| Topic Name: |
IT Management/Consulting |
| Message Name: |
Your insight is right |
| Date Posted: |
10/08/2003 |
| In Reply To: |
Hi Everyone -- I would really appreciate some intelligent and knowledgeable insight/advice to my 'problem'.
I graduated from a competitive liberal arts college with a degree in Computer Science in May 2001. Right now, I work as a Senior Database Developer/Business Intelligence specialist in an NYC ecommerce firm, and I earn a bit less than $100,000. I am right now pursuing my MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) certifications. I hope to also pursue Oracle and Cognos certifications sometime in the near future.
I am having problems making up my mind on what career path(s) to take over the next 5 years.
Firstly, I am thinking of applying to an MBA program (in one of the top schools), starting Fall 2005. If I graduated with an MBA in 2007 (29 years old), from what I see the only option I have is Consulting, specifically IT Consulting. Does this career path mean I will have to lose my technical skills? My fear is that much greater focus on the business side of work (which Consulting involves) will lead to my losing the technical skills I have worked so hard to develop. I understand that I cannot be a Programmer forever, but I feel that these technical skills are a wonderful safety net for job security, especially given the horrible job market we have all experienced. I have never been laid off, but I know that with the technical skills I have, if I was to be on the job market, I would have a much better chance of getting a new offer than many of the people who I 'report' to at work, such as the IT Directors and Project Managers.
Is it wise to quit my job in the next few years to pursue an MBA full-time?
What options would I have when I graduated?
Would I be looking at a significant pay increase, given what I would be making (assuming I get good raises) just before I begin my program?
Do I have better marketability by putting more focus on my technical skills as I am doing now, or is it adviseable to try to move into management/consulting by focusing more on the business side of things with or without an MBA?
As you can see, I am avery confused person! I would really appreciate any help!!! .... |
| Message: |
Hi,
I believe your insight is correct. Pursuing an MBA will drive you to start loosing your "hands-on" technical skills up to date. And it??s simply a matter of time. How much, it will depend on you attitude and perseverance.
You have to ask your self, why do you want to apply for an MBA. If you don??t like the business side, it will be a waste of money and time. Perhaps you can consider a Project Management program.
An MBA degree, will allow you to work in many other areas than IT Consulting. Think about Business Development, Marketing, Product Management, Investment, etc for IT related companies.
Keeping your technical skills is allways up to you. Even if you are not an MBA. You can allways engage in open source projects or any other flexible technical after work activity. If not, you can keep your technical skills upated but not hands-on.
There is nothing wrong with that (Remember a day has only 24 hs and you cannot do everything). You will have to define, what will you like most to do in the coming years...
Good luck!
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