5 Things You Must Know to Land an IT Job

Posted by in Technology



It’s the same in most fields, but particularly acute in Information Technology: You need experience to land a job, but you can’t get that experience without a job.

 

In today’s tough job market, employers can be really choosy. They’re swamped with resumes overflowing with IT experience, so why should they pick you, a college grad with barely any experience?  Here are five things to know to beat the odds:

 
More Training & Certifications are No Guarantee. Adding advanced level certifications won’t replace the need for hands-on work experience. The same holds true for advanced training. Certifications and training should supplement what you know and become a tool you can use, but they're no guarantee in securing a job. You should at least know about MS Access and how to properly format a hard disk. The lesson here is this: don’t spend too much time and money on advanced certifications and training before you know where you’ll be working in IT. 

Hone Resume/Job Interview Skills. Learn to fully exploit even part-time IT positions you may have held while in school. Also leverage any school IT projects you led or were involved in. Sharpen your interviewing skills with colleagues, instructors and potential employers. Learn and polish until you become a super salesperson selling you as the product. 

Network Like Mad. Go to job fairs, seminars, trade shows. Introduce yourself to as many working IT professionals as you can. Print up some business cards with your name, phone, email, and similar professional organizations to which you belong. Nothing fancy, just black & white on basic card stock. You can get 500 of these for about $20.  Hand out the cards to every working IT manager you meet. Ask for their business card and send them an email reminding them of your conversation. They’ll connect you with a face and note that you’re looking for a job. If something opens up in their department, they can either wade through a stack of faceless resumes or call you in for an interview. My guess is, they’ll call you in.  

Shoot for Tech Support. Opportunities abound in all areas of IT, but tech support and similar areas seem to have more opportunities for newcomers. Unlike trying to get into more complex applications, tech support is a great way to get hands-on work experience. Look into internships—paid or even unpaid. Once you’re in, you can branch out and move up. 

Start with a Small Company. Your chances of landing an IT job are better with a small company. While they may not have the big pay and perks of a big firm, they can provide the hands-on experience you need to move up. Small firms and startups need talent, not prima donnas. If you’re willing to start from the ground up, maybe share a cubicle and settle for a starter’s salary, this is a smart way to go. 

It’s a catch 22, but you can beat the odds and break into IT as a gainfully employed professional. As my father used to say, if you want a job, you need three things: preparation, persistence, and personality. 

