10 Tips to Find Your First IT Job
It’s a familiar story in the IT industry. You’re working hard as a remote employee, finding IT vacancies in Australia; you’ve built an impressive freelance resume with stellar experience, but you want to get out of the virtual world and into the real one. You want to work in an office; make some new friends; get a higher salary and be able to buy your own lunch.
Trying to find a job without ever leaving your living room is tough, but there are plenty of resources out there to help you in your search. Here are ten tips that will help you land that first gig:
Follow the money
Yes, it’s true. If you’re not looking for a job in Silicon Valley, chances are that it will be harder to find an IT job than if you were. This doesn’t mean that you should give up if your dream company isn’t in San Francisco or New York City, however — just focus on companies in your area.
You can also try expanding your search geographically if you have a specific project or place that interests you.
Tailor your resume
Even though this seems like a given, plenty of people don’t pay much attention to tailoring their resumes for specific positions. When applying for an entry-level IT position, it’s important to list skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job. If you’re applying for an opening at a software development firm, make sure that your skills and experience make sense for the role. The same goes with job titles — if you’ve been working as a server administrator but are applying for a data center technician role, be sure to emphasize relevant skills and experience rather than just inserting your previous job title.
Join an internship program
An internship program is a great way to gain on-the-job experience. Many companies provide paid internships and hands-on experiences within their IT department. By joining an internship program, you can learn how your potential employer works and what they expect from their employees. On top of that, you’ll also get a chance to network with other professionals in the field!
Gain hands-on experience
If you aren’t able to find a paid internship or if your employer doesn’t offer one, you still have other options for gaining real-life experience. For example, volunteer at a local charity or organization that relies heavily on technology and computers for daily operations.
Set goals
One of the most important steps towards finding an IT job is setting goals. Think about the type of job that you want to do, the type of company you want to work for, and what your long-term career path looks like.
Market yourself
Once you have goals set, it’s time to market yourself. A great way to do this is by building a strong resume and applying for jobs online. Don’t forget about networking with friends, family, and other professionals in the industry too!
Be flexible
Don’t be discouraged if it seems like there aren’t many jobs available or if you don’t hear back from a company about an interview right away. Keep at it and always stay positive!
Obtain your academic records
The most important thing that you need in order to get an IT job is your academic records. You cannot get any job without having a college degree. If you have graduated from college, try applying for an IT job as soon as possible since this is the time when companies are hiring new people with fresh and updated academic records. When getting a job offer, take note of it so that you can send it through email.
Have A Portfolio (and Know How to Use It)
It’s important to have a portfolio to show off your previous work and experience. If you haven’t had the opportunity to land a job in the past, volunteer work can be a great way to build up some relevant experience. If you’ve only got one or two years of experience under your belt, don’t worry! You’re still in the running for many IT jobs. Just make sure that your portfolio is updated with all of the relevant skills required for the job you’re applying for.
Find something you like to do
In my experience, finding a job is most effective when you are passionate about what you do. Don’t just settle for any old job because you think it will be easy for you to get. Do some research about your prospective field and find out what makes people want to get into it. If you aren’t completely sold on doing something every day, then don’t do it. You will want to make sure that the company or industry you choose has a positive future so that if your career takes off, you’ll have something solid to build off of in the long run.
