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What is a great way to start my career as a Computer & Information System Manager in California?
I'm trying to start my career as a Computer & Information System Manager but I have no clue where to begin and how to gain the experience needed.
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david’s Answer
You already have some excellent suggestions in the education to pursue. I'll offer some suggestions and thoughts on getting the job.
First, start at any position that will challenge you, whether programmer, server administrator, or whatever else seems a strong fit for a start.
Second, excel at that role. Don't just do it; go far above in doing exceptional, over-the-top, taking initiative type of work. Get a couple of years experience doing that to demonstrate your willingness to get it done well. This is to cement a positive reputation.
Next, volunteer for any role, whether temporary or longer, that lets you coordinate and plan and report progress on an assignment. You need that to help your manager adjust to seeing you in a leadership position. Build on that and talk to your manager about opportunities to 'do more.' You do not want to propose a change that implies you want to 'be in charge.' You may never rise to being the IT manager or director, and you may find as you grow in your position, that you do not want that position, but prefer other meaningful roles. Some of the issues that the IT manager faces are these:
Some of the challenges:
- management decides to expand into a new direction and is making commitments with tech companies without realizing the need to get your insight or involvement
- current vendors will continually 'remind' you that their products and services are state of the art, causing you to miss opportunities to shift your technology plans elsewhere
- corporate budgets are a continual battle to get the funds to upgrade hardware and software for performance and safety
- the ongoing concern for hackers and data theft puts high pressure on the info systems mgr to safeguard these items
- defining the right balance on when to use in-house staff and when to outsource projects is complex. Employees want the new work, and management wants the new features implemented more quickly.
- staying ahead of technology is often a gamble. You need to stay abreast of any new directions that may signal that the technology you are using is becoming outmoded and that you need to invest in rebuilding various components with different tools. And that may require retraining for staff.
- developing new corporate initiatives. As the info systems mgr, you need to prove your value by taking a leadership role in helping upper management see new opportunities where evolving technologies can increase market share or open new markets.
This list isn't complete, but I hope it gives you some ideas. As it shows, much of the work of the IT managers has nothing to do with design and coding or other technical tasks. All the best to you.
First, start at any position that will challenge you, whether programmer, server administrator, or whatever else seems a strong fit for a start.
Second, excel at that role. Don't just do it; go far above in doing exceptional, over-the-top, taking initiative type of work. Get a couple of years experience doing that to demonstrate your willingness to get it done well. This is to cement a positive reputation.
Next, volunteer for any role, whether temporary or longer, that lets you coordinate and plan and report progress on an assignment. You need that to help your manager adjust to seeing you in a leadership position. Build on that and talk to your manager about opportunities to 'do more.' You do not want to propose a change that implies you want to 'be in charge.' You may never rise to being the IT manager or director, and you may find as you grow in your position, that you do not want that position, but prefer other meaningful roles. Some of the issues that the IT manager faces are these:
Some of the challenges:
- management decides to expand into a new direction and is making commitments with tech companies without realizing the need to get your insight or involvement
- current vendors will continually 'remind' you that their products and services are state of the art, causing you to miss opportunities to shift your technology plans elsewhere
- corporate budgets are a continual battle to get the funds to upgrade hardware and software for performance and safety
- the ongoing concern for hackers and data theft puts high pressure on the info systems mgr to safeguard these items
- defining the right balance on when to use in-house staff and when to outsource projects is complex. Employees want the new work, and management wants the new features implemented more quickly.
- staying ahead of technology is often a gamble. You need to stay abreast of any new directions that may signal that the technology you are using is becoming outmoded and that you need to invest in rebuilding various components with different tools. And that may require retraining for staff.
- developing new corporate initiatives. As the info systems mgr, you need to prove your value by taking a leadership role in helping upper management see new opportunities where evolving technologies can increase market share or open new markets.
This list isn't complete, but I hope it gives you some ideas. As it shows, much of the work of the IT managers has nothing to do with design and coding or other technical tasks. All the best to you.
Updated
Raj’s Answer
High school's offer variety of courses, including AP classes that are geared towards learning foundational Computer Science. While Computer Science is geared towards more of programming using various languages, scripts etc,, Information Systems Management is slightly a different area. For Computer & Information Systems, the curriculum will be different and focuses more on Management Information Systems (a.k.a MIS).
It would be beneficial to take some basic foundational programming courses, and work towards an MIS specialization can lead to Management positions.
One can also find MIS positions directly, however most places require one to have good experience or understanding of working within IT/IS sectors, preferably hands-on experience coding/development/testing and implementation of small/medium to large Software/IT projects.
Take fundamental computer science courses such as Basics of Computer, Data Structures, SDLC
Take any of the Software courses - Java, Python, Java Script frameworks (#1 React. js. #2 TezJS. #3 Vue. js. #4 Aurelia. js. #5 Meteor. js. #6 Polymer. js. #7 Backbone. js. #8 Angular. js.)
Take foundational courses of Databases (any), Data Analytics
Take foundational courses of Web Design, HTML, Web 3, XML courses
Take MIS concepts to learn how to manage Software / IT projects
It would be beneficial to take some basic foundational programming courses, and work towards an MIS specialization can lead to Management positions.
One can also find MIS positions directly, however most places require one to have good experience or understanding of working within IT/IS sectors, preferably hands-on experience coding/development/testing and implementation of small/medium to large Software/IT projects.
Raj recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Sushanta’s Answer
Most of the colleges offer two distinct majors for students aiming for IT careers:
1. Computer Science [CS]
2. Management Information System [MIS] / Computer Information System [CIS]
MIS / CIS is geared toward practical computer applications and is more appropriate if you are aiming for an IT manager career.
Good luck!
1. Computer Science [CS]
2. Management Information System [MIS] / Computer Information System [CIS]
MIS / CIS is geared toward practical computer applications and is more appropriate if you are aiming for an IT manager career.
Good luck!