Here are some ways to prevent this.
Within the Company
Good companies usually prefer to promote from within. This is not an altruistic policy. Rather, it reflects good business sense. An employee who has been with the company for a period of time is a known entity. Hiring an outsider, whose credentials may not be what the resume" promises, or whose attitude may not fit in with the company's culture, are far riskier than promoting their own people. What that means to you - no matter what level of data processing you are functioning at in the company - is that unless you make upper management aware of your existence, your talents, and your ambition, promotions will be slow to come.
Be Sociable
Because the personality of the DPer has tended to be more withdrawn than expansive, the social opportunities offered by a company are too often ignored. Becoming a part of your company's social structure doesn't mean that you have to become a social nuisance. It does suggest that planned social events for the purpose of bringing employees together are a good opportunity not only to extend your exposure within the company, but to offer your ideas in a relaxed setting. As much as you may try to resist the notion that in order to advance in a company you must play the social "game," the stark reality is that it's expected of you. Companies function best when their employees get along, and one way to foster this is to periodically bring them together outside of the workaday environment. The loner, no matter how skilled a data processor, is soon treated that way, not only socially but where plans for promotions are concerned. "I do my job; that should be enough" is a philosophy that will stand in your way in today's corporate climate. Yes, you must do your job, but it is not enough.
One of the reasons some data processors shun social events is that they have become so immersed in their world of computers, terminals, and programs that they have failed to develop social skills. These people tend to want to talk only to others who share that same limited interest. A good data processor is valuable to a company. A good data processor with wider interests is even more valuable. By all means share social times with your peers, but if you aspire to move up in the corporate structure, get used to conversing and socializing with people who really don't want to talk about your technical specialty.
Community Activities
There are opportunities for you to share your knowledge of computers with the community at large. If such opportunities don't seem readily available, you can create them. A religious or civic organization might be interested in having you lecture or conduct courses in basic computer knowledge for underprivileged children, or for adults looking to gain insight into computers that they can apply on their jobs. Local schools welcome guest speakers; you could introduce the world of computers and business to youngsters. The local community newspaper, always looking for interesting topics, might entertain the notion of having you write a column about the use of computers in banking, or retailing, or whatever industry you're presently in. It comes back to the concept of being active, not only within your company, but outside it. Many community activities attract the attention of the local press, which, like an article in a trade journal, can't fail to impress your boss with your initiative and knowledge.
The data processor, who is willing and able to take the highly complex world of computers and present it in an understandable and palatable manner to the community in general, is a valuable commodity. The company for which you work gains recognition, the veil of mystery that surrounds computing is penetrated, and you gain a significant measure of respect. In effect, you are functioning as your own public relations counselor, and good public relations is always valuable for someone looking to achieve success.
