How to Start Your IT Career: 7 Step Guide

In a time when the job market is uncertain, one thing remains constant – IT roles are evolving and available. The IT industry is rapidly growing, and there is a high demand for skilled professionals in various domains such as software development, cybersecurity, data analytics, tech support, and more.

With a wide range of career paths and opportunities, starting an IT career can be an attractive option for those looking to switch careers or enter a field with strong job prospects.

However, starting an IT career can be challenging without a clear understanding of the industry and the skills required to succeed.

In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to start your IT career. Even if you come from a different industry background. 

How to Start Your IT Career: 7 Steps

Here’s our 7 step guide to starting your IT Career:

1.  Research Different Tech Industry Careers

If you find yourself not knowing where to begin when it comes to starting a career in IT, you can start by doing some research.  A quick browse for everything from entry-level IT jobs to tech industry careers will not only help you determine what route you’d like to take, but on a broader scale, it will also show you the many different paths you can take in tech.  The possibilities for a career in IT are endless and it all starts with jumping in head-first.  

The IT industry has various domains; from cybersecurity to help desk, each entailing its own specializations and avenues to go down in your IT career. Additionally, each domain has certain certifications that are helpful when entering that field.  

There are many different career paths in the IT industry with different skills requirements and certifications. Here are a few that have proven to be successful:

• Cybersecurity: This is an important IT career path lately as hacking and information security has been a topic of interest throughout different industries. No matter what industry or company you are interested in, chances are there are open positions with cybersecurity. Successful cybersecurity careers entail various certifications such as Net+ and are often more advanced with qualifications.
• Software Engineering: This could involve project management and product development in any industry, making it a great path to get into for an IT career. With different skill levels to enter and advance to, this is an ideal career to go into for career advancement.
• Desktop Support: Desktop support careers are often a stepping stone for advancing in tech and especially to get experience in technology. 

2. Develop your IT skills and Knowledge

Online, there are different options to develop IT skills. Research will reveal that you can self-learn, take part in online bootcamps or start programs for certifications. Choosing the right IT training program that matches your style of learning and  Per Scholas offers courses remotely and in-person for IT training, and there are many ways to develop your IT technical skills through a learning resource that works best for you. Most impportantly, we recommend that you receive hands-on experience through bootcamp courses, training, and studying for your certifications. It’s important to have that hands-on training experience since it gives your more experience than what you may read in a book or watch on a video. Additionally, it puts your experience and knowledge ahead of others who are entering the IT industry.

3. Apply for our Systems Support Training

With so many options available, we believe one of the most crucial steps to starting a career in IT is to engage in a training program. 

We recommend starting with our IT Support training or Desktop Support training, powered by TEKsystems.  These courses, in particular, are great for getting your foot in the door in tech and learning IT fundamentals.  No matter your previous experience in tech, Per Scholas makes sure you are caught up to speed and have the skills needed to launch your career in tech to land in one of the many IT roles available – as with any of our courses.

If you’re still not sure which program is right for you, we suggest you Contact our Recruitment Team with your interest. We are happy to help answer any questions you may have as you launch your career in tech. Together, we can figure out how to get you started at one of our IT training campuses. 

4. Get Certified For A Career In IT

An IT certification doesn’t just look good on your resume; it helps translate your training and skills into real-life applications whichever tech career you choose to take on. 

Per Scholas not only prepares learners for certifications and an IT career path, but we provide tuition-free training and pay for certifications under the completed course.  With certifications and your tech skills, we know you will have the tools to start your IT career.

5. Network with Top Tech Industry Professionals

Networking does not get enough credit when it comes to its impact on launching your career in the tech industry.  In a time where it’s not just what you know but who you know that matters, networking is key to a career change or next step.  

We suggest networking with industry leaders in a position you aspire to be in and picking their brains on different IT roles, opportunities, and what they did to get where they are in their careers.  

At Per Scholas, we connect our learners with tech industry professionals through mock interviews, company partnerships, and other professional development opportunities to ensure our learners have the chance to speak to others in the industry. 

When it comes to discovering just how to start an IT career, Per Scholas possesses a wealth of resources for you to use to your best advantage.

6. Create your IT resume and portfolio

When creating your resume geared for an IT position, it is important that the content you provide is relevant to the job and showcases your technical skills as well as your soft essential skills. If you are far enough into your career to have a portfolio, include relevant information and items in that for interviewers and recruiters to review. What would you want to showcase from your past work and experience that sets you apart from other technologists? 

7. Apply for IT jobs

Once you have the training, certifications, and resume, it’s time to take action and apply for IT jobs. There are a few ways to find IT job opportunities, including job boards, career fairs, and networking. Per Scholas connects our learners with hiring partners to discuss open positions and further network with industry experts. In applying and preparing for IT job interviews, be sure to research the company and the position you’re applying for, and practice common interview questions with responses that highlight your experience and strengths. 

The interview process doesn’t stop once you are done interviewing. Be sure to follow up with the hiring manager, recruiter, and/or your interviewer to thank them for their consideration and to let them know about your excitement for the role.

Start Your Career in IT Today

It takes time and effort to launch a career in tech – no matter your background in IT.  Making a career change or starting fresh in a new industry is a big deal that takes a lot of consideration, but with the right tools, training, and IT fundamentals, taking that first step towards one of many IT roles isn’t so daunting.  

To get started on your own IT career, be sure to apply to one of our upcoming courses that have launched a career in IT for more than 20,000 learners trained, now leaders in the IT career field.