No matter what point you're at in your executive career, we've got tips to help you refine your career goals, improve your standing in your company and appeal to executive headhunters on the prowl to fill CIO positions. We'll show you how to make the leap into the CEO's position, and help you polish and shine your reputation with the board of directors. We've also got a very personal look at lessons others have learned on the road to becoming a CIO that is unlike any executive career advice you've ever read before. Whether you're looking for job hunting tips or just trying to be ready when top executive search firms come knocking, you can't afford to miss these valuable career tips and skills-building advice.
This guide is part of SearchCIO-Midmarket.com's Midmarket CIO Briefings series, which is designed to give IT leaders strategic management and decision-making advice on timely topics.
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Is it possible for a CIO to become a CEO?
We've all heard the old joke that the letters C, I and O stand for career is over. While there's a wealth of evidence to support the contrary, it does seem as though a CIO rarely makes the leap to the biggest desk in the company: the CEO position. Why is it that the board of directors rarely looks to the tech folks when it comes time to fill a CEO vacancy?
Our resident CEO John Weathington suggests that the problem is perception. While the CIO might feel that the board pays attention to the CIO only when there's a new gadget in town, the problem is deeper than that -- the board has a difficult time seeing the CIO role as a strategic position within the company. In order to advance to the ultimate C-level position, a CIO must make extra effort to change this prejudice, starting with the IT department. Weathington has many tips for a successful CEO candidate, including succession training and publicizing career intentions.
CIO career management glossary
Want a real-life business dictionary? Here are but a few of the terms we cover in our extensive collection of definitions, geared specifically to the CIO.
Avoid job burnout in your CIO responsibilities
When CIO Scott Lowe found himself faced with an untenable situation at his CIO position, it was a new feeling. He had always loved every bit of his CIO responsibilities and he wasn't sure how to move forward despite his fierce loyalty to his employer. Then he realized that sometimes remaining loyal and stepping out of his CIO position were one and the same. In this process of looking forward, he identifies some key mistakes that he made that contributed to job burnout.
Job burnout is the primary driver for job dissatisfaction. It's difficult to remember, because CIOs have generally ascended to their position because they care about their CIO responsibilities and the IT strategy as a whole more than anyone else in the company does. It's a tough burden to shoulder and most CIOs are happy to do it, but Lowe cautions against this extreme dedication to the CIO position. CIOs must remember that they are not their CIO responsibilities, he says. Whether they retain the role of the CIO or wear a different hat, they are still the masters of their own destiny and must be cognizant of their stopping point. An unlimited appetite for work and stress is a serious warning sign that you could be cruising for a career change in the not-so-distant future.
CIO job advice: What are executive headhunters after?
As CIOs assess their career path and choices, they often look back to their own mistakes, as well as to triumphs along the way. This self-examination is crucial to determine potential soft spots on a CIO's resume, as well as positioning oneself for the IT roles of the future. Executive headhunters are always on the prowl for new -- and not so new -- talent, and top executives must consider how well they stack up against the competition when they're looking to advance in the industry. Our expert Jonathan Hassell offers career tips to help you navigate the uncharted waters of your own potential, either inside your existing CIO responsibilities or down the road in another top executive position.
Hassell outlines three major CIO career tips. The first involves refining and strengthening your day-to-day CIO responsibilities. Focus on self-improvement efforts, such as project management and resource coordination, to deliver your assigned projects on time and within budget, he advises. Also, look for ways to demonstrate your ability to brainstorm and sell new initiatives back to the business. Executive headhunters are seeking candidates who can think on their feet and will really shine in top executive jobs, so consider exactly how you can communicate those initiatives to the board of directors.
Quiz: Are you on the CIO career path to success?
IT executives looking to fine-tune their CIO career path in 2011 witnessed a continued evolution in their roles and responsibilities. Technology innovation was at the forefront of the most successful CIO efforts, with business process management and people skills also leading the way.
Did you pay attention to the factors that put CIO careers on the path to success this past year, and are you ready for similar leadership opportunities in the coming year? Find out by taking our quiz.