InformationWeek

Many have stated that the core issue has nothing to do with how old the person is or how multiskilled he or she is, but it's upper management that is not demanding the integration of IT into business processes. So if you're an IT worker with a "big idea," nothing will happen to it unless it's presented by a non-IT worker or is demanded by upper management. The consensus shows that it's not a technological problem at all, but a political/human-nature problem. And it's true that while universities can shape students into business IT people, they don't always have a class on how to deal with a difficult political situation at the office.

Others feel that the future already belongs to young IT people. After all, less-experienced workers generally require smaller salaries, they have a strong passion for and typically have been trained to work with newer technologies, and (simply because of the nature of universities today) have various skills under their belts. But a new college grad shouldn't expect to have a significant impact on an existing IT infrastructure or the business model, for that matter, because "there is no substitute for experience when it comes to learning how to integrate business and technology," according to one reader.

Another concern seems to be that mature and experienced IT professionals are being pushed aside by a newer generation of IT workers coming out of college. But based on the responses, it seems that most companies aren't willing to spend their resources to train and teach the ropes to recent grads and, therefore, don't want to replace their established workers, who have years of acquired discipline, business, and technical knowledge that they already bring to the job.

So how can unproven young IT workers lacking years of experience get their feet wet in the business? Here are a few bits of advice from our blog readers, who have on an average between 10 and 30 years of work experience in the IT field and know the ins and outs of corporate politics:

1. Strive toward becoming a "specialized generalist": know something about a lot of areas and specialize in at least one to some degree.

2. Find a company that will allow you to make a difference and expand your role, but one that also is willing to support the mistakes and the learning curves of people new to the business. Try going to a smaller company that will let you "wear multiple hats" (but be warned that it might also offer a smaller salary and lesser benefits than a larger company).

3. To find such a company, join a local group where you can get insights on other companies in your area. For example, if you specialize in Unix code, look for a Unix group, or another group that fits your skill sets.

4. If you're already working at a company of choice, "stick [your] neck out in the business." Try to get involved in non-IT functions, even if it's in your department.

5. But be patient in serving time in the trenches of help desk and systems support. Don't strive to have your job be interesting and challenging all the time, especially if you're fresh at a company. "Respect is earned, not given," so learn the business first.

6. Find a mentor who has been with the company for several years and who can teach you the business and help you when you bump into problems.

7. If all else fails, try to go for less-traditional IT jobs, which are also less likely to be outsourced. "Health care is the place to be," suggests one reader.