Over the last few years, whole industries have transformed how they work and moved towards digital technologies. This trend has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that IT departments in companies all over Canada are quickly expanding. As more services go online and virtual platforms become more important, businesses are more eager than ever to hire a range of IT professionals.
The bottom line is that IT is a rapidly growing sector that’s vital to the global economy. So, if you’re thinking of a career change or wondering what industry might be a good bet for your first job, IT is likely one of the best places to look.
But how exactly do you get a job in IT? If you’re unfamiliar with the industry or are new to the job market, finding an IT position might seem a little overwhelming at first. To help you start your career off on the right foot, we collected a few insider tips that we hope you find helpful. Read on to learn more about kickstarting your career in IT!
Find an IT job that interests you
So you’re thinking about getting a job in IT. Do you know what area of IT would suit you best? Information technology is a very large field with many different branches, and practically every company in every industry imaginable requires some form of IT specialist staff. That means there’s a lot of opportunity for finding a position that you’ll love, but also lots of different areas to learn about.
For instance, just a sampling of the unique areas within IT are:
- Programming and development
- System administration
- Network administration
- Cybersecurity
- Help desk support
- Data analysis
IT jobs can range from entry-level help desk support roles to more advanced software developer positions that require years of experience and in-depth knowledge. Determining what area of IT you want to work in is important, because although it might seem like all IT roles are similar, they all require a very different set of skills.
Do your due diligence researching the types of IT opportunities you’re most interested in so that you can take necessary training, get certifications, and move towards your goal. Preparation is key when planning your future as an IT professional!
p.s. Adecco’s information technology job search is a great place to start looking for IT job openings near you!
Invest in online IT professional certifications
You might be wondering if you need a college degree and several years of hands-on experience to get started in IT, and the short answer to that question is “no”. If you don’t already have a degree in a related field, you can still change your career path and work in IT by doing some upskilling in your free time.
Just like many other professional skills and know-how, IT skills can be learnt on the web. There are plenty of low-cost and even free information technology courses online that’ll teach you everything from the fundamentals to more advanced skills. Many IT professionals are entirely self-taught, and that’s an exciting prospect for people looking to break into the field.
If you don’t have any prior experience in IT, taking online certifications will boost your resume and show employers that you’re willing to put in the work to learn a new trade. Consider working towards professional certifications that are broadly accepted. For example, the CompTIA A+ certification is widely recognized as the best entry-level IT certification currently on the market. Aiming to get that certification or similarly well-known accreditations under your belt will help you land your dream IT job!
Gain practical experience to help your IT job search
If you’re completely new to information technology, you’re probably wondering how you’re supposed to get an IT job with no experience. Luckily, practical experience doesn’t have to be industry work experience. IT experience can include personal projects that you do in your free time or as part of a certification. Here are a few ideas that could help you think outside the box when it comes to practical IT initiatives that you can show off on your resume:
- Have you created a personal website before?
- Do you tinker with building computers in your spare time?
- Do all your friends ask you for help setting up their Wi-Fi and smart home systems?
- Do you volunteer your time to help manage the data system at your local community centre or club?
All these initiatives count towards your experience in IT! Get hands-on experience in any and every way you can, and you’ll be able to show potential employers that you’re passionate about IT. Although some of these points might seem irrelevant to a professional career in IT, they will improve your overall knowledge of hardware and software. This makes you an even more attractive IT job seeker!
Check out the article “What Should a Resume Look Like?” for more resume-writing advice.
Leverage your network to look for an IT job
Building a solid network of professional connections doesn’t happen overnight, so you’ll have to work on this over a period of several months. Fortunately, it’s never too late to start building your network, and it’s not a very complicated process.
Start building your network and developing a personal brand on websites like LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great place to search and apply for jobs. The platform lets you connect and interact with skilled IT professionals in your target industry and gives you valuable insight into the qualities and experience that top employers look for.
If you’re starting out with a part-time IT job or an entry-level position, a great out-of-the-box networking idea is to ask your co-workers or superiors if you can shadow them during their workday. Job-shadowing is incredibly valuable and will give you marketable, on-the-job experience. It also allows your superiors to delegate more responsibilities to you, which in the long run adds to your experience and shows that you’re a hard worker. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!
If you want to take your networking to the next level, consider participating in a Hackathon event or joining a local programming event. This will help you sharpen your skills and meet like-minded people who have similar professional interests to you.
The bottom line on finding an IT job
Now that you know the basic steps you need to take to get a job in IT, it’s time to take action! Start by doing research, looking for entry-level IT job opportunities and taking the first steps towards developing a strong professional network.
If you need some extra help, don’t forget that the Adecco team has years of experience recruiting tech professionals and we can assist you in searching for your first IT job. Get in touch with our team today and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!