The path to success is not smooth and unless you guard yourself against potential pitfalls, your IT consulting career can fail to live up to expectations. There are some common mistakes that IT consultants commit unknowingly. Here is a brief discussion on a few:
Not demonstrating passion and enthusiasm for your job
IT consultants need to sell their skills a bit more aggressively to land the project they have been hoping to work on. You should show clients how you have the zeal for the job, and how this will help them meet their project goals. Being low-key or lacking confidence can fail to convince clients that they have the right man or woman on board for their project.
Not networking enough
Job advertisements and job boards apart, IT consultants need to really market themselves to land the job they want. Don’t get too comfortable at your desk and ignore potent networking channels that can get you your next job. It is not enough to just mingle with professionals from your field. Try your best to expand your network and grab any opportunity to meet up with people who can refer you to companies and help your career flourish. An active presence on sites like LinkedIn and different networking avenues will go a long way.
Don’t exaggerate on your resume
IT consultants may find it tempting to overstate accomplishments or embellish their resumes just a bit too much. State facts as they are, and take the moral high road as opposed to indicating that you did much more when in fact your role was minor. You will avoid hurting your credibility and reputation this way.
Know your scope and communicate it effectively
New IT consultants may often go overboard in trying to please their clients. When the client starts including new additions that broaden the project’s scope, you will have to handle much more than you can. When you spot this, just tell your client that the new addition sounds like a good idea, and that you can incorporate this once the first task is accomplished.
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