Being successful in a new industry is difficult, but not impossible Every time another survey about CIO tenure shows up, we’re reminded yet again that a long corporate life at one company is rarely in the cards for IT leaders. Today’s CIO lasts an average of 4.1 years on the job, according to management consultancy Janco Associates. Our own 2011 State of the CIO research pegs your average tenure at 5.2 years—a bit more optimistic, but still barely enough time to have a lasting impact. This information also tells us that many of you are looking for that next job right now. But are you searching outside your current industry? One of the myths in today’s job market is that CIOs can’t jump industries and be successful. Depends on the CIO, I’d argue. I spoke recently with two very successful industry-switching CIOs who had some great tips to share. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe Jeff Steinhorn, currently CIO at Hess and previously CIO at Linens ’n Things, made the leap from retail to energy. Patrick Thompson, now CIO at Amedisys and previously CIO at Shaw Group and Turner Industries, moved from construction and engineering to home healthcare. Their advice to other industry-changing IT leaders is this: Connect immediately, in learning mode, with the senior business team. Get granular, especially about their business processes, which the individual departments may own “but they don’t always know what they need,” Thompson says. Get the right people in the right jobs. Knowing who you can really rely on is critical in those early weeks and months. Start contributing right away by drawing on specific expertise from your past experience. Steinhorn’s retail-industry knowledge, for example, helped him deliver IT improvements to Hess’s retail business in a matter of months. Prioritize and re-evaluate all ongoing projects. When Thompson joined Amedisys, he found IT trying to focus on 365 projects, which he swiftly winnowed to 137, allowing “some important wins for the company.” Starting a new job in a new industry is doubly difficult, but it can be the ultimate success test for the CIO to go. I know there are many more of you out there, and I’d love to hear your stories, too. Drop me a line anytime. Michael Friedenberg is the president and CEO of CIO magazine’s parent company, IDG Enterprise. Email him at mfriedenberg@cio.com. Related content opinion The future of A.I. ethics is in our hands When so many of the world's smartest people warn us about 'killer robots' and other ethical issues inherent in artificial intelligence, we should heed their call to make sure A.I. is used for societal good By Michael Friedenberg Aug 31, 2015 2 mins Robotics opinion Beyond Moore's Law: Five technologies that will change the future IDG CEO Mike Friedenberg is watching the tech horizon and sees game-changing technologies in A.I., robotics, quantum computing and more. By Michael Friedenberg May 21, 2015 2 mins CIO 3D Printers Technology Industry opinion Security crashes the boardroom party Given the recent spate of headline-grabbing data breaches, CIOs need to be prepared to answer a lot of board questions about risk. By Michael Friedenberg Mar 30, 2015 2 mins Cybercrime Security opinion Are You Ready to Replace Yourself? CIOs rarely get to name their successors, and companies overall do a poor job of succession planning. CEO Michael Friedenberg says it's time to get serious about closing the succession gap. By Michael Friedenberg Jan 28, 2015 2 mins CIO Mentoring Careers Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe