InformationWeek

May 5, 1998

I'm a 34-year-old director of engineering for a small satellite communications firm that specializes in encryption. I have 11 years' experience in this field, but no degree. Over the years, I have seen the gap between broadcast and the PC industry narrow. I enjoy technology and the rapid rate of technological advancements in the computer industry. I am thinking on changing careers and moving towards IT. I have great skills and troubleshooting abilities and I am working on my MCSE (CBT). Due to cutbacks, I took over IS right at the time of replacing our Novell network of old 386's and 486's to 233-MHz Pentium II's and Windows NT Server 4.0, so I have some experience there. I know HTML and Java and have good business skills. How would I go about making this transition? Do I go the te chnical rout or business? Also, with all this talk of lack of technically skilled people, how important is a degree when computer science majors are already a few years behind technology by the time they graduate? I know I would be an asset but how do I sell myself?

My advice is that you sell yourself as a strong business-minded individual who understands technology, unless you're prepared to take a drastic pay reduction. Although there is a lack of technically skilled people, compensation will play a factor in a company's willingness to hire you. If you stay on the business end, you can market your solid business experience coupled with your recent technology exposure; this puts you at an advantage. In the marketplace today, technology is driving business initiatives, and you will be an asset with your understanding of the importance of technology.

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