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How Do I Become an IT/IS Manager?

Posted by kdawson on from the do-i-even-want-to dept.

link915 writes "For the last seven years I have moved around from job to job climbing the rungs of the IT ladder. I've worked in tech support, network operations, sys admin, and as a programmer. Two years ago I took a job with a company that has a small IT department. We are now hiring on more people and doubling the department, and along with this growth comes an IT manager. Now, I could stay and wait things out with the goal of taking over the IT manager's position someday; or I could look for a new job as a manager elsewhere. What are others' experiences with moving up the ranks in IT? Is it best to move on to another company or to stay where you are and try to get ahead there?"

1 of 371 comments (clear)

  1. Why would they hire an IT manager? by erroneus · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    It would seem obvious that before they decided on that direction they must have considered promoting you -- you would most likely come cheaper than anyone they'd hire from the outside. There's probably two or more reasons for this:

    1. They don't think you're capable and they can do better than you
    2. One of the executive good ole boys has a friend or relative that needs a job

    There's not a lot you can do about this sort of thing now. It's probably already too late. I have witnessed some HORRIBLE hiring decisions made in the recent past. (Paul Diviney, yes! I am talking about YOU, the incompetent cert chaser!) One case in particular comes to mind where this guy clearly lied beyond belief on his resume to get the job he was hired to do and was completely incapable of executing the functions required and then telling horrible lies while making excuses. (He actually claimed that "I lost the CDs" when asked why there was no Blackberry Server yet when any fool knows you can download the software from RIM's web site!) And to make matters worse, one of his underlings was asked by Paul's boss to "help train him in how to be a better leader!" They knew they made a bad hiring choice and was actually asking the people UNDER him to help train him to be better! (This is all true, by the way. Not an OUNCE of fiction in it and I'm not even changing names to protect the guilty. If you see a resume with Paul Diviney at the top of it, call him in for an interview! Most people can see through his BS even if he does talk the management talk.

    Bottom line recommendation? Enroll in some school to please HR departments. You don't have a chance in hell of getting into management unless you're really in good with existing management.