Getting Into IT

[Merry]

Ok could do with a bit of help here. Just out of Uni having got a 2:1 BscEcon in Politics. However, i'm going to be hard pressed to get a job in that particular area. Now i've been playing around with computers for a fair few years now, buying/building/selling/repairing etc. I've got myself onto a CompTIA A+ course and am trying to get an entry level IT support job.

Now I really don't know how i'm going to go about this. Most vacancies require 'on the job' experience so that puts me out. Aside from this i'm really not having any luck anywhere else part time or otherwise on the job market (32 applications, 2 Interviews, no current offers). Could it be worth it, given that i'm unemployed and have the time (and money) to do another IT related course? If so where and what? Would this help me 'get on the ladder?'

Any help would be great, thanks

[amir_j]

Certificates will help but only so much as unproven. If you are willing to go low enough salary wise and be flexible on location then something will come up.

and blag.

blag anything you are 100% sure you can pick up within 30 days.

Edited by amir_j on Tuesday 29th September 19:01

[Tykey]

be willing to accept minimum wage and help desk IT support. get experience on telephones might help as you'll do alot of that in help desk work. keep up the college courses.

30+ applications isnt alot considering you have no commercial experience and an unrelated degree.

another route into IT is get any job with a company that you know has an IT dept (internal 1, not outsourced - which alot are doing unfortulately). once there prove yourself, work hard show ability and keep up the college studies. express as interest in IT jobs and then apply if/when they come up. just dont come across as a know it tt user or the IT dept wont like you. you stand a good chance getting in this way as they already know you.

[Taita]

Getting into IT is like getting into 'Business'.

Get a job on helldesk, do a bit of field work and then pick a speciality and go to there. eg ESX, MS AD, Linux, Hosting etc.

Or fking hate it and try and join the Army like me, I turned my hobby into my job and I wish, every. single. day, that I hadn't.

[Merry]

I am aiming right at the bottom, so thats not a problem. I'm applying for nearly every job I see that I could reasonably do within a 30 mile radius, so the fact i've only applied for 30 jobs is more to do with the current situation, more than anything.

I'm just thinking that getting another course under my belt whilst I have the time could help me get noticed more...

[bonsai]

Merry said:

I'm just thinking that getting another course under my belt whilst I have the time could help me get noticed more...

Please don't get suckered in by any of those horrendous "you could earn £30k in IT 2 weeks after giving up your postman job". They're practically cons which will take £2,000 to £4,000 of your hard earned for nowt in return.

Employers aren't going to be massively impressed by any paper certifications without the relevant on the job experience to back it up.

It's a bit of a catch 22 situation in a lot of regards, employers want experience even for the most junior of jobs yet how are you supposed to get the experience in the first place. The answer is to find one of the few jobs that don't require this. Easier said than done I imagine, especially in this current climate.

Edited by bonsai on Tuesday 29th September 23:40

[Merry]

bonsai said:

Merry said:

I'm just thinking that getting another course under my belt whilst I have the time could help me get noticed more...

Please don't get suckered in by any of those horrendous "you could earn £30k in IT 2 weeks after giving up your postman job". They're practically cons which will take £2,000 to £4,000 of your hard earned for nowt in return.

Employers aren't going to be massively impressed by any paper certifications without the relevant on the job experience to back it up.

It's a bit of a catch 22 situation in a lot of regards, employers want experience even for the most junior of jobs yet how are you supposed to get the experience in the first place. The answer is to find one of the few jobs that don't require this. Easier said than done I imagine, especially in this current climate.

Edited by bonsai on Tuesday 29th September 23:40

Yeah thats the problem. I'm not about to get suckered into the whole you can earn £loads in a week, i'm just wondering if I can do something useful with the unfortunate amount of free time I currently have.

I guess i'm just going to have to tweak the CV and keep applying I guess. Either that or start looking at shop jobs etc.... Ho hum .

Edited by Merry on Tuesday 29th September 23:46

[Technonotice]

If your handy with hardware and software troubleshooting/repair then put an ad in the local paper/tell your mates, family, people down the pub etc offering your services.

Chance to get some basic experience under your belt and earn a few quid. Do a decent job and get your name about.

Your not going to earn a great deal but every bit of experience counts.

At least you then have some ammo in an interview.

This would be Especially helpful in a it helpdesk role, you will have decent technical knowledge, some certificate or other and some references. Plus your degree showing commitment or whatever.

But I have worked in an entry level helpdesk role and be under no illusions that the pay is st and its incredibly repetitive.

