InformationWeek

September 6, 1999

I was given the title of IS Director six months ago. I just completed my MBA and I'm working on my Microsoft certification. My company is experiencing difficult financial times. However, I think they will pull out of it. I noticed that the demand for IT talent is very high right now and I'm debating whether to stay and hope I will get promoted to VP some day or start looking for another job. When is the right time to move to pursue my goal to become a VP in IT?

You just became an IS Director six months, so it sounds like you need some real wins under your belt. As for the right time to move: I think that change is healthy because it exposes you to many different business scenarios and opportunities. Also technologies and environments will be foreign--and that's a good thing.

More Questions:
Should I continue on the technical path, or to move to management, and eventually become a high-level executive on technologies in a small-to-midsize company?

Which degree, masters or MBA, will be more helpful over the long run?