Image by Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / www.freedigitalphotos.net
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  • Alex Kecskes
    Alex Kecskes
    Thanks for all your comments. They help those still looking for a  job to gain a real-world perspective.  
  • Johnny A
    Johnny A
    I have been in IT for over 14 years, and in light of this bullish market I agree (from firsthand experience) that more certs 'wouldn't help, but wouldn't hurt' either.  Networking with others is how over 80% of todays' jobs are sourced; the remainder are a statistical impossibility with hundreds (conservatively) applying for each position.  Low level tech support positions are relatively easy to find, because IT is considered a cost, or debt that must be trimmed back for more important reasons (like other departments) which very often is how large tech companies react.  Don't do what I did, which was to get comfortable with a large proprietary software support company who only has upward positions for those who don't want to branch out.
  • Don A
    Don A
    My college professor admonished us to NEVER, NEVER, NEVER accept a job as a tech. He said you were educated to be a software professional, accept nothing less. If you start out on the lower rung, you stay on the lower rung.Professionals are as professional act and regard himself / herself. Do NOT allow Corporate America to devalue your education and skills.
  • Sharon B
    Sharon B
    I totally agree with this article. I am a new graduate from college, and i too are having difficulty finding a job...I am willing to start at entry level position...like you stated, how will i get the experience except someone is willing to give me that opportunity to get started. Not to mention this current economy....20 applicants are applying for the same job.
  • susan a
    susan a
    what i just read keep me informed on a job meetings, any thing else you have to offer.
  • Lonnette R
    Lonnette R
    This article gives good advice, and as a recent grad with a masters degree in information systems, I find these tips very useful.  All five tips are great, but three of them really stand out.  Network Like Mad is what I am doing now to try and get into an IT career.  As a matter of fact, this technique is what I used to get my current non IT job.  Shoot for Tech Support is a good position to start in IT, and Start with a Small Company is good advice for getting your foot in the door and establish a good foundation in this field.  You certainly don't want to take on more than you can handle, especially when you are trying to get an IT job.
  • Delbert B
    Delbert B
    Great article and very real-world accurate.
  • Bill L
    Bill L
    The advice seems sound.  Thanks for publishing it
  • Scott S
    Scott S
    Good advice.  Many people out there think that just because they get their CCENT/CCNA or even their CCNP they can start off with landing an $80 grand a year position.  Time, persistance and the willingness to start small and learn the hands-on basics with real on-the-job learning, preferably in a small network environment for starters.I'm looking forward to it and you won't hear me complaining about the low pay. $35k to $45k will be just fine with me and even Temp positions.  This will check off the experience ticket and the learning in a real-world environment.  Makes me excited to even think about it.  :)
  • Thomas M
    Thomas M
    Interesting info.  I have been in IT for over 40 years.  I am talking to a small company now
  • D. M
    D. M
    I have a GED and I landed a job doing all IT work for my company. From stringing network cable to maintaining PCs hardware and software. Help Desk included. Everybody and his uncles' sister is doing computer repairs and they think they are IT specialists. Get a CDL and drive a truck. There are more positions available in the transport industry.
  • Sue K
    Sue K
    I think this is the usual b.s. advice.  The bottom line is no one will hire you without experience (so why bother with the time and expense to get certified), but how do you get experience if no one will hire you?  Also, if you do have a degree and/or certification(s), then you are "overqualified".  Catch 22.  Even for the lowest level entry jobs, employers are requiring an amount of expertise that you normally only get from experience.  What ever happened to on-the-job training?  The whole employment system is bogus!
  • gurudeva k
    gurudeva k
    Not necessarily.You have to upgrade your skills to learn the skills in demand and practice the skills so that you become good at it. Of course, you need to do your research which skill is in demand and adds value to your profile.
  •  Ubaldo M G
    Ubaldo M G
    I too once was a college grad 16yrs ago. What got me a job without experience was a housekeeping job at a small manufacturing firm. Three months later someone in the firm heard of my background in IT degree pulled Me out of the position and landed Me  in the IT department. A yr later I moved into bigger and better places elsewhere. Now I am on top of the world.
  • Alex S
    Alex S
    I am a recent graduate of ITT Technical Institute and I think Your tips make good sense.Thank you for taking the time to offer these words of wisdom.
  • Zschiedrich M
    Zschiedrich M
    Very informative.
  • Kelly F
    Kelly F
    Very informative and useful. Great article
  • Linda L
    Linda L
    THIS IS COMMON INFORMATION.   i did not see any new under the sun information.  
  • swathi m
    swathi m
    good one, this article is helpful.
  • Anthony N
    Anthony N
    Good Advice
  • RHONDA M
    RHONDA M
    IN ORDER FOR AN APPLICANT TO LAND A PAID COMPUTER/IT JOB HE/SHE SHOULD HAVE PASSED A TYPING CLASS AND SHOULD KNOW THE TYPING/WORD PROCESSING KEYBOARD BY HEART.  THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS TO WORK AS A PAID COMPUTER PROFESSIONAL.
  • Elton H
    Elton H
    great definitely helped in getting me back into workplace.  been in the field for 13years got laid off.  trying to get back in the field now...
  • Chris W
    Chris W
    Mr. Michael Orr,Do you have a position on the computer making $?I sure hope so! Tell me more about working for Apple or IBM Computers. I would love to work for the companies.Sincerely,
  • Temistocles G
    Temistocles G
    Excellents tips, thanks for this.
  • Evelyn P
    Evelyn P
    Very interesting and timely.
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