra being chanted by CIOs everywhere is “We do X. We are not a software company”. You can fill in the X with the company’s core product or service. In the highly publicized changes at Anheuser-Busch/ In-Bev the statement is “We make beer, we are not a software company”. To live that mantra, CIOs are forced to cut entire divisions of IT employees. This thought process is not unique to AB/InBev. It has happened in most of the Fortune 500 companies around the country. This means that IT people have an even tougher battle getting back to work.

However, unlike other industries, IT people have some of the strongest support systems in place waiting for them to take advantage of them. Geeks are a rare breed. Unlike other professions, IT people typically enjoy learning about the newest thing in their industry. The new hardware, software, and OSs that constantly flood the market have created an endless number of user groups in every major metropolitan area. To find a user group near you, simply Google it. Enter your metropolitan area, followed by the technology that interests you, and then the word user group.

These groups meet once a month or in some cases even more frequently. At each meeting you are bound to find several professionals that can relate to your job search and technical experience. Attending these meeting regularly will have several benefits.

Sharpen your technical skills and learn new things
Talk with other IT people (This will keep you geeky)
Expand your network into new companies
Learn about jobs quickly through private channels
Keep your information in front of a number of people

IT people often find it hard to meet new people. However, if you through a new operating system in the middle of the room, you can’t get them to quit talking. This is an easy way to start networking with other people in a non-threatening environment. If you remember to learn while you are there and respect the other IT people, you are sure to find a number of great IT jobs through user groups.

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