I have two years' development experience. My problem is that I have
become quite knowledgeable in many areas but not really an expert
in anything. I am at a stage where I do not really know my next
move. I am 25 and a business and IT graduate. I am interested in IT
consultancy and IT project management but I am unsure how to move
into these areas. Are these viable options?
You need at least five years in IT
Your objectives are
realistic but challenging in this market. As we expect an
improvement in job prospects across the industry from next year,
these chances will improve.
However, you will typically need more experience to become a
project manager or a consultant - a minimum of five years plus. So,
you are correct, you will need more experience in an IT discipline
to move into either of these roles.
Does your current company offer any scope to develop into project
management? Can you gain any experience working on any IT-related
projects? It is worth asking these questions before you extend your
search.
IT project managers typically have followed a development career,
from analyst programmer upwards, so it may be a good option to
consider moving along this route. A large company that invests in
careers will be a good bet for this because you will need ongoing
training and mentoring. If your current employer cannot offer this,
it may be worth looking at a larger organisation that offers a more
structured career path.
Finally, it is definitely worth approaching the big consultancies
(depending on your degree result), though you would have to expect
to specialise in a technical discipline for a few more years.
Solution by Michael Bennett, Best
International
The panel: MSB International, Best International, British
Computer Society, Computer Futures, Computer People, Elan, Reed
Computing, Zarak Technology, E-Skills UK