The Heller Report: Special Edition: Career Planning Advice

Launch a sales campaign—for yourself. Practice telling your “impact story.” Rehearse interview scenes. From working with recruiters to setting yourself up for successful interviews and using AI to aid search and resume-building, members of the Heller team offers job-seekers and career-builders a raft of pro tips from identifying the right culture, sharpening your resumes and dressing the part. 

There are multiple reasons to seek a new position. In this, the first in a series guiding IT leaders to find a role that matches both your interests and abilities, Heller CEO Martha Heller explains how you know when it’s time for a change. The sparks for action include hitting a personal growth ceiling, an unfavorable organizational change, or an unfortunate boss. A job search takes time; when the signs are there, it pays to start.

While AI tools have spread across the job search process, it pays to take the time to craft specific ways for them in job searches. Lisa Rangel, CEO of Chameleon Resumes, offers three ways to make profitable use of generative AI on LinkedIn to accelerate your discovery of useful networking contacts, to highlight employment opportunities and shine a spotlight on your qualifications. 

The irony of a successful CIO’s career is that when they do a great job managing IT, C-suite decision-makers tend not to consider them for COO or other roles. Looking back at her 2012 book, The CIO Paradox, Martha Heller finds that still holds true – and so does the advice for seeking new roles: Be ready to step up. Diversify your experiences, accomplishments, and skills. And seize opportunities to lead other functions before reaching for the CEO ring.