Pete is a Senior Systems Administrator for America Online in the Mail Operations Department, which is is responsible for delivering and sending all Internet e-mail to AOL members as well as all e-mail sent between AOL members. AOL has the largest e-mail system in the world.

Prior to working for AOL, Pete spent the first ten years of his career at Electronic Data Systems (EDS), supporting four different Government contracts.

Pete grew up in a family with two brothers and one sister in Central Pennsylvania and currently lives in Virginia with his wife and two sons.

PETE JONES & HIS CAREER

BusinessSchools.com: How did you come to specialize in MIS?

Pete Jones: While I was going to high school in the early 1980s, I took a computer programming class and really enjoyed it. From that point on, I knew I wanted to work in the computer field. When I went to college, I chose MIS over Computer Science because I felt that MIS provided a broader curriculum than Computer Science.

BusinessSchools.com: How did your professional career unfold?

PJ: Right out of college I accepted a position with EDS in their System Engineer Development (SED) program. At the time, the SED program was very respected program throughout the computer industry. Part of the program consisted of an intense 10 week training program in which you had to pass in order to keep your employment with EDS. Only about 50% of the people in my class successfully completed the training. While at EDS, I worked on Government contracts supporting NASA, IRS and the FAA.

After ten years of working on Government contracts I felt I needed a change. It was at that point, I decided to go to work AOL as a Senior Systems Administrator. Currently I'm the Technical Lead for the Tools group that is responsible for developing applications that monitor and analyze all of the data and processes that support the Mail infrastructure.

BusinessSchools.com: What has been your key to success?

PJ: I think the keys to my success so far have been my dedication, hard-working attitude and truly enjoying my work. I think it is also very important for one's own well being to be able receive a sense of self-accomplishment from their work.

BusinessSchools.com: What do you enjoy most about your job?

PJ: The thing I enjoy most about my job at AOL is that things change rapidly. There's no time to be bored. There are always new challenges that allow you to continually grow professionally. It's also good to know that changes you make can make the experience for millions and millions of members better.

BusinessSchools.com: What was your greatest success and biggest setback?

PJ: Contributing to the success of the AOL mail system. Millions of people rely on the ability to send and read mail everyday on AOL.

BusinessSchools.com: Would you do anything differently if you could re-live your career up to this point?

PJ: I probably would have left the world of Government contracting sooner. The private sector has been much more challenging and rewarding.

BusinessSchools.com: Who were the biggest inspirations for your career?

PJ: My parents and my wife. They have always been very supportive and provided guidance when requested.

THE ACTUAL WORK

BusinessSchools.com: Describe a typical day of work for you.

PJ: Being a Technical Lead, as well as an independent contributor, I usually get to do a wide variety of tasks on any given day. The tasks range from developing/maintaining code, system administration, system analysis, delegating tasks, and a lot interfacing with co-workers. And then every now and then a production issue arises that needs to be attended to. It's important to be able to multi-task.

BusinessSchools.com: Is it important to collaborate with your MIS colleagues? How have your professional collaborations benefited your career?

PJ: It is very important to collaborate with your colleagues. The world seems to be getting smaller and smaller everyday. I have crossed paths with many of my previous colleagues. It is important to be respectful to all your colleagues because you never know you; a few years down the road you may be working for one of them.

While I was at EDS working on a contract for the FAA, Mike Adamski was a sub-contractor to EDS who eventually left his employer and became a manager at AOL in the Mail Operations department. Not coincidentally, he's also my manager. One word of advice: You don't want to burn any bridges.

JOB INFORMATION & ADVICE

BusinessSchools.com: Who are three of the most renowned MIS executives in the world right now? How did they get to the top?

PJ:I would say Bill Gates and Steve Case are the top two, and I know Bill didn't complete college. I don't think Steve Case did either.

BusinessSchools.com: What are the best ways to go about getting a job in MIS?

PJ: One of the best was to get a job is through personal referrals. Keep in touch with your classmates, especially those that have graduated a year ahead of you in school. They might be able to assist you getting a job within the company they work for or let you know that you wouldn't want to work there. I would also recommend trying to get an internship while in school. It can provide good insight into the business world and may even lead to a job offer after school.

Finally use the Internet to research companies that you are interested in and submit your resume online. On most companies web pages, they have a place where you can submit your resume. There are also several web sites dedicated to matching companies with candidates. When submitting your resume, be sure to use keywords that describe your skill set. Many companies receive too many resumes for the Human Resources department to read each thoroughly. Instead the use resume databases, and search on keywords based on the skill set needed for their job openings.

