How Do I Become a Chief Technical Officer?

A chief technical officer is an executive who is responsible for increasing profitability of an organization by developing its technical division. This executive is responsible for making large decisions regarding an organization's computer and telecommunication networks, research development, and all other technological concerns. Professionals in this field tend to have years of experience as Information Technology (IT) professionals and business managers. To become a chief technical officer, it can be helpful to attend an academic degree program in computer science, work entry level IT positions, and gain firsthand knowledge of an industry in which you would like to work.

To become a chief technical officer, it can be valuable to earn an academic degree in computer science or engineering. While an undergraduate degree might be enough to begin an IT career, you also might have to earn a graduate degree in a similar concentration. Chief technical officer positions are some of the highest ranking in the IT industry. Many of the most qualified IT professionals occupy these positions.

Along with an education, it is also important to get IT job experience to become a chief technical officer. Many academic programs offer students internship opportunities. These can be a great way for aspiring technical officers to learn the basics of a business and network with future leads and references.

An individual who would like to become a chief technical officer should determine in which industry he or she would like to work after completing a basic education and corresponding work experience. Almost every kind of business has needs for IT specialists. To become a chief technical officer, you should first understand the concerns, challenges, and terminology associated with a specific industry.

A common strategy for aspiring chief technical officers is to begin by earning management titles. Positions such as IT manager or senior engineer can serve as entryways to executive titles. To qualify for management positions, however, a professional already must have years of experience and a thorough understanding of a business.

You should compose and edit your resume as you gain more and more experience. A resume is a document that lists all instances of your educational and work experience. Under each listing, write a list of skills that you have developed. To become a chief technical officer, you want your resume to show that you have experience managing and optimizing successful IT systems. A resume should also show that you have the management skills and knowledge to help an organization generate higher profits.