High School
The educational background of Internet executives varies as widely as the nature of their diverse responsibilities. Many have a bachelor's degree in computer science, information management, information technology, information security, business administration, or a liberal arts field such as economics or communications. If you are interested in a management career dealing with the Internet, you should plan on going to college after high school. Take a college preparatory curriculum, including classes in science, history, and government. Be sure to take as many computer science classes as possible so that you have a basic understanding of the technology that is available. Because an executive must communicate with a wide range of people, take as many English classes as possible to hone your communication skills. Speech classes are another way to improve these skills. Courses in mathematics and business are also excellent choices to help you prepare for this career. A foreign language may also be helpful in preparing for today's global business market.
Postsecondary Training
Internet executives often have a college degree in a subject that pertains to the department they direct or the organization they administer. For example, chief executive officers may have business administration degrees, chief financial officers often have accounting degrees, chief information officers often have computer science degrees, and directors of research and development often have engineering or science degrees. All Internet executives are expected to have experience with the information technology that applies to their field. While in college, you should keep up with your computer studies in addition to deciding what type of work interests you. Are you drawn to sales and marketing, for example, or does the actual manufacturing of a product interest you? A good way to find out is to get some hands-on experience through an internship or summer job. Your college career services office should be able to help you in locating such a position with a business or organization that appeals to you. Management information systems programs usually include business classes as well as computer science classes.
Graduate and professional degrees are common among executives. Many executives in administrative, marketing, financial, and manufacturing activities have a master's degree in business administration. Executives in highly technical manufacturing and research activities often have a master's degree or doctorate in a technical or scientific discipline.
Certification
Many colleges and universities offer certificates in business management, IT management, programming, computer networking, cyber security, software development, hardware engineering, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and other areas in which executives must have knowledge. Contact schools in your area to learn more about available programs.
Other Education or Training
A variety of webinars, conference seminars, and other continuing education (CE) opportunities are offered by professional associations such as the American Management Association, National Management Association, IEEE Computer Society, Internet Marketing Association, and other associations. Contact these organizations for more information.
- Accountants
- Animators
- App Services Workers
- Arbitrators
- Art Directors
- Auditors
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Back-End Developers
- Billing Clerks
- Bloggers
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Brand Ambassadors
- Budget Analysts
- Business Continuity Planners
- Business Development Managers and Directors
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Business Managers
- Buyers
- Cartoonists
- Chief Customer Officers
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Restructuring Officers
- Chief Revenue Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Chief Trust Officers
- Client Services Managers
- Collection Workers
- Columnists
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Compliance Managers
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer Trainers
- Content Management Specialists
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Corporate Lawyers
- Corporate Librarians
- Cost Estimators
- Cultural Advisers
- Customer Service Directors
- Customer Service Representatives
- Customs Brokers
- Cybersecurity Architects
- Data Entry Clerks
- Data Processing Technicians
- Database Specialists
- Decision Scientists
- Digital Advertising Workers
- Digital Designers
- Digital Marketing Workers
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Security
- Document Management Specialists
- Economists
- Editorial Assistants
- Editorial Research Assistants
- Editors
- Entrepreneurs
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- ETL Developers
- Event Planners
- Executive Recruiters
- Fashion Models' Agents
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Franchise Owners
- Full Stack Developers/Engineers
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Health Care Managers
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Health Data Analysts
- Help Desk Representatives
- Human Resources Managers
- Information Assurance Analysts
- Information Brokers
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Content Curators
- Internet Developers
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet of Things Developers
- Internet Quality Assurance Specialists
- Internet Security Specialists
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- JavaScript Developers
- Labor Union Business Agents
- Legal Operations Specialists
- Live Streamers
- Loss Prevention Managers
- Magazine Editors
- Management Analysts and Consultants
- Market Research Analysts
- Media Planners and Buyers
- Media Relations Specialists
- Mobile Software Developers
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Newspaper Editors
- Office Administrators
- Online Gambling Specialists
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Online Reputation Managers
- Payroll Directors
- Personal Privacy Advisors
- Podcasters
- Product Designers
- Professional Hackers
- Professional Organizers
- Project Managers
- Proposal Managers
- Purchasing Agents
- Receptionists
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Search Engine Optimization Specialists
- Secretaries
- Social Media Influencers
- Social Media Workers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Space Tourism Managers
- Statisticians
- Stenographers
- Strategy Managers
- Tax Managers
- Technical Support Specialists
- Technical Writers and Editors
- Technology Ethicists
- Temporary Workers
- Traffic Managers
- Typists and Word Processors
- User Experience Designers
- Video Game Art Directors
- Video Game Producers
- Visual Interaction Designers
- Webmasters
- Wireless Service Technicians
- Workplace Diversity Experts
- Writers