Are you interested in a career as an enterprise architect but aren’t sure how to get started?
Working as an enterprise architecture requires a unique skill set, as you’ll be responsible for designing, analyzing, and implementing various IT strategies. How do you get a job as an enterprise architect? What does the career path look like?
Check out this guide to discover the top job strategies for becoming an enterprise architect.
Understand the Role of an Enterprise Architect
Before we dive into how to land a job as an enterprise architect, let’s first talk about what this career entails. An enterprise architect is someone who works with the information technology structure of a business to make sure it aligns with the company’s goals.
You’ll work with both senior management and stakeholders to ensure that the company uses its IT assets effectively and in accordance with its mission statement. Essentially, an enterprise architect looks at a business’s strategy and outlines the technological systems that will be needed to make this strategy come to life.
While every day looks different for an enterprise architect, here are what some of your job duties will entail:
- Optimizing information management systems
- Developing and coordinating enterprise architecture activities on a local and global scale
- Aligning business and architecture initiatives with the overall enterprise architecture
- Auditing compliance to meet enterprise architecture standards
- Serving as an advisor to senior level management on information and business strategies
- Mapping and translating business strategy into information strategy
- Influencing their organization to accomplish goals through architectural activities
- Researching IT solutions to discover ways to enhance operations
- Evaluating existing IT systems for vulnerabilities that may affect security, efficiency, or performance
As you can see, the responsibilities of an enterprise architect are quite varied.
Becoming an Enterprise Architect: Top Job Strategies
Now that you know the job duties of an enterprise architect, let’s talk about what you need to do to become one. Here are the top job strategies:
1. Get the Right Education
Most enterprise architects undergo years of schooling before beginning their work. At a minimum, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in IT to become an enterprise architect.
However, most enterprise architects go on to earn their master’s degrees. You can earn a master’s in enterprise architecture, or in a similar field such as IT or computer science.
2. Earn Certifications
If you’re interested in a career as an enterprise architect but already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, fear not, as there are numerous certifications you can earn to boost your knowledge and chances of landing a job.
Here are some of the enterprise architect certifications you can earn:
Certified Information Security Professional Certification: This certification teaches how to design, implement, and manage outstanding cybersecurity programs.
Certified Information Systems Auditor Certification: To earn this certification, you’ll need a minimum of five years of experience in information systems auditing, security, control, or assurance. You’ll also need to pass a 150-question multiple-choice test to qualify for this certification.
Systems Engineering Professional Certification: This certificate acknowledges that you’re an expert at systems engineering. It’s offered through the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOS). The organization also offers certificate programs for the Expert Systems Engineering Professional, Certified Systems Engineering Professional, and Associate Systems Engineering Professional.
Certified Information Security Manager Certification: This certification recognizes that you have the knowledge to design and manage information security systems. You must pass an online exam to earn this certification.
Federal Enterprise Architecture Certification Certification: This organization has two programs: a green belt program and a black belt program. These certificates show that you know how to implement enterprise architecture strategies within a government framework. You’ll need to attend a training program to earn these certifications.
The Open Group Architecture Framework Certification: This certificate program teaches you how to take a systematic approach to enterprise architecture while maintaining budgets and timelines. To earn this certificate, you’ll need to complete a training course and pass an exam.
3. Acquire the Right Skills
In addition to getting the right education and earning the right certificates, there are a variety of skills you need to acquire to succeed as an enterprise architect.
Here are the skills you should work on developing:
Project Management: You’ll need a high level of planning and attention to detail to ensure successful project execution in this role.
Analytical Skills: In this role, you focus heavily on systems analysis. You’ll need to possess the right analytical skills to gather and interpret data.
Leadership: You’ll be responsible for coordinating IT projects across various departments and organizations. You may be put in charge of an IT team, and you’ll need strong leadership skills to keep your employees on task.
Negotiation and Collaboration: Because you’ll be working with different departments, you’ll need excellent negotiation and collaboration skills to develop beneficial solutions for everyone involved.
Communication: Enterprise architects need to have clear communication skills. Because you’ll be responsible for educating others in your company on your strategies, you’ll need to know how to break down complex information into language that everyone can understand.
Are You Ready to Become an Enterprise Architect?
Now that you know what it takes to become an enterprise architect, it’s time for you to get started with these job strategies. Keep in mind that many enterprise architects start out in entry-level IT roles to build the necessary skills for this position.
If you’re unable to land a job right out of college as an enterprise architect, don’t feel discouraged. Instead, work on developing your skillset and earning the right certifications.
And be sure to check back in with our blog for more job strategies!