How to apply for IT job with No experience – Entry level job
Technology is finding relevance in nearly every sector. Interestingly, employers are on the lookout for skilled IT candidates. An entry level job provides ample opportunity for IT professionals to hone their technical skills and gain relevant experience. What’s more, is the promise of a great career choice with attractive and competitive pay. Getting a job without experience can be daunting if you are just starting and looking to transition into IT. Thus, you should apply to an entry level job. It is also great if you want to switch roles.
The prevailing perception is that you need a university degree in tech to get jobs. Unfortunately, this is not true. A developer survey statistics by Stack Overflow published a report in 2016. It stated that 69% of successful programmers undertook no formal IT training and were totally or partially self-taught.
As expected, all IT professionals start with no formal career experience. This article discusses how to get through this stage and get a job without experience.
WHO IS AN IT PROFESSIONAL?
IT professionals work in computer-related roles, from hardware to software, data processes, and technical support. The job description may involve designing, implementing, installing, and maintaining software or programs, troubleshooting, and fixing bugs. These roles can be pretty sophisticated and require in-depth IT training. And based on the job requirements, the level of experience specified by IT companies can vary.
HOW TO GET AN ENTRY LEVEL JOB
Most IT roles define the years of experience needed and want professionals with hands-on experience. How do you then prove yourself qualified for the role?
EARN A DEGREE
First, earn a degree. Some entry-level roles require a university degree. However, a master’s degree may also be required for management and research jobs. Some other IT jobs may require at least an associate degree. Moreover, you may choose to go through a full-time program or find a part-time course if you need to work alongside.
WORK ON PERSONAL PROJECTS TO BE COMPETITIVE FOR AN ENTRY LEVEL JOB
Your portfolio showcases your skills and creativity to your employer. With your skills, you can build your IT portfolio by taking on personal projects. For career development this point is crucial. For example, you can take on writing codes for programs that execute defined tasks. In building your portfolio, you do not need to be perfect. You basically just need to show the progress in your development. Undoubtedly, this will prove to your employer that you can handle the specified job requirements.
Accordingly, your experience in open-source projects can help build your resume. For example, on GitHub, there are millions of open-source projects you can join. These communities provide you ample opportunity to distinguish yourself. Furthermore, these small projects will help you build a polished portfolio and show recruiters your abilities.
Our team of experts can help build your portfolio through our job mentoring (social profile building) sessions.
EARN CERTIFICATIONS
You may not always need a tech degree, but certifications can suffice in many settings. IT certifications can boost your chances of getting a job. Additionally, you can take many online programs to learn new skills and enhance your resume. Certifications usually take from weeks to months to obtain and can rank you high up in the stack of applications.
If you have no background in tech, you should obtain certifications by taking courses by renowned experts. Courses in UI/UX design, Full-stack development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software testing are in demand. Besides, some online courses link to LinkedIn and can add badges to boost your profile.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteering opportunities allow you to take on projects, which can help you gain hands-on experience. Moreover, they are mostly unpaid and not as demanding as full-time IT jobs.
Additionally, volunteering offers you access to companies you may otherwise not have access to. From there, you can build a network of professional relationships that can be valuable in the future. This experience is good for your career development.
INTERN
Internships can come as paid or unpaid offers. It is an opportunity to gain transferable skills demanded in professional environments. Usually, companies, offering internship roles, hire IT professionals without work experience.
REACH OUT TO START-UPS FOR AN ENTRY LEVEL JOB
Start-ups give ample opportunities for entry-level professionals with a willingness to learn. In addition, these start-ups handle projects where you can sharpen your skills while gaining experience. Start-ups generally do not employ the most experienced IT professionals. However, they pay less compared to other IT companies.
HIGHLIGHT TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ON RESUME
An entry level job position will require transferrable skills like communication, professionalism, customer service, and time management. Recruiters are not just concerned about technical skills; they are looking for these transferable industry abilities. For example, good customer service skills are desirable in start-ups that troubleshoot software for clients. Also, in crafting your resume, place these skills near the top of your resume.
With room for online jobs, you can break free from the traditional work culture. However, it would be best to be consistent and always try out something new. And since the tech world is constantly updating, you need to stay updated.
Overall, transitioning into IT may be challenging, but it is rewarding in the long term. With consistency and help from the right quarters, you can jump-start your IT career in no time.
CONSULT WITH A CAREER CENTER
Lastly, entry-level professionals need career mentoring to set them on the right career choice. Not to mention they help for IT career development. A career center provides career counseling programs such as career development, IT job interview preparations, internship placements, and career planning. They can help with tailoring your resume to fit your employer’s requirements. At Elite careers, we offer these career coaching services for entry-level IT professionals in Canada. You can harness our resume creation services to get you started.
