320: The Power Of Networking and How To Deal With Rejection with Devin Ford

In this week's show, Phil talks to Devin Ford, a self-taught front-end developer who enjoys solving complex problems under pressure. And he regularly tweets about what he's doing and shares what he's learnt along the way. Devin talks about the power of networking and how it can accelerate your career. He also discusses why resilience is the key to learning, and how to overcome rejection.   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   TOP CAREER TIP Many believe that you should have lots of projects going on at the same time. However, it is far better to have a variety of projects ongoing, as this will demonstrate your flexibility and breadth of knowledge.   WORST CAREER MOMENT Having failed to check a process, Devin found that a crucial error was made, which taught him the value of always making sure not to rush, especially when it comes to quality control.   CAREER HIGHLIGHT Devin's current work, involving building something that will make a huge difference to the way people engage with his platform.   THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T The world is moving to a more decentralized, web-free world, and the possibilities are fascinating and exciting. It will also lead to a huge increase in privacy, and to a far more open world.   THE REVEAL What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – Devin and his father built his first computer and he was hooked instantly. What's the best career advice you received? – Be honest and upfront with everything. What's the worst career advice you received? – That you need to be married to a tech stack. What would you do if you started your career now? –Devin would find a more structured way of learning early on. What are your current career objectives? Devin is trying to move to a more senior position, and looking between platform and management roles. What's your number one non-technical skill? – The ability to communicate. How do you keep your own career energized? – Learning new things, but also knowing when to take breaks, which is important in rejuvenating his passion for IT and tech. What do you do away from technology? – Video games and spending time with family.   FINAL CAREER TIP Don't be discouraged if you receive a knock back, no matter what it is. There are some invaluable lessons to be found when you have to pick yourself up after a setback.   BEST MOMENTS (3:02) – Devin - "Had I not networked on Twitter, I probably would not have reach the position I am in" (5:45) – Devin - "You might feel that pressure to really perform, but it's worse to deliver something bad fast, than to slow down and deliver something good, but slower" (11:32) – Phil – "When you're in a role and you don't know something, don't just assume you shouldn't ask. Always ask!" (16:04) – Devin – "Being able to bring that to a level where everybody is on the same playing field has really helped me when it comes to my career"   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 [email protected] 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 – DEVIN FORD Devin Ford is a self-taught front-end developer who enjoys solving complex problems under pressure. And he regularly tweets about what he's doing and shares what he's learnt along the way.   CONTACT THE GUEST – DEVIN FORD Devin Ford can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms: Twitter: https://twitter.com/devindford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devindford/ Website: https://devindford.com/