BROADCASTS.com

b'

Phil\\u2019s guest on this episode of the IT Career Energizer podcast is Rick Claus. Rick is a Microsoft Developer Advocate on the Azure engineering team. His role is to connect with technical communities in order to share his knowledge about the ecosystem and capture feedback on how to make things better.

He has worked in the IT industry for more than 20 years, working on Core Azure infrastructure services, Windows Server, systems management and all things \\u201ccloud\\u201d

In this episode Phil and Rick discuss why you need to challenge yourself to learn, the potential of new technologies to make our lives easier and why you should try to work with people smarter than you.

\\xa0

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

(5.21) TOP CAREER TIP

Rick says that career advice is often specific to the individual. However what has worked for him is to continue to stay curious but also challenging yourself to continue to learn.

Rick approaches everything as someone new to the industry which helps to maintain his level of excitement and curiosity.

\\xa0

(6.56) WORST CAREER MOMENT

Rick describes his involvement in a mass desktop refresh rollout project for a customer when working as a consultant. The rollout was taking place in fourteen different locations and was being delivered by a distributed team.

Unfortunately they left the most difficult part of the rollout to the very end. They thought that they could apply everything they had learnt from earlier rollouts to the final rollout. \\xa0

\\xa0

(10.31) CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Rick talks about having recently become the lead for his team. Watching the team being able to be successful doing things he used to do but in different and creative ways. Rick gets a lot of satisfaction from enabling them to engage with IT professionals, speak at conferences, create videos and other content.

\\xa0

(11.52) THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T

Rick is excited by seeing people starting to understand the potential of new technologies that will make their lives easier. Rick also explains how organisations are recognising that they have the ability to pivot and add these new technologies to their existing portfolio.

\\xa0

(16.00) THE REVEAL

What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? \\u2013 The constant challenge. Rick loves problem solving, trouble shooting and making people\\u2019s environments better for them.

What\\u2019s the best career advice you received? \\u2013 Hire people that are smarter than you.

What\\u2019s the worst career advice you received? \\u2013 Nothing specific. However Rick has a degree that he doesn\\u2019t use anymore.

What would you do if you started your career now? \\u2013 Stay focused on the solutions and how they help individuals.

What are your current career objectives? \\u2013 Providing guidance and clarity to his team.

What\\u2019s your number one non-technical skill? Rick talks about his theatre background and the skill of being able to convey information through stories

How do you keep your own career energizer? \\u2013 Constantly go off and learn.

What do you do away from technology? \\u2013 Rick is an avid home brewer.

\\xa0

(20.51) FINAL CAREER TIP

Don\\u2019t forget to invest in your own skills and your own self beyond the technology space. Rick also talks about the importance of mentoring.

\\xa0

BEST MOMENTS

(14.04) \\u2013 Rick - \\u201cTechnology in the world of IT is constantly in change and we have to deal with that change. Be prepared for it\\u201d

(16.50) \\u2013 Rick - \\u201cHire people that are smarter than you. Together as a team you\\u2019re going to be stronger\\u201d

(17.27) \\u2013 Rick - \\u201cStay focused on the solutions and how they help individuals\\u201d

\\xa0

ABOUT THE HOST \\u2013 PHIL BURGESS

Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organisations 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.

\\xa0

CONTACT THE HOST \\u2013 PHIL BURGESS

Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/philtechcareer

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess

Facebook: https://facebook.com/philtechcareer

Instagram: https://instagram.com/philtechcareer

Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact

Phil is also reachable by email at phil@itcareerenergizer.com and via the podcast\\u2019s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com

Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community in Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer

\\xa0

ABOUT THE GUEST \\u2013 RICK CLAUS

Rick Claus is a Microsoft Developer Advocate on the Azure engineering team. His role is to connect with technical communities in order to share his knowledge about the ecosystem and capture feedback on how to make things better.

He has worked in the IT industry for more than 20 years, working on Core Azure infrastructure services, Windows Server, systems management and all things \\u201ccloud\\u201d

\\xa0

CONTACT THE GUEST \\u2013 RICK CLAUS

Rick Claus can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:

\\xa0Twitter: https://twitter.com/RicksterCDN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickclaus/

Website: https://regularitguy.com

MS Learn: https://aka.ms/AzOpsFun2