Technology
In this week’s show, Phil talks to Shruti Balasa, a full stack developer. She has developed and delivered more than 200 websites over the last 9 years, ranging from static to fully-fledged networking and eCommerce sites. She is now focused on creating tutorials and courses to simplify web development for beginners. Shruti talks about why we should always try to remain open to new possibilities in our IT careers. She also discusses the importance of effective networking in order to let the world know what we’re capable of. KEY TAKEAWAYS: TOP CAREER TIP We should be open to any opportunities, especially earlier in our IT careers. Even the pathways that may seem alien to us can often allow us to gain new skills that take us in new directions. WORST CAREER MOMENT Shruti developed a piece of software that was subverted by a single user, who hacked the system due to a hidden backdoor. This made Shruti feel the weight of an error, but also spurred her on to be more attentive subsequently. CAREER HIGHLIGHT At the beginning of her career, Shruti was interviewed and assessed by Microsoft without any expectations. As she was about to leave, she was advised that she had done far better than she had expected. THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T Shruti is constantly excited by the eternal state of learning in the IT sector. The excitement comes in the fact that we must always be developing in order to stay afloat. THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The fact that IT itself is built around problem solving – Shruti’s main strength. What’s the best career advice you received? – To start a YouTube channel What’s the worst career advice you received? – Shruti was advised against joining a startup by a manager, despite her instincts telling her that it was the right decision. What would you do if you started your career now? – Shruti was join Twitter and begin networking much sooner. What are your current career objectives? – Shruti wants to simply web development and coding concepts that people usually find complex. What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Public speaking, which has allowed her to overcome her introversion. How do you keep your own career energized? – Shruti loves adventures, and so takes every opportunity to embark upon new ones. What do you do away from technology? – Shruti’s young child is taking up most of her time, but it is a rewarding life. Family is very important. FINAL CAREER TIP It’s very important to improve your communication and networking skills. You have to let people know what you can do and what you are capable of. BEST MOMENTS (4:20) – Shruti - “I want to you to be open to any opportunities, at least in the beginnings of your career” (5:11) – Shruti - “Try your hands at everything, because you never know what you’re really good at until you try” (11:37) – Shruti – “Look for the small wins every single day” (19:43) – Shruti – “I want to love everything I do, so I take up anything that excites me. That’s how I keep my career energized!” ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey. CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/_philburgess LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer ABOUT THE GUEST – SHRUTI BALASA Shruti Balasa is a full stack developer. She has developed and delivered more than 200 websites over the last 9 years, ranging from static to fully-fledged networking and eCommerce sites. She is now focused on creating tutorials and courses to simplify web development for beginners. CONTACT THE GUEST – SHRUTI BALASA Shruti Balasa can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/shrutibalasa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutibalasa/ Website: https://www.shrutibalasa.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Thirus