Start a Career in Information Technology

Information Technology is a fast-paced and exciting field that requires savvy with both computers and people. Its emphasis on networks of all kinds--from professional to electronic--means that the best professionals are good at thinking on their feet and open to learning new things. Whether you’re looking to make over your career or embark on your first IT job, you’ll go farthest if you play to your strengths, take time to get certified in the correct disciplines, and apply to companies with professional grace.

Steps

Focusing Your Interest

1. Decide if you’re suited to IT. You may be inclined towards information technology work, even if you haven’t given it much thought before. If you have a computer and use it for more than just homework, games, and casually browsing the web, then you may have the right stuff for the job.
   • IT work involves a lot of puzzles and experimentation. This makes it great for folks who like making connections and solving problems.
   • People who want to go into IT should be able to work independently. This means that you must be motivated to solve problems on your own, and able to push yourself to improve.
2. Identify your passions and work with them. IT is a vast field, so it’s worth it to focus on sectors that reflect what you love. For instance, if you love computer games, focus on that! Look into “IT computer gaming careers” and you might learn about IT fields you never knew existed, from game testing to writing game software to gaming customer support.
3. Focus based on your work style. You may love computer games, but that doesn’t mean you’re suited to every gaming job. Your personality shapes your talents as much as your passion does. There are hundreds of IT job descriptions out there, but most of them fall into three categories: consultant, project manager, and developer. The one which suits you most will depend on your personality.
   • Look into consulting if you’ve ever dreamed of having your own advice column. Consultants work independently and dish out advice and expertise to multiple entities; the best consultants are friendly, patient, and helpful.
   • If you’re good at getting organized and inspiring people, think of being a project manager. Not all project managers are as rigid as Darth Vader. Successful ones are energetic, focused, and good at seeing the big picture.
   • If you’re bursting with ideas, look into being a developer. These workers are the creative side of IT: they invent new strategies and fix their own mistakes.
4. Get to know the right people. Many IT gurus love to assist people. If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of IT, investigate to see if you have someone in your friendly or professional network who can tell you about the basics of your chosen field. There’s nothing wrong with networking, so don’t be shy about asking questions.
   • Find a role model. If you know someone with your dream job, it’s especially important to talk to them! Meet for coffee and ask them about their career arc. What kind of education do they have? What do they know now that they wish they’d known before?
   • If you don’t know your career role model personally, that’s fine too. Try looking at the LinkedIn pages of folks with jobs you admire. What sorts of experiences have they racked up? What do they emphasize about themselves?

Getting Educated and Certified

1. Evaluate your existing degrees and certifications. A bachelor’s degree in IT is helpful for entry level jobs, but it’s not absolutely mandatory. Some employers will accept a bachelor’s degree in a related field (like computer science) or an unrelated field (like history). You might even be able to swing an entry-level position with no bachelor’s at all. However, many if not most IT positions prefer some sort of higher educational experience.
2. Review your self-taught skills. The more education you get in the field, the better your income will probably be in the long run. Still, don’t discount the importance of skills you’ve learned outside the classroom.
   • Think about projects you’ve worked on (like designing a website or a game). What role did you play in them? Were your creative or organizational powers challenged?
   • Find out if any of these skills are certifiable. Certification is often as easy as paying a fee and taking a test; if you’re already so comfortable with something that you feel confident about taking an exam in it, go ahead and get certified.
3. Identify your availability. Are you just starting undergrad, or are you a stay-at-home parent? The amount of time you have to devote to your IT training and education will shape what you are able to do. However, if you’re not able to set aside 40 hours a week to learn about IT, don’t despair; remote and part-time opportunities may be just what you need.
4. Search for educational opportunities. Based on your desired career path, current educational and professional experience, and amount of free time, look into different schools to figure out which suits you best. Don’t forget to determine what the entry requirements are for each field of study.
   • Make a spreadsheet to keep you on track. Include time commitment, commute, and financial aid, as well as certification.
   • Don’t go into unmanageable debt for a higher-education degree. Reputable online programs, trade schools, and financial aid can help you manage the cost of your schooling.
   • Know that there is no single educational path to an IT career. It's a broad field, and your education may take anywhere from a few months to four years to complete. For instance, to be a systems analyst, you may need a bachelor's degree, but for help desk work, you may only need experience or an associate's degree.
5. Look into professional certifications. Even without a college degree, an MCSE or A+ certification can gain you significant credibility. For most certifications, you'll study and review a certain narrow subject, then sign up for an online exam. There is usually a fee, but the exams are often quick and can be done in your home.
   • Figure out the best certifications by researching which ones are popular in your country and field, and stay updated! As you might expect in a tech field, certifications emerge, update, and become obsolete every year.
   • Consider getting certified in a popular programming language, like Java.
   • Information Technology Infrastructure Library certification has been around since the 80s (with updates, of course). It's one of the most broadly applicable certifications around, so it's good for generalists.
   • Database certification will also serve you well, since all sorts of businesses use them to organize their information. Oracle offers several database certifications at different levels.
   • Don’t assume your educational degree will be enough. Certifications can net you an 8-16% pay increase. Not only that, but they make you look committed to learning and growth, which is attractive to employers.
6. Get an internship in a reputable IT department. Good grades are nice, but work experience is even better. If you get a feel for what it’s like to work for a reputable company, you’ll build a network and learn a great deal about IT workplace norms. Also, many of IT internships are paid, which is a nice bonus.
   • Talk to professors or professional acquaintances to make internship connections.
   • Make your resume as great as possible. Even if you don’t have a ton of work experience, a clearly-written and focused resume which highlights your strengths can help you snag that internship.
   • Apply for internships at a range of companies, from tiny to well-known. You might be intimidated by the idea of interning at Google, but remember that someone has to fill the internship spots there. Why shouldn’t that person be you?

