InformationWeek

February 24, 1998

Are you at a crossroads in your career? Or do you just want to get started in information technology? Either way, Career Counsel is a great entry point. Your questions will be answered by Paul Daversa, president and CEO of Resource Systems Group, a nationally recognized technology executive search firm based in Stamford, Conn. RSG has advised many Fortune 100 companies and their respective CIOs on how to attract today's technology leaders as well as counseling IT executives through their search efforts.

I am a 25-year-old manager of business development at a major chemicals company. My j ob has become boring and I am very much interested in the computer field. I have a bachelors degree as well as an MBA, but I have no computer programming background (except Word, Excel, etc.). I have been told by many to do an SAP training course or one of these programming courses, but I am so lost. I know I want to join this field, but how and what program to join is a question. Are there companies that would be willing to train people like myself with no experience?

You can follow one of two options for pursuing a career in technology. Certainly, certifications in SAP, Microsoft, or programming would be viable options. These certifications may give you enough of an edge to get invited into prospective interviews. Second, your educational pedigree and industry experience might be attractive to Big 6 consulting firms. The key is your specific industry experience (chemical manufacturing), which would be of great interest o r demand for any consulting firm. It's not unusual for a consulting firm to invest in an "experienced hire" and put them through a technology "boot camp." Either option will require you to be aggressive and forthright in your job search--your biggest challenge will be to get through the front door.

I work for a technology company in a non-technical position. I have an MBA and am interested in pursuing a MCSE designation and subsequently a career in the IT field. Unfortunately I don't have the opportunity to get any real hands-on time in my current job; I do have resources at my disposal on personal time and believe I can become certified. My question is this: What type of IT positions can I realistically pursue once I become certified without any real-world IT experience?

Although you don't have any hands-on experience where you are today, having your MCSE will open new doors for you. What you do with the certification depends on your goals. Because you have specific industry experience, a liaison role may be a possibility. If you want to pursue a more technical role, your best odds are to address it with your current management first and exhaust all of those options. Your current employer will be more apt to keep someone with your credentials who they have invested in and will lean toward creating a win-win scenario.

I'm undergoing a career change towards network engineering, but am undecided as to how to go about it. Should I pursue my training in a trade school, with extensive hands-on training, along with the CNE and MSCE certifications that accompany it (as well as the hefty tuition)? Or should I obtain a computer science degree in a community college? I'm 32 years old and in a way, time is of the essence. What do the majority of employ ers prefer?

If you are serious about your career change and believe that technology is your future, pursue a B.S. in computer science. Although this may be a longer route to take, it will provide a solid foundation for your newly focused career. You will be looked upon by prospective employers as making decisions focused around IT. The time invested will be well worth it. The market is continuing to unfold at length. There will be opportunities for you by the time you have completed your degree. Furthermore, my advice is to get hands-on experience through solid internships while you are in school. When you finish, these internships will give you the edge against other graduates, and in the long run, your B.S. will be looked upon advantageously and help you further your IT career.

I am interested in pursuing an MBA program wit h an emphasis on electronic commerce. I have always been fascinated by that field and the latest changes and developments that seem to be happening. I don't know anybody in that field today. Do you know anywhere I could get information on that career path? Also, based on the studies you've conducted, does it really matter in IS careers if I go to a prestigious university or not?

We are in a marketplace today that's being driven heavily around E-commerce initiatives as well as E-commerce strategy. Major technology trade magazines such as InformationWeek are an excellent source for companies that are betting the bank on E-Commerce for their organization. This will include companies that cut across almost every industry line. Your options at this particular juncture will be unlimited based on the frenzy that is in the marketplace today. Furthermore, there is absolutely no question that high-quality or Ivy League education is viewed as an advantage that separates one candidate from another. Although it may not be the final decision-maker between the hard skills and the soft skills, it will be an impetus to get someone through the interview process.

Excellent question! You would think that with the shortage of qualified people like yourself that companies would do just about anything to create workable solutions. Instead, there has been a wave of outsourcers who have been very effective in selling large-scale contracts that have eased some of the concerns of many corporations as they rely on this outside talent. It's too early for anyone to report on the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of this approach.