Year Two extra credit
Fire up your IT career! |
Year One core curriculum
Year One extra credit
Year Two core curriculum
Year Two extra credit
Other resources
Fashion basics
Pop quiz: How long should your slacks be?The answer's below, but if you said, "Short enough so that they don't get caught in my bicycle sprocket," you really need this extra-credit assignment.
IT pros have a reputation for being sartorially challenged. Fair or not, the image persists. If you and your colleagues do pay less attention to dress, it's because technology is a proud meritocracy in which the quality of people's ideas means more than the color of their socks.
Nevertheless, you're entering a world in which appearance matters. As your job changes to include more face time with business executives and lawyers, it's worth your while to make sure your wardrobe is up to the challenge. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available (see list, right).
(ANSWER: According to dressforsuccess.com, "The pants in the front should touch the front of the shoe and angle toward the back of the shoe to fall just above the heel.")
Independent study
To MBA, or not to MBA.? That question divided our expert panel. Most network managers agree that an advanced degree would be a terrific resume item - but isn't life busy enough? Aravox Technologies' Jenson sums it up when he says, "An MBA might not hurt, but it is a pretty big, time sink."That it is, but others point out that most programs are extremely flexible - in addition to evening classes, distance-learning options are growing in popularity, so given enough time, you can earn an MBA from the comfort of your own browser.
Moreover, you can tailor a program to earn "pieces of an MBA" that will boost your career immediately, Intranets.com's Peacock notes.
Eventually, those pieces can add up to a degree, which executive recruiter Kaplan says is vital if you want to join senior management: "You're kidding yourself if you think they're looking for a COO in network managers," he says. "If you're really going to grow, it's good to get an advanced degree in another discipline."
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Ulfelder is a freelance writer and can be reached at sulfelder@charter.net.
Fire up your IT career!
Spending less time managing networks and more time managing relationships with outsourcers and upper managers? Need to bone up on nontechnical skills like negotiating and presenting? Here's a two-year study guide.
Year One core curriculum
The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin features an optional Information Management concentration that enjoys a reputation as one of the nation's top techno-MBA programs.
Year One extra credit
To advance your employer's interests while giving your career a big boost, many experts advise media training and/or lessons in public speaking.
Year Two core curriculum
Negotiating contracts with vendors, carriers and outsourcers is a key part of network managers' jobs today and will become even more important in the future.
Campus bookstore reading list
Recommended reading so you can reach your two year goals.
NetSmart specializes in IT education and offers a new Business Technologist Certification.
Computerworld's ranking of the top schools for techno-MBAs
ITworld.com's special report on negotiation
Wardrobe tips
From Dressforsuccess.com