Seeking Your First Job

1. Form a resume. Even if you already created a resume to nab an internship, give it a refresh before you apply for a full-time job. Resumes adhere to strict guidelines, but if you work within those parameters, they can say a lot about you. Write in clear, accessible language, and don’t be afraid to show yourself in a positive light.
   • Include relevant work experience and accomplishments. In many cases, customer service is relevant, even if it doesn’t directly pertain to IT.
   • Emphasize your certifications and education, too.
   • Know you’ll have to tweak your resume based on the jobs you’re applying to. Stay flexible.
   • Post your resume on job search and networking sites like Monster and LinkedIn.
2. Apply with a broad focus. You don’t need to apply to every single IT job in a hundred-mile radius, but don’t waste time looking for the perfect job either. Read job descriptions thoroughly, and give your time to any that pique your interest and seem to mesh well with your skills and experience.
3. Take time on your cover letter. Your resume shows a lot about your history of accomplishments, but your cover letter shows off your personality. There isn’t as much structure to a cover letter, but in general, you’ll want it written in businesslike language, focused on you and the job you want, and carefully edited and proofread.
   • Tailor the letter to the job. Mention details of the job description, and why they match up to your skills and talents.
   • Emphasize the good qualities and things you’ve accomplished that might not be visible on your resume. For instance, if you’ve done relevant volunteer work as the webmaster of your church’s website, you can expand on it and explain its relevance to the job you’re applying for.
4. Interview smart. If your cover letter and resume are up to scratch, you may be invited in for your first IT interview. Interviews in any field can be stressful, but with a little preparation, you’ll be able to breathe a lot easier. Focus on doing your homework before so you can concentrate on seeming confident in the interview.
   • Practice your answers to questions the night before. You won’t be able to predict everything you’re going to be asked, but know your chief strengths and weaknesses, your relevant experience, and how to describe yourself in a minute or less.
   • Show up on time and dress neatly. IT workers are famous for a casual aesthetic, but you still want to look like you pay attention to detail.
   • Remember that you’re interviewing the company, too. Ask questions about the culture and expectations. Some examples are “What is the last person with this position up to now?” and “Do people in this position work in teams, or independently, more often?”
5. Keep honing your skills. IT is constantly changing, and once you have a job, you should continue growing along with the field. Keep up with evolving applications, hardware, and software that you'll need to utilize. Blogs and IT publications can be useful resources to find out what’s new, and so can your coworkers and professional network.<
   • Consider getting additional certifications outside of work, either to broaden your scope at your job or make you better at your current specialty.
   • Keep your ears open about professional development opportunities offered within your company.

Tips

• Have a strong sense of curiosity and a desire to know how things work.
• Be prepared for constant change and a need to steadily increase your wealth of knowledge.
• Don't be a jack of all trades, specialize in your interest areas.
• Research areas relating to governance and IT framework, including ISACA, NIST, SANS, ISO, COBIT and ITIL, as a direction for developing skills for your career. Knowledge of managing enterprise IT and standardizing controls and processes will take you far with many companies.

Warnings

• Don't pick a job for the money. Pick it for your passion in that field. Then pick the highest paying job with the best opportunities.
• When things go wrong, the IT department are the first ones to be blamed. When things go right, IT professionals are the last ones to get credit. Do the job because you love it, not because you want praise.

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