You can, maybe should, look on the two jobs you have had as extensions to the learning process you are doing in college and in that case you would be looking for the broadest experience you can get. That would probably point to the business analyst option as meeting that goal best.
Since you aspire to a CIO position, that role will involve as much, if not more, business experience than IT "techy" stuff. Perhaps, when it comes to full time employment, you should look for an appointment where they will sponsor you on an MBA program to follow up on your computer science degree?
A lot of people, me included, who joined an IT function, either in a large company or a dedicated service company, reach a point in their career, where they have to decide whether their true interest is in the technology or in the company that utilizes it. The way to management, particularly senior management, is to align yourself with the company's product line. This is especially true of the CIO, where you are translating the company's business requirements into the provision of technology solutions to meet those requirements. IT departments or service companies are just that, providers of services to their "clients", rather than an essential part of the business process. That's a choice that inevitably has to be made.
Now, do you need to make that choice right at the start of your career or can you afford a few years to check out the alternatives before deciding? I'd say check the alternatives first.
If you are absolutely interested in the technology but still want a role in senior management, then, maybe you should consider a position with a computer company, either hardware or software. My personal opinion is that you could be well suited to that with your specialization in AI, since I believe that will assume an increasing role in the future.
In case you are wondering, I chose the technology route and joined a computer company and achieved a high technical level and status. I was never really interested in people management. Horses for courses, your mileage may vary!
Good luck, whichever way you decide to go.
First let me give you a little background information so my question will become more clear. So, I am currently a rising senior in college pursuing a bachelors of science in computer science with a concentration in Artifical intelligence.
I worked for 2 months at an IT firm doing desktop support and learning hands on about networks since they mostly specialize in setting up networks for small to midsize business. It is a small IT firm with the owner also being the ceo/president. he has taught me a lot and everyday i go into work he is right there showing/teaching me something new. I learn a lot from him.
I left the IT firm to do a summer internship as a business systems analyst at a large company. I worked in the database / CRM management side in the IT department. I pretty much did data clean up projects and learned sql while doing it. I talked to the business leaders of different departments and started to map out the archive/purge logic for the crm database since they are going to move to a better system. I also learned alot, especially the business side of things.
Now I am in the situation where the company I am interning for is offering me a part-time job doing the same kinds of things I was doing over the summer. But, the small IT firm I worked at is also offering me my old job back.
My future career aspirations are to transition into the management side of IT (IT manager/ IT director) and maybe eventually to CIO (one can dream!) My questions is, which part-time job do you think will provide me with the experience that most appropriately matches my career apsirations?
Do I even consider money at this point? one job pays $10/hr while the business systems analyst postion pays $19/hr.
Just looking for some much needed career advice!
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