Job Q&A
by Lara Peterson
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Monster.com: How long have you been with VCIX?

Michael Harwayne: About a year and a half. I started in the beginning of 1999 when VCIX was forming its New York office; the company has been around for over four years, however. The technology comes out of the company's office in Jerusalem, but the headquarters are in New York City.

Mc: What's a typical day like for you?

MH: I deal with strategy, sales, marketing, managing the office and everything in between. In terms of sales and marketing, I spend a lot of time talking to Web development shops and Web design firms that use our software.

I also work closely with the different departments here at VCIX. On the general managerial level, I work with the CEO and CFO on various company-wide issues.

Mc: What do you like most about your job?

MH: I enjoy trying to understand the needs of Web development shops and trying to explain to them how our software can help them meet their needs. The Internet and the software market are constantly changing, so there's always something new and exciting going on.

Mc: What do you like least about your lob?

MH: I don't know; I like my job. The challenging aspect of my job is that the marketplace is continuously changing, especially this year. The Internet market has changed so much and not just with regard to the stock market. New startup companies are emerging and their funds are increasing. It's definitely a challenge to keep on top of everything that's going on in the marketplace.

Mc: What skills and training does a person need to be successful in the dotcom industry?

MH: If you don't have a background in technology you need the curiosity and inclination to learn about the technology because it becomes a very important component of any dotcom job. It's also important that you're eager to both join a small group and help develop a company because so many of the companies out there are just forming. These companies require people whose personalities compliment the company and the growth that's occurring. You also need to be flexible and able to perform in a workplace that's different from most huge corporations, which provide an array of creature comforts not found in many startups.

Mc: What skills and training does a person need to be a successful COO?

MH: The flexibility to do anything from taking out the garbage to strategizing for the company and everything in between. The ability to juggle a lot of balls at the same time is also important because there are always so many different things going on. It's important to keep your eye on both the marketplace and your company. You need to make sure your company's products and services are current with the ever-changing marketplace.

Mc: Tell us a little about your career path before joining VCIX.

MH: I was a consultant at McKinsey & Company for three-and-a-half years before joining VCIX. Before that I was working on my MBA at Harvard Business school. I also worked for PC World magazine, where I oversaw the business side of the magazine, sold advertising space and worked for the publisher.

Mc: What was your dream job when you were a kid?

MH: When I was a kid I assumed I would go to medical school and become a doctor. It didn't occur tome to do anything else until got to college. It was there that I really started thinking about my career. But if we are about talking dream jobs, mine would be pitching for the Yankees.

Mc: What advice do you have for people interested in a career in the dotcom industry?

MH: If you have a clear idea of the job function you want, try to find that role first. For example... if you're interested in marketing, try to find a job in marketing instead of taking any dotcom job just to get into the industry. You'll gain the experience you want by approaching the job search that way.

Also, be sure to network. It's the best way to learn about companies. The more information you can get from people you know the better off you'll be.