InformationWeek

October 20, 1998

I have an MBA and an accounting degree with 15 years of experience in various industries. I want to cross over to IT as a functional consultant, but I'm finding it difficult to find my niche. I have four years experience as an Oracle functional user, but no programming or networking experience. What road should I take next?

Your most likely entry into IT will be using your accounting and financial systems experience. The best targets for you are the large financial system vendors and small niche players. The obvious ones will include PeopleSoft, SAP, Baan, Hyperion, Smartstream. and Oracle. There are a number of other niche players that you can research as well. These companies constantly look for people with your background in either hot-line support or the pre- and post-implementation consultant role.

More Questions:
I spent the last six months of my three-year tenure as a systems analyst. But because of a departmental layoff, I wasn't in the position of systems analyst very long. What steps do I need to take to remain in this field?

I have four years of professional PC repair and support experience and eight months of year 2000 work under my belt and I very much desire an opportunity to continue doing IT work. What is your advice to get companies and personnel managers more interested in my qualifications?