Edited by Technonotice on Wednesday 30th September 00:11

[TonyToniTone]

You could keep your eye out for roll outs\deployments - a good way of getting into IT as you only need to know how to plonk a PC on desk and plug it in but could lead to other work.

[ymwoods]

you say that you have been building repairing computers for a bit in your own time, well exagerate it a bit, put down that you did it for friends and family and eventually friends of your friends, that your regurly the "go to" guy when a friends computer breaks down etc.

I am having the same problem at the moment...I am trying to get out of my current job (Hotel working nights) and get into IT, I already own my own business run with a friend however at the moment this does not pay a wage as its only a new business...even with a year of experience working for myself doing loads of repairs, diagnosing problems, dealing with people over the phone etc I have not had one offer for an interview...granted however i have only given in about 10 or 15 applications as opposed to your 30.

[XJSJohn]

the problem is going to be that all these "junior" it roles like helldesk / service desk and build teams are all being outsourced to "bowl of rice a day" Chennai (Bangalore even became too expensive.... )

As such there will not be so many of these jobs back in the UK.

As suggested, look out for rollout / deployment jobs as they need people locally on the ground to do the set down, possibly your best option.

Alternatively, run away from IT as fast as possible!!!!!!

XJSJohn - IT Contractor for 16 years & graduate of School of Hard Knocks

[Halb]

Tykey said:

be willing to accept minimum wage and help desk IT support. get experience on telephones might help as you'll do alot of that in help desk work. keep up the college courses.

30+ applications isnt alot considering you have no commercial experience and an unrelated degree.

another route into IT is get any job with a company that you know has an IT dept (internal 1, not outsourced - which alot are doing unfortulately). once there prove yourself, work hard show ability and keep up the college studies. express as interest in IT jobs and then apply if/when they come up. just dont come across as a know it tt user or the IT dept wont like you. you stand a good chance getting in this way as they already know you.

That's how I did it
Good method. Unfortunately my company just outsourced me...but I am prolly good for another 6 months

[sebo]

Do you know anyone who will let you do an internship in their IT Dept?

Even if you don't get paid at least you would learn something about the work and possible direction you want to go in (IT is a broad spectrum of things afterall) and maybe make some contacts etc.

[Kermit power]

sebo said:

Do you know anyone who will let you do an internship in their IT Dept?

Even if you don't get paid at least you would learn something about the work and possible direction you want to go in (IT is a broad spectrum of things afterall) and maybe make some contacts etc.

Alternatively, are there any local charities you could volunteer for? Be up front and say you'd like to help them out so you can get experience and references for your CV, and see what they say?

[Merry]

Kermit power said:

sebo said:

Do you know anyone who will let you do an internship in their IT Dept?

Even if you don't get paid at least you would learn something about the work and possible direction you want to go in (IT is a broad spectrum of things afterall) and maybe make some contacts etc.

Alternatively, are there any local charities you could volunteer for? Be up front and say you'd like to help them out so you can get experience and references for your CV, and see what they say?

That is a very good idea, thanks. I was thinking of sending a few letters to schools offering to help out, as they could always use the help.

I do have some experience helping out friends/family etc, and have put notices out in shops etc for years now. I'm just going to have to 'talk it up' more in my CV I guess.

Anyone know any good websites/ places these sort of jobs get advertised?

Thanks for your help, by the way, its all very useful!

[sebo]

You could speak to your local volunteer agency. Most medium size towns and above have some sort of volunteer organisation

[Frankeh]

Taita said:

I turned my hobby into my job and I wish, every. single. day, that I hadn't.

I agree with this.
If your hobby is IT, don't do it at as a job.

[Merry]

sebo said:

You could speak to your local volunteer agency. Most medium size towns and above have some sort of volunteer organisation

I'll have a mooch in town today

[amir_j]

Technonotice said:

If your handy with hardware and software troubleshooting/repair then put an ad in the local paper/tell your mates, family, people down the pub etc offering your services.

Chance to get some basic experience under your belt and earn a few quid. Do a decent job and get your name about.

Edited by Technonotice on Wednesday 30th September 00:11

And what happens if something goes wrong/accidenton site and the customer decides to sue etc?

[Merry]

amir_j said:

Technonotice said:

If your handy with hardware and software troubleshooting/repair then put an ad in the local paper/tell your mates, family, people down the pub etc offering your services.

Chance to get some basic experience under your belt and earn a few quid. Do a decent job and get your name about.

Edited by Technonotice on Wednesday 30th September 00:11

And what happens if something goes wrong/accidenton site and the customer decides to sue etc?

A risk, maybe, but I doubt it ever happens.