Climb the Enterprise Architect Ladder Most people don’t just become enterprise architects overnight but will have come into the role from a variety of different career paths. The majority have degrees in computer science or IT management, and have then spent many years gaining relevant experience through other strategic or planning positions; such as corporate or business planning, senior IT positions, or even C-level roles. The most common path is starting as an individual contributor or consultant and later on to an enterprise architect. The job role requires applicants to have a strong educational background and at least 7 years of experience before seeking employment as an enterprise architect. Any career training provided within an organization will focus on familiarizing architects with the IT systems and business processes already in place within the company.

Increase your Certifications

Certifications prove to any employer that the candidate has the relevant experience to be a successful EA. Some certificates are more valuable than others, however holding several certificates will only be a benefit to employers.

Choosing your EA specialisation

Everyone has their own unique strengths as well as their own set of skill and knowledge gaps. Personal circumstances are important as well. What’s important to remember, is that regardless of your situation, there are paths available to acquire the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. It’s also important to recognize that the skills and knowledge you have acquired so far in your career have an important part to play in your future. While some EA-roles are business-focused, many EAs are also the most senior technologists within their organizations. A fundamental and deep understanding of technology is still important, but now it’s time to start building on it.

Strengthen your empathy and skills

There is a lot of articles or information about technical topics but they don’t do much for the architect who needs to climb the ladder.  To successfully make that move, most architects need to invest in training on their soft skills.  Find ways to build and demonstrate your soft skills, including taking on new projects, identifying knowledge gaps and developing relevant training. Even if you have the relevant degree and certifications, hands-on experience is the key to success.

Practice with EA Tools

Enterprise architects use a variety of tools including software for visualisation, presentation, data management, analytics, and business and IT alignment. In order to become a marketable architect, you must be proficient with the tools required for the job. Each tool type has pros and cons and they are designed to allow for databases, visualization tools, modeling and more. IT work experience as well as online courses and certifications can help you learn how to navigate these tools.