IT Reorganization: 5 Keys for Survival

If you are in IT, chances are you have been a part of an IT reorganization.  As business changes, IT must realign to meet those changing needs.  I have been part of companies that reorganize every 18 months and others that do every 4-5 years.

1. Own Your Career.  It is critical that you own your career.  You shouldn’t sit around and wait for your manager to give you a blueprint on how you will become the next CEO.  What happens when you move to another manager?  The only person who will look after your best interests is you.
2. Add Value.  If you are a mainframe programmer and you hear the company is starting a transformation project to web applications pick up a book on Java or start taking courses at your local college.  Find a way to become valuable to your organization.
3. Consider a lateral move.  If there is high demand for another area of IT, consider making a lateral move.  Talk to your manager and explore other areas.  This helps to show you are wanting to grow and expand your skills.
4. Further your Education.  This could include getting a college degree, obtain additional certifications or obtaining an MBA.  Most companies will pay for these and have programs designed to help you advance your education.  It is important that you stay ahead of your peers.  IT is a field that is constantly changing and you need to change as well.  DevOps, Big Data, and Security are really hot areas.  Chances are there aren’t that many people who are trained in your company with those skills.  Get out there and ahead of everyone else.
5. Build Relationships.  It is important to build relationships within IT and across your company.  You need to be careful about burning bridges.  After all within IT, you never know what the next restructure might look like.  You don’t want to suddenly report to a manager who you haven’t had positive relationships.

Hopefully these will help you get ahead of an IT reorganization.

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