Tom Salonek is the founder and CEO of Intertech, a Minneapolis-based technology consulting and training firm. In 2005, he was named one of Minnesota’s Top Business Leaders under 40. Intertech has been named twice to INC 500’s list of fastest growing companies, and is also a seven-time winner of the Business Journal’s Best Places to Work award. In 2003, Salonek founded the Intertech Foundation to financially assist families with critically ill children.
Tom Salonek has completed executive education at the Harvard School of Business and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a past instructor at the University of St. Thomas Management Center. He holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of St. Thomas. Salonek has written more than 50 articles on business, leadership and technology, and blogs regularly at http://www.Intertech.com/Blog and http://www.TomSalonek.com.
He is the author of Building a Winning Business.
Tom says:
Hi Tom,
I read your article, “Success Through Failure” in CDW BizTech – not sure why I picked it up, but it was a slow day and I thought I’d get some reading in.
I work for a small company as an IT Director – really too small to be considered a CIO. I’m the most tenured employee next to the CEO; however, I’m not in a management role. Like you, I have been told that I am not management material even though I’ve managed a team of up to four IT professionals. The company I work for has an extremely high turnover rate, is cyclical, dependent on large clients. One of the largest clients was lost, and nearly half of the employees left or were laid off. My salary has increased, but I am down to a one-man IT shop. We are running antiquated equipment, and I feel my only role is merely maintenance and simple help desk tasks. I feel like a glorified over 40 “computer guy.” The worst part is that the company does not reimburse or further training in my field since all the technology we use is 10 year old technology though we sell ourselves as being innovative – using the latest technology.
I would welcome any advice you may have for IT professionals in my situation.
tomsalonek says:
Thanks for taking the time to read the article and post your dilemma. I appreciate it and your candor.
First, I think your employer should be concerned… the economy has gained ½ the jobs lost in the recession, different regions are doing better than others (Check out yours here… http://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm), and from what I’ve experienced firsthand, the IT is a sector faring better, for the employees, than others. For what it’s worth, you’re not alone.
My mother has a saying “misery loves company.” Last week, I wrote an article published in the Star Tribune, MN’s top newspaper, called ‘Keep ‘em happy and productive’ (http://www.startribune.com/business/142938185.html). In summary, there are a startling number of folks in your situation (unhappy in their job roles).
For you and others in your position, start with your current firm:
If the above run into a brick wall, move on to Plan B:
Good luck and let me know if there’s more I can do.