Prepared for a Shift? Here's How to Enter the IT Industry Without Any Experience

Everyone has varied motivations for entering the IT business, whether they are leaving the military or working in a dead-end profession. And the timing is impeccable. The industry is facing a major scarcity of labor; additionally, it offers high compensation, amazing perks, and lots of career chances.

Don't worry if you lack experience but want to enter this booming industry; you are not the first. Here are seven suggestions for breaking into the IT sector.

1. Examine Your Past Experience Again and Apply It to the IT Industry

It's crucial to evaluate your prior experience carefully when you first decide to seek a new job in IT. Although it may appear that you lack the qualifications indicated in job advertising, "soft skills" can be unexpectedly crucial, and many qualifications are transferable to IT professions.

Things like communication, customer service, knowledge of Microsoft Office, and other common talents, for instance, can greatly improve your CV if you're hoping to start at a help desk position, which is a typical entry-level IT employment. You might discover a goldmine of applicable experience by carefully considering your previous employment through the prism of the role you'd like to get.

Veterans frequently discover that their military training benefits them in IT employment. Military personnel obtains training and experience that are ideal for the requirements and expectations of a career in technology. Additionally, you can move into an IT career with the aid of numerous funding and career initiatives for veterans, such as WIOA or VET TEC.

A new CV that is targeted precisely for the kinds of opportunities you're looking to land will need to be made, with relevant experience highlighted. During the hiring process, employers are very likely to check your LinkedIn profile. You should update your profile using your new resume to make sure the two align. A new cover letter that details your existing experience, how it will be helpful in your new position, and why you are interested in switching industries should also be written. If your resume catches their attention, this will assist in answering many inquiries.

2. Acquire Professional Certifications

The quickest approach to breaking into information technology may be to become certified. Certification can be studied for and obtained in a matter of weeks, unlike a tech degree, which can take one to four years. Although obtaining a degree and obtaining certifications are frequently compared, a degree is not required to operate in the IT industry.

You can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the abilities they require by becoming certified. This can significantly compensate for a lack of experience. If you have the necessary certifications for a position, you will be given priority over those with little experience and no certificates. The best part is that credentials can help you find additional entry-level positions rather than simply accepting the first IT position that comes your way.

Which IT certifications are suitable for beginners?

A vendor-neutral certification that attests to general IT competence is called CompTIA A+. It confirms your basic familiarity with networking, hardware, the cloud, mobile devices, and troubleshooting. It might help you build the knowledge base you require to get your first help desk job.

If you are interested in cybersecurity, CompTIA Security+ is a wonderful place to start. It is a vendor-neutral certification that attests to your proficiency in putting best security practices into effect. Networks, data and host security, threats and vulnerabilities, compliance, access and identity control, and cryptography are only a few of the important issues in IT security covered by the objectives.

Another vendor-neutral certification for novices is CompTIA Network+. Concepts related to networking, troubleshooting, infrastructure, operations, and security are all included in the certification's goals.

How do you become accredited?

The certification exam objectives that you intend to take must first be studied. You have the choice of self-studying or choosing from a variety of training alternatives, including certification preparation courses, in-person training, online on-demand training, and virtual instructor-led training. The best choice for most people with little to no experience is to enroll in a course led by a professional with actual industry experience so you can ask questions and fully comprehend the subject.

After reviewing the exam objectives, you should buy an exam voucher from the store of the certification provider and reserve time to take the exam. Depending on the certification vendor, this process may change. Some require you to take the test in a testing facility like Pearson Vue, while others let you take the test online from home. Review the following advice to help you get ready for test day.

3. Your Degree in Another Field May Be a Huge Asset

You might be kicking yourself for wasting all that time in college on a degree that isn't assisting you in your search for a career that will last a lifetime. Be kind to yourself, though. Simply because you managed to achieve the accomplishment of receiving a degree, many firms are more likely to offer you a job.

Focus on the ways in which your degree might be used to advance your life into an IT career rather than how it could have cost you time and money. An IT professional with a literature degree, for instance, will be more likely to tackle problems creatively and have strong writing and communication abilities. A philosophy major approaches problems differently and has a stronger understanding of reasoning. You'll distinguish yourself from other candidates who simply have a computer or tech experience by positioning your degree as a strength.

There is a great need for people with various experiences and original insights given the rapid evolution of IT.

4. Be Willing to Begin from the Bottom

It's crucial to remember that with IT, you could have to "start over." If you were management or a highly skilled expert in your previous field, keep in mind that you are leaving it for a purpose. Be ready to begin at an entry-level role and advance from there. As you advance into a more difficult job, the experience you gain working at the bottom of the ladder will be helpful.

But don't worry too much; your ability to generate money in the IT industry is only constrained by the amount of effort you put in. The beginning salary for a support desk position is, on the low end, roughly $40K per year. However, after five years in the field and a few cybersecurity certifications, you may be looking at a minimum salary of $65K for a Cybersecurity Analyst position. It really depends on your willingness to move forward and the extra study time you put in to master your craft.

Consider earning a degree or a few certifications if you want to gain a "head start." These qualifications could be of great assistance to you.

Learning about your area of interest increases your competitiveness by demonstrating your dedication to your new career and industry. Additionally, it can get you ready for positions that are later on more complex. You still won't be able to climb the ladder to the summit without any experience. The correct credentials, however, can enable you quickly advance to higher-paying and more specialized positions in IT given the abundance of available positions in the IT sector.

5. Remember the Value of Networking

The strength of your connections can astound you. When trying to fill a job vacancy, most businesses are more interested in hiring somebody based on a referral than interviewing a lot of random strangers. You can get career guidance and benefit from the experience of an IT mentor.

Use social media, contact everyone in your address book, and get in touch with everyone you know who works in the tech industry. A simple post informing your connections that you are interested in a career in technology can lead to a chance you never anticipated.

You can also merely inquire among your friends or contacts to see if anyone they know is hiring for the kinds of positions you're interested in. The correct connection can offer you a significant advantage over the competition and may even ignite a lifelong enthusiasm for a certain line of work.

6. Develop Useful Tech Skills and Experience

There are a zillion different things to learn about technology that can boost your resume. Understanding Salesforce or being able to write on WordPress, for example, could be helpful to your future employer. A fantastic approach to learning new talents and honing existing ones is to use YouTube and the myriad of free tutorials available there.

In your spare time, educate yourself on hardware and software according to your interests. Once you become proficient in them, you'll be able to list these talents on your CV, and they might be the difference between being employed and being passed over.

All things considered; it is possible to begin a career in IT without any prior expertise — hence the phrase "start" — yet many people are still hesitant to enter the field. Your prospects of beginning a tech profession that will last a lifetime can be considerably improved by arming yourself with the appropriate tools and knowledge.