5 answers
Gannon
Student
Desert Hot Springs, California
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What are the most effective strategies for seeking a position as an Computer & Information systems manager
#computer #computer-science #information-technology
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5 answers
Gene Johnson
Technical Support Engineer
7
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Gene’s Answer
Typically, a bachelor’s degree in computer or information science, plus related work experience, is required. Many computer and information systems managers also have a graduate degree.
Education
Computer and information systems managers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering technologies. These degrees include courses in computer programming, software development, and mathematics. Management information systems (MIS) programs usually include business classes as well as computer-related ones.
Many organizations require their computer and information systems managers to have a graduate degree as well. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is common and takes 2 years beyond the undergraduate level to complete. Many people pursuing an MBA take classes while working, an option that can increase the time required to complete that degree.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Most jobs for computer and information systems managers require several years of experience in related information technology (IT) jobs. Lower-level management positions may require only a few years of experience. Directors are more likely to need 5 to 10 years of related work experience. A chief technology officer (CTO), who oversees the technology plan for a large organization, may need more than 15 years of experience in the IT field before being considered for a job.
The number of years of experience required varies with the organization. Generally, smaller or newer companies do not require as much experience as larger or more established ones.
Computer systems are used throughout the economy, and IT employees may gain experience in a variety of industries. However, an applicant’s work experience should be in the same industry they are applying to work in. For example, an IT security manager should have previously worked in information security. A hospital IT director should have experience in the healthcare field.
Advancement
Most computer and information systems managers start out as lower-level managers and advance to higher positions within the IT department. IT directors or project managers can advance to become CTOs. A CTO or other manager who is especially business minded can advance to become a chief information officer (CIO), the person in charge of all IT-related decisions in an organization. CIOs can advance to become top executives in an organization.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. IT managers must analyze problems and consider and select the best ways to solve them.
Business skills. IT managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations.
Communication skills. IT managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates.
Decisionmaking skills. Some IT managers must make important decisions about how to allocate resources in order to reach their organizations’ goals.
Leadership skills. IT managers must lead and motivate IT teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective.
Organizational skills. Some IT managers must coordinate the work of several different IT departments to make the organization run efficiently.
Education
Computer and information systems managers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering technologies. These degrees include courses in computer programming, software development, and mathematics. Management information systems (MIS) programs usually include business classes as well as computer-related ones.
Many organizations require their computer and information systems managers to have a graduate degree as well. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is common and takes 2 years beyond the undergraduate level to complete. Many people pursuing an MBA take classes while working, an option that can increase the time required to complete that degree.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Most jobs for computer and information systems managers require several years of experience in related information technology (IT) jobs. Lower-level management positions may require only a few years of experience. Directors are more likely to need 5 to 10 years of related work experience. A chief technology officer (CTO), who oversees the technology plan for a large organization, may need more than 15 years of experience in the IT field before being considered for a job.
The number of years of experience required varies with the organization. Generally, smaller or newer companies do not require as much experience as larger or more established ones.
Computer systems are used throughout the economy, and IT employees may gain experience in a variety of industries. However, an applicant’s work experience should be in the same industry they are applying to work in. For example, an IT security manager should have previously worked in information security. A hospital IT director should have experience in the healthcare field.
Advancement
Most computer and information systems managers start out as lower-level managers and advance to higher positions within the IT department. IT directors or project managers can advance to become CTOs. A CTO or other manager who is especially business minded can advance to become a chief information officer (CIO), the person in charge of all IT-related decisions in an organization. CIOs can advance to become top executives in an organization.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. IT managers must analyze problems and consider and select the best ways to solve them.
Business skills. IT managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations.
Communication skills. IT managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates.
Decisionmaking skills. Some IT managers must make important decisions about how to allocate resources in order to reach their organizations’ goals.
Leadership skills. IT managers must lead and motivate IT teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective.
Organizational skills. Some IT managers must coordinate the work of several different IT departments to make the organization run efficiently.
Michael Hicks
Technology
10
Answers
Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Becoming an information systems manager is an optional path in the career progression for someone with a degree in computer science. There are many career paths within information technology including software development, technology operations, quality assurance, and information security to name a few. Most manager roles in any of these disciplines typically require a degree plus 5-7 years experience working in the function. When making a decision to become an information technology manager, you should do it based on having a passion for leading, motivating, and developing employees. As a manager, you will be focusing most of your time on team management, budget management, and stakeholder management. If you have a degree and have the required technology experience, you can best position yourself for your first management role by taking courses focused on building management skills. I would also suggest volunteering for leading projects in your current team or taking responsibility for a specific function in your team that provides you with informal supervisory responsibilities over more junior team members. Good luck!
Dave McCown
Software Engineer
9
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Dave’s Answer
Hi, I'm assuming you mean managing a team of Software Engineers or Information Technology workers. From my experience, you'll want to first work on getting into a role as a Software Engineer. You can either look for college programs in Computer Science or you may alternatively look for being self-taught or doing a software bootcamp. I've worked with some brilliant engineers that did not have a formal education in Software Engineering.
You'll want to get a few experience as an individual contributor and talk to your manager about your aspirations of becoming a manager. I had about 10 years experience when I first pursued a change into management. I worked closely with my manager and looked for opportunities to demonstrate my leadership and problem solving skills. Eventually, I applied for an internal open position and was selected after several interviews.
