People find themselves in different situations when they enter IT. For example, some lose their jobs, and others become interested in remote work opportunities.
If you think IT might be the right place for you, we’ll be happy to share some useful insights. In this post, we’ll explore the possibilities of starting from scratch in the IT field. But let’s ask ourselves first: why is it such an attractive industry to work in? So let’s take a look!
Why Choosing a Career in IT is a Winning Decision?
IT field provides employees with several benefits:
- Stability: the demand for skilled IT professionals grows daily. Beyond the new job opportunities, IT roles come with compensation that reflects a growing market. In addition, as most of the roles can be performed online, it guarantees you’ll still have a job regardless of any critical situation.
- Training: most companies hold their training sessions free of charge. It’s not medicine or engineering, with people spending a fortune to get a degree. You can get certification easily with several online courses.
- Evolution: IT is probably one of the fastest-growing and adjustable industries. It reflects everything in the world and offers plenty of learning opportunities. If you’re a person who likes to gain new knowledge from time to time, you’ll feel very welcome here!
Step 1. Check if Your Previous Experience is Applicable
A lot of IT projects need soft and hard skills from different industries. You have to be a problem-solver as a project manager and an impeccable communicator when it comes to recruiting.
So, at this point, it’s better to think about how you may apply your current skills to a new position. First, examine yourself from a unique point of view and rewrite your resume.
If writing doesn’t feel comfortable, you can ask an information technology resume writing service for help: find a good writer and a career expert to highlight your strengths properly.
Step 2. Self-Education at Its Best
Education is your fastest path to breaking into the IT industry. Find the courses on a position that seems interesting: beware that coding will need more time to learn than sales, and set down the list of priorities.
Once you feel settled with your specialization, consider the following certifications:
- CompTIA A+ is an industry-recognized credential with performance testing that proves a general knowledge across different IT areas.
- CompTIA Security+ is the basic security certification for every entry-level candidate.
- CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral certification for beginners. It equips the technical skills needed to maintain and troubleshoot essential networks.
- ITIL® Foundation is a service management framework certification. ITIL® Foundation introduces the end-to-end operating model for creating products and services.
Step 3. Look for Internship Offerings
You can apply for internship programs whether you’re a student or switching from another industry. It’s a great opportunity to gain on-hands experience and win yourself a soft spot in the IT industry.
Internship programs can help you to choose an area of specialty and provide you with a foundation for future career growth. In addition, you can learn from a mentor and your teammates, which is way more valuable than studying by yourself.
Another perk of internships is gathering cases for your portfolio. As you’ll be working on the company’s projects, you may use them later to prove your expertise at a job interview. But, again, your work speaks better than a resume!
Step 4. Enroll in IT Networking
Networking is a superpower people from IT share. You have to find peers even before you start a job in IT. Visiting events will likely give you more networking opportunities and positive referrals.
The referrals mean a lot when you start looking for a job. So, check out the local IT associations, chambers of commerce, and business publications. Also, don’t skip a chance to meet people from IT companies who might offer you new opportunities.
You may be surprised by how powerful networking in IT is. But when opening a vacancy, employers look firstly for candidates coming with a set of positive recommendations. Therefore reaching out to people associated with the tech world is a great way to expand your number of professional communications.
Step 5. Consider Crossover Positions
If you don’t have direct experience in IT but are great at car sales, for example, you might go for an IT position at a car dealership. Working in the IT field doesn’t mean you should code; you can work as a support agent solving customer issues.
There is no need to go for a radical change if you’re not ready. Knowing half of the business is way better, and you’ll need less time to learn the tech side. Plus, you’ll be a valuable employee from the very beginning.
Once you have the technical skills you may apply, try freelancing. Think about it: you don't need to quit a full-time job immediately, and you’ll have the first projects to work on. In addition, freelancing is a great way to break into the IT field because it has fewer requirements and a good basis for showcasing your skills.
The Bottom Line
The IT industry can offer tons of opportunities. It’s good for people without a bachelor’s degree in computer science; it has many openings for managers and business analytics experts.
IT is not an easy field to break into: you’ll have to gain some knowledge and experience before you can get to the real stuff. The other important aspect is networking: connecting with other professionals can bring you new skills and a profound understanding of the industry. So, what are you waiting for? Check the job openings, choose the one for yourself, and get to it! It can be tough at first, but it will pay off!
