Information technology veteran looks for new job

All week long, Newsday's panel of experts offers advice to job seekers. Watch for it in the News or Business section.

Laura Salerno of Plainview, laid off last month from her job as assistant director of technology for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, is already immersed in a job search. An information technology professional also with experience in retail and aerospace, she's now looking to take her tech talents to sectors with predicted growth, such as education or health care.

An active networker, she said she's been making contacts with IT professionals in both areas. Still, she's looking for further guidance: "How do you break into a new industry when you may have the qualifications, but don't have the experience or contacts in that industry?"

That's the question she's posed for Newsday's panel of job search experts. Sunday through Friday they will be answering job hunters' questions, both in Newsday and at newsday.com.

Salerno may be a little ahead of the game. Already she has a professional presence on LinkedIn and just started serving on the computer technology committee of the Hauppauge Industrial Association. Still, she knows she has further footwork.

"You can network with any number of groups and make any number of connections - it only takes one," she said, to lead to the right job. "I have faith."

Here's what experts say about switching to a new industry:

From Bill Heather, senior vice president in Melville with Right Management, a Philadelphia-based career management firm:

"First . . . identify jobs that are in most demand and the business drivers that are most important to that industry/organization. These can be cost control, technology improvements, outsourcing, acquisitions, restructuring, etc.

Next identify how you have addressed similar business drivers in your past assignments . . . What was the business issue, what did you do to address it and what was the outcome of your efforts?

Now . . . make your case to your particular company target. . . . Make sure you try and "wash" your language so you do not use the lexicon or terminology of your previous employer. Instead, demonstrate that you are familiar with the organization/industry by using their language in your conversation. Also demonstrate how you were able to transition from one industry to another and show your familiarity with this new industry."

From Susan Shevlin, assistant vice president of talent acquisition for North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Lake Success.

"You will need to start becoming an expert in health care IT by researching what is required to do the job . . . I would review the Web sites of various employers to see what the qualifications are for the position they are recruiting. Then you can do a self-assessment of what skills or training you are lacking.

You can then research how you would obtain these skills. Are there courses at local universities or other educational programs . . .

Lastly, I would focus on industries and companies that support health care institutions. In many organizations the IT resources are outsourced to a third-party vendor. Look to see how these companies hire."