I found switching into the manager more a career change than a promotion. The things that made me successful as a individual contributor no longer applied and I had to learn a lot on the job how make a team successful. Make sure you pay attention to the qualities you like from your manager and leadership. See how the teams they run perform, and ask yourself why do some teams succeed while other teams struggle. It will definitely help prepare you for your career as a manager!
Good luck!
You'll want to get a few experience as an individual contributor and talk to your manager about your aspirations of becoming a manager. I had about 10 years experience when I first pursued a change into management. I worked closely with my manager and looked for opportunities to demonstrate my leadership and problem solving skills. Eventually, I applied for an internal open position and was selected after several interviews.
I found switching into the manager more a career change than a promotion. The things that made me successful as a individual contributor no longer applied and I had to learn a lot on the job how make a team successful. Make sure you pay attention to the qualities you like from your manager and leadership. See how the teams they run perform, and ask yourself why do some teams succeed while other teams struggle. It will definitely help prepare you for your career as a manager!
Good luck!
Great answer!
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1858
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Firstly, I would suggest you need to understand the requirement of the position including qualification and skills, experience, etc. You can find this out from the job recruiting websites. You can identify some common requirements in these jobs and identify the mandatory and optional requirements.
In terms of the qualifications and skills, you can learn this from the college or attend course to achieve it. If you would like to give yourself more value, you can also look into the optional requirement and attend the relevant course.
On the other hand, understand you would like to be the manager in the future, you may also consider to acquire the management knowledge . You can consider taking management related modules in the college. Alternatively, you can consider to take the MBA after you complete the 1st degree. However, I would suggest you take the MBA after having a few years working experience.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
In terms of the qualifications and skills, you can learn this from the college or attend course to achieve it. If you would like to give yourself more value, you can also look into the optional requirement and attend the relevant course.
On the other hand, understand you would like to be the manager in the future, you may also consider to acquire the management knowledge . You can consider taking management related modules in the college. Alternatively, you can consider to take the MBA after you complete the 1st degree. However, I would suggest you take the MBA after having a few years working experience.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Sabrina Eldridge
Manager
3
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Sabrina’s Answer
Initiative, adaptability, problem solving skills, and learning to challenge norms while creating a psychological safe space for those you are challenging are the key assets in gaining and performing within this role.
The first step you need to take is to establish your foundation in the field, studying it in school and/or gaining a few years of professional experience in the field. Education gives you an understanding of basic principles that will, likely, always apply. Experience gives you an understanding for practicality - what is realistic to achieve and what isn’t?
To move from there to a managerial role, you need to prove you can lead, even without the title, and that takes initiative. For every problem you encounter, evaluate not just the individual piece you’ve been assign but, at a higher scale, is this approach appropriate in terms of security, scalability, performance, longevity, modularity, reusability, and other best practices? How does it affect our clients, our internal stakeholders, and our employees? And if there’s an instance where one or more of these items is not being addressed appropriately, propose a solution, and take the time, planning, and organization to move it forward. If, outside of the problems you deal with directly, you see areas for improvement, you can do the same as well.
When you propose your ideas and request permission to move forward, be sure to present it based on concrete data. When those ideas are challenged, validate the sentiments and other ideas proposed. Creating psychological safety is the only way others will feel safe enough to open themselves up to changing the status quo. Think through other perspectives and adapt your solution or derive a new, collaborative solution, that would best solve the issue at hand. The process is likely to take multiple meetings and you may have to perform research in between. Be patient and consistent and you can and will make an impact.
Once you’re recognized as a leader by taking the steps to lead and create positive change, even without a title, you will either be recognized in your company and have the opportunity to progress, or you will have experiences to add to your resume and discuss in interviews to progress elsewhere.
Becoming a leader, with or without the title, is incredibly fulfilling. You know you’re leaving a positive impact behind. Best of luck, and I hope you make it there!
The first step you need to take is to establish your foundation in the field, studying it in school and/or gaining a few years of professional experience in the field. Education gives you an understanding of basic principles that will, likely, always apply. Experience gives you an understanding for practicality - what is realistic to achieve and what isn’t?
To move from there to a managerial role, you need to prove you can lead, even without the title, and that takes initiative. For every problem you encounter, evaluate not just the individual piece you’ve been assign but, at a higher scale, is this approach appropriate in terms of security, scalability, performance, longevity, modularity, reusability, and other best practices? How does it affect our clients, our internal stakeholders, and our employees? And if there’s an instance where one or more of these items is not being addressed appropriately, propose a solution, and take the time, planning, and organization to move it forward. If, outside of the problems you deal with directly, you see areas for improvement, you can do the same as well.
When you propose your ideas and request permission to move forward, be sure to present it based on concrete data. When those ideas are challenged, validate the sentiments and other ideas proposed. Creating psychological safety is the only way others will feel safe enough to open themselves up to changing the status quo. Think through other perspectives and adapt your solution or derive a new, collaborative solution, that would best solve the issue at hand. The process is likely to take multiple meetings and you may have to perform research in between. Be patient and consistent and you can and will make an impact.
Once you’re recognized as a leader by taking the steps to lead and create positive change, even without a title, you will either be recognized in your company and have the opportunity to progress, or you will have experiences to add to your resume and discuss in interviews to progress elsewhere.
Becoming a leader, with or without the title, is incredibly fulfilling. You know you’re leaving a positive impact behind. Best of luck, and I hope you make it there!