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Manage Your Manager and Learn to Interview and Network Well with David Bishop
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David Bishop
David Bishop is a technologist, consultant, researcher, entrepreneur, and instructor with experience across telecommunications, transportation, government and utilities. He is an author of numerous books and articles as well as a frequent contributor to the IEEE’s Engineering Management Review. David is also founding chair for the Atlanta chapter of the IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society.
In this episode, Phil and David Bishop discuss how to manage your manager to improve your career opportunities. They talk about the importance of focusing on the business and what it does rather than just the tech.
David also talks about the challenge of selling your skills and how to do it well. As well as explaining why being happy to take risks is a good idea in the IT industry. David also briefly covers solving business problems using his Metagility approach to Managing Agile Development.
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Resources
Agile Worx – Check out the website!
The Big Brother’s Guide to Job Interviews – Check out the details of David Bishop’s job interviews guide on Amazon!
The Big Brother’s Guide to Networking – Check out the details of David Bishop’s networking guide on Amazon!
2 Top Career Tips
1) Manage your manager. They are your gatekeeper. It is your manager who determines what your goals are, which opportunities you are given. As well as, to a certain extent, how you are perceived by others within the business.
2) Learn how to interview well and network well. Both skills are critical when you are starting out in your career.
Show Notes
Worst Career Moment
In his 30s, David was set to become the chief of staff for the CIO of a big telecommunications company. He sailed through the interview stages.
But, when he sat down to talk directly with the CIO, David spoke mostly about the tech, instead of focusing on what the business was all about. That switched the CIO off and he did not get the job. That experience taught David that at the end of the day everything you do at work has to be about what the business needs. The tech is just a means to an end.
Career Highlight
For David, starting to work for himself was a career highlight. When he did it forced him to exercise his intellectual and marketing skills as well as use his IT knowledge in more innovative ways. It pushed him to become a continuous learner and not be afraid to take on challenges.
At this point, David shares what he learned about selling his skills. In particular, how to stay in the game long enough to close a deal that can take months to come to fruition.
The Future
The fact that IT is everywhere is exciting. But, it also means that the stakes are high. A failure could lead to a plane falling out of the air or the economy being affected when a financial system goes down.
The Reveal
What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?
David started programming at 13, so for him, a career in IT was a natural progression.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t worry about what other people think. Just focus on yourself and what your needs are.
What is the worst career advice you’ve ever received?
Always go for the highest paying job.
If you had to begin your career again in today’s world, what would you do?
David would be prepared to take more risks rather than playing it safe and automatically taking a job with a big company.
What career objectives are you currently focusing on?
Evangelizing the Metagility approach.
What’s the number one non-technical skill that has helped you in your career so far?
Writing. It is a skill that is all too often overlooked.
What do you do to keep your own career energized?
David constantly networks with people. In the podcast, he talks about how he is coping with doing that despite CoVid.
What do you do in your spare time away from technology?
David reads a lot and enjoys working on classic cars.
Contact The Guest
Contact David Bishop through the following social media platforms:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidAnthBishop
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbishop/
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