In 1999, shortly before the turn of the Millennium, with the feared Y2K bug, and the “Dot Com” Bust, two IT consultants joined a multinational, Tier 2, Professional Services firm in Sydney. Their clients included multinational enterprises such as Philips, as well as Telco’s like Optus.

These two consultants, although from slightly different backgrounds, had a lot in common. They both had the latest technical vendor certifications, about 10 years IT experience, much from a support background. They both lived in an affluent, upper middle class suburb of Sydney, and had young primary school aged children. (Interestingly enough, both had daughters.)

Neither had a degree, although like many professionals in the industry at the time, both had vocational qualifications like TAFE (Aus) or City & Guilds (UK). It is true to say though, that both were passionate about technology, committed to their clients success, and dedicated to their careers. The same training, the same experience, the same employer, the same home conditions, and similar desires & passions. The same ambitions.

10 years later, in 2009, the first of these was a successful Technical Team Lead for a professional services company. The second, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for a large enterprise.

What was the difference that led these two similar, ambitious consultants to such a diverse achievement?

Professional Skills.

Where the first consultant focussed on staying up-to-date technically; the second added professional skills to his repertoire. Those skills needed to succeed in today’s fast changing business environment.

These are exactly the sorts of skills that Channel42 prides itself in delivering. Skills that will enable you to solve your clients biggest problems; endorse your expertise; empower your business.

What skills you ask? Consider these:

• Guaranteeing your utilisation through effective networking and profile building
• Interviewing skills to ensure the best recruit on a team, and elicit necessary information from a senior client
• Visual problem solving skills – any problem with any audience
• Delivering powerful presentations to all audiences from senior execs to technical staff
• Preparing winning proposals for complex projects
• Powerful negotiation skills for any project
• Business writing for technical reports & documentation
• Managing your Time & Expenses with ease

If you’re an achiever in the IT industry, these are just some of the tools you need to become outstanding.

Channel42 has many free resources you can reference and access as you need them. As well as dedicated online and offline workshops & individual coaching packages.

Improve your skills. Increase your Influence Network. Invest in your Career.

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