The question: How do I move into IT from financial
sector?
I have recently sold my financial services business and I am
looking to begin a career in IT. I have had experience in running
and using IT in my business and I would want to work in IT
infrastructure. However, I have no formal qualifications. What
courses would you recommend and how do I go about training? With so
much opportunity, I do not want to end up in the £25,000 per year
income bracket.
The solution: Service management suits your
skillset
Having had experience of setting up, running your own business
and subsequently selling it, it would be fair to say that perhaps a
role in service management would best suit your skillset and
experience. You would be able to utilise your business acumen, the
managerial and negotiating experience you have obtained, and, of
course, your client-facing skills.
The principles of service management focus on the people,
processes and technology issues that IT organisations face. IT
service management involves managing IT systems and policies for
those IT departments and organisations that have a need to deliver
a high-quality IT service. You will specifically address the issues
surrounding the strategic business value generated by those IT
departments and organisations.
ITIL qualifications would be very useful within this field as
they would prove to employers your knowledge and capability around
a globally accepted approach to service management. To add further
credence to these qualifications, the British Standards Institute
supports the ITIL approach as the industry standard for IT service
management.
Unfortunately, in changing career, you will have to accept that
your starting salary may be less than you desire.
Solution by Jason D'Silva Williams, manager, commercial IT
recruitment, Hudson
The panel: Plan-Net Services, Hudson, Reed Technology, Zarak
Technology, No Limits Coaching, The Training Camp
E-mail your career questions to
computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk