InformationWeek

February 2, 1999

I'm a 45-year-old IT professional with 17 years experience in technical support and systems administration mostly on Digital/Compaq VAX and Alpha server systems I have a B.S. in science (chemistry) from a top technical university and a graduate certificate in management studies (equivalent to one-year MBA), plus several courses in computer science. My current position is as a technical lead/senior systems engineer with a well-known computer chipmaker in manufacturing automation. Most of my function is as a project lead for year 2000 deployments for key production systems. I'm thinking of going back to school at night to obtain the MSCE certification to get trained in the newer technology more fully, but I'm also thinking of a master's in Information Science/Systems. My career goal is to be a VP in IT within the next 10 years. Which direction should I go in education-wise to support these goals? What's the best way to attain these goals?

You've left yourself open to several options. The key is to grab hold of one path and stick to it. If you're committed to moving forward on the managerial track, I suggest you pursue an MBA. An MBA coupled with your 15-plus years in technology would be a great complement and show your commitment to driving business agendas via technology initiatives. However, if your plan is to stay more technical, then absolutely complete a master's degree in IS.

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