Explore new (career) paths.

Are you in desperate need of upgrading your technical skills? You may want to explore opportunities on the business side or in project management. These positions along with business analysis and architecture are amongst the other jobs held on the way to the top. Check out CIO Insight for other key roles that offer lots of opportunity.

Find a mentor.

There’s nothing like learning from others’ experience. Mentors can help you put your career in perspective, share their lessons learned, and help you network. An upcoming article will cover how to find the right mentor, build the relationship, and leverage it for growth and opportunity.

Make new friends.

When was the last time you got together with people from outside your company? Professional associations, conferences, and vendor events are critical ways of building your professional network. More and more hiring is happening through employee referral programs because it’s cheaper and more reliable than just hiring someone cold.

Looking for some ideas? Try the list below then do a search of your own for user groups for the technology you support.

·         Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)

·         Association for Women in Computing (AWC)

·         Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society

·         Network Professional Association (NPA)

·         Women in Technology (WIT)

·         Project Management Institute (PMI)

·         International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)

·         Association of Open Group Enterprise Architects (AOGEA)

·         International .NET Association (INETA)

These are just some ways to start taking greater control of your career. Share your thoughts. Post a comment with your own experiences and ways that you’re branching out this year.