InformationWeek

August 28, 2000

Expert View:
Familiarity Breeds Experience

Involvement in a related area is a good starting point for getting into technology

Q: I work in telecommunications. I'm getting my associate's degree in accounting and I plan to get a bachelor of science degree in computer science. I like telecom, but I want to get more into the technology field. What types of entry-level technical jobs would be a good start for someone with no experience? --Bill

A: You say that you have "no experience," but you should take a step back and reconsider that view. Says Cleve Rowley, partner at Atlanta recruiting firm MattesonPartners.com, "Since you're already involved with telecommunications, you immediately bring some degree of familiarity with that industry to the table."

With an accounting degree, you'll be well-positioned to work with enterprise resource planning and business financial software. You might want to specialize in one of the leading financial software packages. Start by looking into training and certification provided by the major financial application developers. Also, don't overlook the value of peer networking: Surf the Internet for an IT user group that focuses on financial applications.

Q: The last time I asked for a raise, it took six weeks for my company to get back to me, but I did get a 15% pay hike. Eighteen months later, I've asked for a raise again via a memo in which I mention that my pay is significantly lower than the industry average. I was told they would "try to get me an answer soon." How quickly should an employer handle such a request? --David

A: It appears that your company doesn't have a formal performance and salary review plan in place. That's too bad--such a plan would take some of the uncertainty out of the process. It's probably up to you to convince the company to provide you with salary reviews on a regular basis.

While looking at comparable salaries is one factor that companies use to determine pay scales, it's not the most important. Your own performance is what matters most--but you need to come up with a way to assess it. Rowley of MattesonPartners.com suggests that you set up a time to talk with your supervisor about the company's policy for merit increases. If you can work out a list of performance measures--with specific dates for when you plan to meet them--both sides will have a point of reference for the next performance appraisal. Ideally, the company should conduct your appraisal at least once a year.

As for this past year's performance, why not develop your own performance report? It would list your accomplishments during the year and what your goals are for the forthcoming year. Use your report as a starting point in discussing your performance with your supervisor.

Grant Russel, president of Management Recruiters in Findlay, Ohio, says one month should be ample time for your supervisor to meet with his or her managers or the human-resources department and provide you with an answer to your request for a raise.

Q: I'm a marketing manager, and I'm interested in making the move to a more technology-focused career. At my company, I've worked on a couple of IT projects for our Web site--and now I'm hooked. What strategies would prepare me to approach my company about moving to IT? Are there projects I should volunteer for? If the answer is yes, which ones are strategic and which ones might be dead ends? Are there alliances that I should begin to forge? --Lisa

A: You pose your question like a marketer--asking about strategies and whether you should forge alliances. Your shrewd way of thinking gives you a key advantage over most IT professionals who come up through more traditional ranks. Your business sense, and the ability to apply that business sense toward technology projects, is exactly what companies are looking for today.

You're headed in the right direction by getting involved with your company's E-business initiatives. Typically, these have the greatest overlap between marketing and IT, and offer the strongest opportunity to work closely with IT.

Need some career advice? Send your questions to expertview@cmp.com. To protect the privacy of those seeking advice, we print only first names.

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