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A new job
Sandra, an IT expert, was 28 when she moved to banking sector . She had previously worked for an IT service provider. She had started an internship there straight after her studies and was taken on. The main reason for the change of industry was a job offer. However, this did not come from the bank but from the ITcompanies itself. They offered Sandra a position in the sales team. More responsibility, more customer contact, more strategy - and of course a higher salary. Sandra knew that she had a lot to offer professionally and also had a good overview of the IT market, but the prospect of promotion didn't appeal to her at all. The job on offer simply didn't suit her. She had never been the type to proactively approach people. On the contrary, she found it exhausting when she had to deal with the opinions and wishes of other departments, and she wasn't exactly known as a persuader either. So she turned down the offer from her employer at the time and looked around on the market. Her salvation: a vacancy as a specialist in the IT department of a regional bank.
The cozy, warm comfort zone
Sandra felt right at home in her new job from day 1. She was able to contribute her specialist knowledge, was allowed to do some programming herself by developing internal software solutions and was responsible for creating crisis and intervention plans should an application fail.
Sandra also got on well with the 15-strong team. However, this was probably also due to the fact that the majority of her department valued a certain amount of discretion and professional distance. Including her manager Thorsten. The IT expert found the teamwork very valuable. Because she realized that everyone was pulling in the same direction. Optimum functionality and efficiency of the IT applications was also a top priority for her colleagues. And that was only possible if no one messed around in each other's areas. When requests fluttered in here and there from Front or the back office asking if something could be changed quickly in the tool or application, Sandra didn't jump for joy, but she did of course try to implement things as far as possible and, above all, as sensibly as possible.
A gentle breeze of change - or already a storm?
Sandra only gradually realized that something was slowly changing and no longer felt the way she was used to. First, her boss Thorsten retired. Sandra's team lead Roberta was appointed as interim boss. However, she was dismissed from this job again after a short time when Alex arrived and took Thorsten's place. Alex was a very dynamic young man in his mid-forties. He started his career at a well-known corporation, then moved to an international bank before making a foray into the start-up scene. And today he is at the regional bank and definitely wants to make a difference and get the IT department on track, adapt it to the latest standards and make people fit for the new challenges.
How to get fit? Get fit for what? Sandra thinks to herself. She is already aware that things have become more complex, as you can see from the many new tools and processes. And Alex seems like a good guy. But she is still worried and feels somehow overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and drive that her new boss brings to the department. Right in the second week, he asked the whole team to think about their own strengths and weaknesses and handed out a catalog of training sessions. Everyone was asked to choose at least two areas that they would like to develop and to think about where they would like to go in terms of their career.
The conversation that changed everything
A week later, Sandra entered Alex's office with a correspondingly queasy feeling. She was unsure and didn't know exactly what to expect in the so-called "future" meeting with her new boss. The course overview didn't appeal to her at all. "Successful presentations", "Persuasion and negotiation skills", "Stress management", "Communicating and selling better". She didn't quite understand what these topics had to do with her job. She was an IT specialist and programmer. Her job was to ensure that the systems ran smoothly and efficiently.
She was therefore all the more surprised when she listened to Alex's input. He explained that he saw the department not just as a group of IT specialists, but as an integral part of the entire company. "Our systems are not just tools for us, they directly influence how we interact with our customers and how efficient our internal processes are. He emphasized that the increasing digitisation and networking not only posed technical challenges, but also required increased collaboration between different departments. "Sandra, I see you in particular not just as an IT expert, but as a key figure who can bridge the gap between technology and the needs of other departments. This requires more than just writing code - it requires strong communication, presentation skills and the ability to operate in an interdisciplinary environment."
Alex encouraged Sandra to see the courses as an opportunity to broaden her skills and not just focus on technical aspects. "We want a department that is not only technically brilliant, but also works seamlessly with other areas. I am convinced that you can make a decisive contribution to this."
Alex's words echoed in Sandra's head for the next few days.
The decision phase
To her, it sounded like "eat or die". And the thought that she would be responsible for completely different activities and areas of responsibility in the department in future made her feel queasy again. She was not prepared for this. So she called her friend Andrea. They had known each other since school. But they had rarely spoken about the job. But Sandra knew that her friend always had a very sober and clear view of things. Sandra could rely on that this time too.
This is how I see it: changes is unstoppable in the current world of work. No specialist area is spared. And sure, it's a challenge, but firstly, everyone has to get through it. And secondly, try to change your perspective. This can also be an opportunity to rediscover yourself. It can be an opportunity for personal growth and professional development. You don't have to have big new career ambitions because of it. - I know how important work-life balance is to you. But try to look at it this way: The sooner you keep up with changes, the less stressed you are in your job, the more confidently you deal with the new demands and what does that bring you? Exactly: serenity and security in your job.
How do you think Sandra's story will continue? How does the IT expert decide and what course does she set for her future?
