Getting a job in IT – A (quick) guide

So you want a career in IT? Sounds simple? Problem is IT evolves, and very quickly. So the technology you are using right now will probably be replaced in 2 years. With that comes all the support. A career in IT needs to evolve as well. You might want to choose a specialist area:

Desktop Support
PC Repair
Networking and Infrastructure
Cyber Security
Software Development
Cloud Specialist

Let me assure you, unless you are prepared to constantly learn new skills and technology, IT is not the industry for you.

You need some decent qualifications to get a serious role in the industry. Look at certification from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Cisco, HP, Sophos, Etc. These all offer different levels of certification, but help employers determine what path you are following. These do not come cheap. Some of them can cost a couple of thousand pounds. But the rewards from that investment are there to be had.

Look at local schools, or companies that support schools as a great entry into the IT world; You might not think it, but most schools work on extremely tight budgets and so cant just contract work out. So most of it is done in house, the cabling, WiFi, AV, Infrastructure support etc. You will never get two days the same looking after IT in a school.

Try and build your home labs, learn from doing. Break it, fix it, break it again, fix it again. Learn from issues that you come across. There are plenty of resources out there. Look at Linux, look at the CLI, look at supporting servers. Find out how to host a website. Do it. Secure it. All these skills you can learn at home, and are transferable. Look at different operating systems. Look at different versions of that Operating System. Look at how clients interact with servers. look at the event logs, see what is going on in the background.

Look at what happens when you change permissions for a file/folder/share. How does it affect end users.
Look at installing hardware in different equipment, upgrade PC/Server/Laptop.

Most of all, learn how to Google.

Then, get your CV sorted. List your skills and qualifications and ensure you target the job requirements. If they are wanting Firewall Support, and you have Sophos/Watchguard/CCNA then list that in BOLD letters.
I would strongly getting your CV professionally created. The investment is really worth it.

Look at the jobs, not the salary. You can earn loads, but be in a job you hate. You want your work to be the drive that gets you up in the morning, not the salary.