InformationWeek

May 12, 1998

I have a strong technical and educational background, yet in these times of low unemployment figures, I am finding it very difficult to get a job. I have my undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from one of the top 10 colleges in the nation, and my masters and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from an Ivy League university. Between college and grad school, I spent six years working for a large defense contractor doing software and systems engineering. Now that I am looking for work in industry, I find the biomedical firms don't care about a biomedical-related education; they merely want hackers. Non-biomedical firms don't see how my background could possibly provide me with expertise to suit their needs. I am looking for a management-type position and feel I can do a great job at it, but I just can't find the right niche. Any suggestions?

Technical In today's market, companies are looking for a blend of both strong educational pedigree and practical business experience. It appears to me that your emphasis has been selling you academic achievements, and you may be viewed as more academia than practical business experience. In addition, your defense experience is pretty specific; what you need to do is downplay the emphasis you put on education and emphasize your ability to pick up technologies quickly. My professional opinion is you may need to take one step backward to go two steps forward; meaning that your focus is on a management role, and while you have significant management experience, it doesn't conform to today's market and the experiences that accompany a manager of information technology. Look for a senior busi ness analyst's role or a technical consultant�s role or latch on with a consulting firm in which you can gain new skills.

More Questions:
Would a full-time MBA erode my marketability?

Should I go back to college for a technical bachelor's degree or go for an MBA?

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