InformationWeek

June 23, 1998

I am an accounting/personnel manager and am looking into the world of computers, especially network administration. I have an associate's degree in business administration and would like to know how to make the career change. I have some experience with upgrading memory, installing new software programs, and setting up computers. This is all interesting, but how do I get a company to give me a chance and train me?

In the short term, you need to make the first move, which would likely be some kind of certification--Novell or Windows NT. You'll probably need to do that on your own and can expect the cost to range between $5,000 and $10,000. That should spark short-term interest and probably land you a job. For the long term, my suggestion would be to complete your bachelor's degree so that you can guarantee yourself opportunities in the future.

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