A Guide to Starting a Career
in Information Technology
Changing your career to information technology can present you with many challenges, such as how to keep up with the latest technological developments and how to increase your skill level around your current job position. However, with the increased reliance on technology to run day-to-day processes, information technology professionals are starting to become more prevalent and desired on the tech market. This article will discuss some of the most common questions people have when considering changing career paths.
What qualifications do you need?
Although you do not need a degree to have a career (take a look at web design for example), qualifications can help you get a deeper knowledge of your industry and the information technology basics, such as the most recent tech developments. Not only this, but qualifications can also help you hone your practical skills in management and computer-based technology, which are important skills to have on your resume in order to get hired. From business management to administration, there is a wide selection of courses that can benefit IT professionals and people looking to start a career in IT. For instance, Southern Cross University’s project management courses online can be applied to a wide range of industries, including information technology. This course is beneficial to the IT, engineering, and construction industries because it gives you transferrable knowledge, such as how to run successful projects and how to budget efficiently.
Why Choose a Role in IT?
Information technology is one of the fastest developing industries across the world, and is a constantly changing market, with new job roles needed on a regular basis. Not only will you have stable work for the future, as the world begins to rely more on technology, but you will also be at the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in the modern world. This means that more and more job opportunities are opening in IT. Roles in IT also usually offer good wages, and there is a number of different job descriptions that you can choose from, including providing tech services and design roles.
How can You Develop Your Skills?
In order to develop your technical skills and ensure that your work is of a high quality, you can start by getting practice on your home computer and devices. There are many free software applications that you can use to hone your skills, providing you the ability to create websites and even applications within a few moments. Depending on the job role that you are aiming for, you could also consider making a database or even building your own physical computer that meets your personal demands.
You can also develop your skills by finding IT training courses and certifications that allow you to develop specific skills in your areas of weakness and which can allow you to offer more services to potential clients. From learning to code to designing your own website, these will be able to teach you transferrable skills that can make your career a success and showcase to clients and potential employers the skills that you have through a renowned and respected certification.
Not only this, but you should think about the advantages that looking for a work placement or experience could give you. These will enable you to a get a better idea of the responsibilities of the role that you are aiming towards and give you the opportunity to perform a practical application of the skills that you have learned to a working environment. Additionally, having experience of a working environment combined with a qualification is one of the most appealing factors that employers are looking for on your resume.
How do You Find a Job in IT?
The first thing that you need to think about when trying to find a job in IT is your resume. You should always tailor your resume to the industry that you are applying for, stating only work experience that is relevant and listing your most recent experience and job roles at the top of the page. In order to increase your chances of securing an interview, you should also write a personalized cover letter for every job role and create a portfolio that represents the skills and knowledge you have on offer.
The most common way to find jobs in IT is to scour job listing websites in your specialist industry, which are likely to advertise a range of jobs that are available and relevant. They also have the additional benefit of allowing you to apply for the jobs they advertise in a matter of minutes. You should also contact firms directly if you have a particular company in mind; even if they do not have any roles available, they may keep your resume on their database so that you can be considered for a position in the future.
However, 70% of jobs are not listed, so you should consider the alternative ways of finding out about current job postings. One of the best ways to do this is through networking, which will help you to build up a list of viable contacts who will know of your experience and be more likely to alert you to job opportunities that come up. You should also ask anyone in the industry that you know, such as family and friends, whether they know of any available positions.
You should also consider the opportunities available for freelancing, being self-employed, and running your own business. From IT consulting to being a project manager for an IT firm, information technology presents a wide range of short term projects and tasks that suit people looking for independent or temporary work that they can perform around their own schedule.
Information technology is a booming industry that will only expand in upcoming years as more processes rely on technology and computers to succeed. Changing careers is possible if you have the right amount of dedication to acquire the skills, knowledge, and experience that you need to boost your resume and show your suitability for IT roles.