BusinessSchools.com: Describe your ideal job candidate and your nightmare job candidate.

PJ: The ideal candidate would be someone that has a good work ethic, who works well and communicates effectively with others. While technical skills are important to get the job done, those skills can be picked up over time. It's a person's behavior traits that are more difficult to change.

A nightmare job candidate would be someone who overstates their experience and/or knowledge and does not work well with others.

BusinessSchools.com: How available are internships in this field?

PJ: I think they are becoming a lot more available especially in the tight labor market we are currently in, more and more companies are turning to internships to assist in getting the work done.

BusinessSchools.com: How is the job market now for the MIS industry?

PJ: At least in the Greater Washington, D.C. area it's very tight. There are a lot more jobs than there are people to fill them.

BusinessSchools.com: What do you think the job market will be in 5 years?

PJ: I think there will be an even greater need for employees with an MIS background than there currently is.

BusinessSchools.com: How does a person know if they are cut out for an education and career in the management of information systems?

PJ: In order to be successful in the MIS field, I think a person needs to be self-motivated and have a desire to continue learning throughout their career. Technology is changing so quickly that if you do not keep your skill set current, the industry is going to pass you by. It a very exciting field to be in.

BusinessSchools.com: If you were advising students right now who are in business/computer degree programs, what would you suggest to be the best technical areas to learn specifically, the programming languages, software, hardware?

PJ: A few of the languages that are in most demand are C/C++, Perl and Java. As far as software is concerned, there is a large demand people with database experience. From an operating platform envirnment, I think there is more demand for individuals with UNIX experience vs Microsoft Windows/NT.

BusinessSchools.com: What is the average starting salary for MIS professionals in the US?

PJ: There is such a wide range of jobs, many with a diverse set of skills that I think it is very difficult to come up with an average starting salary for MIS professionals in the US that is meaningful. There are a number of web sites that will provide average salary information based on the job, location, and in some cases the number of years experience. I would suggest checking out some of those web sites and select the job and location that fits you best. I think you get a more accurate estimate as to what you can expect to earn.

EDUCATION INFORMATION & ADVICE

BusinessSchools.com: Tell us about your education.

PJ: I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1987 with a BS degree in MIS. During the summer of my Junior year I had a summer internship that provided a valuable insight into what life would be like when I graduated.

BusinessSchools.com: What did you like and dislike about your MIS related education?

PJ: I liked the mixture of classes that the MIS curriculum required. There was a good balance between system analysis and programming classes versus general business classes. The system analysis and programming classes provided the technical skills necessary and the business classes provided an insight as to how companies work. Both were very valuable in preparing me to have a successful career.

I think my sociology class was my greatest dislike.

BusinessSchools.com: Is a MIS related education worth it? Why?

PJ: Absolutely. A degree in MIS can open the doors to a wide variety of jobs in a wide range of businesses. In today's world just about every industry needs employees with the skill set that a MIS degree provides.

BusinessSchools.com: When is it a good idea to get a graduate degree in MIS? What would benefit your career more at this point: an MBA or a graduate level computer degree?

PJ: I think a lot of it depends on what you want to do with your career. More and more Government contracts are requiring that certain key positions be filled with employees that have an MBA or graduate degree. One of the best ways to determine the level of education you need is to do your homework. Look for job postings that best fit your ideal job and see what their education requirements are, then tailor your education accordingly.

INDUSTRY TRENDS

BusinessSchools.com: How has the popularity of the Internet affected your profession?

PJ: Since I work for AOL, it has had a major impact on my career. Without the Internet I wouldn't be at AOL. When I first started at AOL two years ago, the company had 11 million paying members; now, there are over 23 million. The growth of the Internet has just been tremendous. If used properly, the Internet can be a very valuable tool regardless what profession you are in or where you are your life.

CLOSING REMARKS

BusinessSchools.com: Is there anything else you can tell us about yourself, your career, or the profession that would be interesting or helpful to others aspiring to enter and succeed as in MIS?

PJ: I have seen a number of people through the years burn out from working too many hours day after day, year after year. While it's important to prove your value to your company, don't make your job your life. There will be times when emergency or crisis situations arise that will cause you to work extra hours, but don't let every situation become a crisis. Life is too short, it's very important to have a well-balanced life. In the long run you will be a much better employee to your company.

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