A career in the information technology industry offers a number of benefits such as great pay, job stability and constant evolution. If you don’t have a lot of experience but wish to start a career in this booming industry, this is the article for you. Nmap-corp has come up with a helpful guide on how to begin your career in IT, together with some recommendations for information technology recruiters nyc to get you started.
Table of Contents
Choose a career path
Career paths in IT are diverse, and each one comes with its own set of requirements. Some of these positions include; computer support specialist, information security analyst, developer, system administrator, IT director, chief information officer, DevOps specialist and application manager. It can be helpful to create a shortlist of potential jobs you might be interested in and then proceed to research the qualifications that hiring managers and information technology recruiters nyc require to consider you for that role. Doing this will give you an idea of the kind of education and training you need to better prepare for your desired position.
Enroll in education
Once you have a career path in mind, enroll in education to solidify your candidacy. Depending on the position you are looking for, some companies might require a college degree in addition to some certifications, while others may require certifications only. In recent times more and more IT businesses are becoming focused on what the applicants actually know, the skills they possess and how the projects they’ve worked on can benefit their company.
Re-examine and apply your past work experiences to the IT industry
Contrary to what you might think, some of your past experience from a different field can be applied to your new position in IT. Hiring managers and information technology recruiters nyc are always looking for candidates with soft skills. These soft skills are important and can be transferable into IT roles.
Get industry certifications
This is a must-have for starting a career in IT. Hiring managers and information technology recruiters nyc always require certifications relevant to the open positions. This is because certifications let them know that you possess all the necessary knowledge and technical skills that can be useful to their company.
There are several certifications out there, and getting a few will increase your chances of getting a job in the IT industry. Some of these certifications include; Microsoft, Linux, Cisco, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+ and ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)
Learn how to code
Investing your time in learning programming languages like HTML, JavaScript, Java, C++, Python and Ruby can boost your resume and give you an edge over other candidates.
Build your experience
Once you’ve got all the necessary certifications, you need to put your skills to the test. A great way to build experience is through freelance and volunteer work. Although you won’t really make money, volunteer work and internships can help you get your foot in the door, especially with companies where you would love to work. It is also a way to meet and learn from other IT professionals with more experience.
Build a network
Networking can be a useful tool when starting a career in the IT industry. Here are a few ways you can network;
Social media: social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter can serve as great tools for finding and creating connections with other people in the industry. Also, update all your social media pages to reflect your interest in information technology.
Connect with IT recruiters: reach out to information technology recruiters and recruiting firms to discover job opportunities. Most employers make use of these firms to find top candidates. Some of the top information technology recruiters nyc in 2022 are; LUCAS Group, Robert Half, the Cypress Group, Toptal and Betts recruiting.
Attend networking events: this way, you can meet other IT professionals and increase your chances of getting valuable job referrals.
Polish your interview skills
A great resume and network can only get you so far. Prepare yourself for interviews by anticipating both technical and behavioral questions and preparing some answers beforehand. Maintain professionalism as hiring managers are gauging both your technical and soft skills.
Conclusion:
The world of information technology is constantly evolving, and new technologies are developed every day. It is okay if you encounter a few challenges in the initial stages of starting your IT career. Just keep educating yourself with the latest breakthroughs and update your knowledge base with new methods for software development, maintenance or design. Hopefully, you find the above guide helpful as you start your career in information technology.