What does an Info Science major do?

April 30, 2007 10:23 AM

I'm stuck in a contracting loop and I need career advice :( I'm about to finish up a 9 month contract at a major pharmaceutical. I was on contract for 6-months and got extended the final 3. Before that I was out of work for a few months after being laid off from my previous job. That involved supporting remote synchronization software as well as SQL work. I graduated with a major in Information Studies and I've worked help desk positions in the past.

I'm about to finish up a 9 month contract at a major pharmaceutical. I was on contract for 6-months and got extended the final 3. Before that I was out of work for a few months after being laid off from my previous job. That involved supporting remote synchronization software as well as SQL work. I graduated with a major in Information Studies and I've worked help desk positions in the past.

I'm looking to get into project management, networking, change control or IT sales. I don't want contracting positions. It's too much stress looking for a job so often and the lack of benefits is definitely not good either. I'm thinking about studying for the Cisco CCNA certifications for the networking route, or perhaps getting an MBA so I can go the project management route. I'm not that experienced with programming (nor do I enjoy that) so I'm at a loss of where I can really go or do.

Here's my work experience:

In college:

-year-round Internship at Computing Services group for the Arts and Sciences group
-Summer-internship at insurance company's LAN/Networking group

Post-grad:
-Full-time contractor for Insurance company's LAN/Networking group
-Full-time at a telecommunications company, was contracted by a pharmaceutical to support on-site our software they licensed
-Contrator for a major pharmaceutical. Ran several help desks, tier-2 support, account administration and training

What kinds of positions would I be suited for? Are there certain certifications you would recommend I get? (CCNA, MCSE, MBA) Should I go back to college for a master's degree or wait until I have a full-time job and do it nights/weekends? Is it even worth it? I've been in touch with a few of my headhunters but I'd like to do more on my own as well. Any companies you know of that are hiring a good deal in the IT industry?

I feel so lost at this point at where to go. I'm 3 years out of college and I don't feel I've gotten very far in my career. Any advice you can offer would be most appreciated.

posted by PetiePal to technology (6 comments total)

You left out an important factor in this decision. What are you long term goals? Are you looking for a stable job that you can work the rest of your life? Do you have any interest in starting your own company some day? Is contracting something you will never want to go back to? Do you like working 9-5 with a boss and a very clearly defined job, or do you like things less structured?
posted by AaRdVarK at 11:13 AM on April 30, 2007

3 years out of college, I wouldn't expect to be very far in most careers. There's also not a master's degree out there that will help you in the IT industry without some more experience under your belt.

You don't need grad school, you need a full-time job, one with a path for advancement. It's OK to be working the help desk, but make sure there's somewhere for you to move up to.
posted by mkultra at 11:27 AM on April 30, 2007

Also, it would be helpful to know what you like about information science/information management. Do you even like it, or do you think that's what you're stuck with because it's your major?

I guess there are some people who could make a career out of it but I personally would find working the help desk a pretty unfulfiling job for the long term.

if you're interested in higher education, I would strongly recommend saving up the money if possible so that at most you work part time and devote most of your time to study. Trying to get your masters on nights and weekends will take a while and it will wear you down.

You can definitely do project management without an MBA. You just can't do it for a fancypants corporation. But many smaller firms will be happy to let you do project management work -- although probably not right away.

If I were you, I would try to get in the ground floor of a small (50 employee) company, doing basic work, and then moving up to project management. If you do this, should get to wear all the hats, so you will be ready for anything and know what kinds of jobs you do and don't like.
posted by Deathalicious at 11:29 AM on April 30, 2007

Long term goals:

I'd like to be working a full-time position. That's really the most important factor. I would like to be making at the height of my career 100k+. It's very doable in the network path.

I do have an interest in starting up a company one day.

I picked information science because I wasn't so keen on programming. I'm a people person, and I didn't want to be stuck in a dark cubicle or room coding for my career. I love to work with people and I'm good at planning and managing projects. That was more computer science. Developing doesn't interest me so much. I like planning networks, projects, security (esp network),

I *could* go back to contracting in the future but I'd have to be making enough money to really justify it. (and have enough experience/credentials at that point to warrant that pay-at least 80k or above) Currently I'm at the 60k level.

As for structure, it doesn't have to be a huge corporation. Most of my professional experience has been that, with major insurance or pharmaceutical companies. It also doesn't have to be 9-5, but I'm finding it hard to get my foot in the door with smaller companies who will let you do even small project management without certs.
posted by PetiePal at 11:47 AM on April 30, 2007

I'd say your best bet is to skip grad school and the certifications and find a job with a firm where you can learn. For my three years after college I worked at a consulting firm with some of the smartest people I'm ever met in my career. The company encouraged an academic environment where we could spend our downtime researching new technologies. Mentorship was practically mandated, and as a junior developer, I was partnered up with more experienced consultants for projects. It was incredible.

The hard part is finding a company that can provide that kind of opportunity. Most of the ones I've seen that are like this wear it as a badge of honor, but they are few and far between.
posted by AaRdVarK at 12:11 PM on April 30, 2007

You could become an information architect. Work on creating a killer portfolio of wireframes and work on some projects for free with friends.
posted by xammerboy at 8:06 PM on April 30, 2007