InformationWeek

April 21, 1998

At a crossroads in your career? Career Counsel is a great entry point. Your questions will be answered by Paul Daversa, president and CEO of Resource Systems Group, a technology executive search firm.

Over the last year, I have successfully completed and passed my MCSE courses and certification. My electives are in TCP/IP and SQL Administration. But my career has not been in the IT industry. I have a CPA license and was in public accounting for eight years. For the past 15 months, I have been consulting for a very small startup company (total staff of four) whose primary business is the sale and implemen tation of high-end software solutions. The business has started off slow (no major sales for the first 12 months). However, there now seems to be substantial leads in the pipe. My question: Should I stick around here and hope that we make enough sales that eventually I will get exposure to Windows NT work or look around now?

Keep an ear to the ground regarding interesting opportunities. However, given your limited hands-on experience and your non-industry exposure, it sounds like you're on the bubble of getting some hands-on experience. You most likely will receive that invaluable experience in your current company, where you are a known commodity. Stick it out for another few months in hopes for some sales that allow you to move from academically qualified to professionally qualified. If things don't break, then go into an all-out job search.

My husband got a Ph.D. in physics from a top university in 1979. He worked for an oil company for six years as a geophysicist and was laid off. After working as a contract programmer for a few months, he has stayed at home for 12 years taking care of our daughter. He is 49 years old. We have a PC at home, and he is self-taught in C, C++, Visual Basic, Microsoft Office and a variety of other programming and end-user tools. He did a lot of programming in graduate school in languages and on platforms that no one remembers anymore. I am a data-processing manager and have hired many programmers over the years. My husband's skills are far higher than anyone I have ever interviewed, yet he doesn't seem able to land an entry-level programming job. I suspect that despite his protestations to the contrary, people think he will quit for another job, lord it over people because of his education, be lazy because of the length of time he has been out of the job market, or whatever. He is currently working on gett ing Microsoft certification in Visual C++ and in Visual Basic. Do you think this will make a difference or do you have any other suggestions to offer?

Has he approached small consulting firms? Often these are great places to start. I certainly can understand why he has had difficulties; his long absence from the work force probably throws up some flags. The certification probably won't make a difference in him getting a job. The difference will be in how he presents himself to perspective employers. He needs to present with a high degree of enthusiasm and energy. He should be asking for the opportunity with a "give me a shot " attitude " and I won't let you down.' It's possible that with his Ph.D. and many years out of the work force that he is a pontificator who's destined not to fit in corporate culture. The bottom line: He needs to come across as hungry and willing to learn.

I am a 37-year-old career-changer and recently earned a bachelor's degree in IT. I have extensive experience in training, career counseling and human resource management (I was a career counselor in the Navy). I would like to find a job that marries my training and people skills with my IT degree. I have no practical work experience in the IT field. Any suggestions?.

Look to a software vendor on the post-sales support side, it would be a good start for you. Software companies will be your most likely selection of opportunities.