I want to work at it but I have no clue on how to get started does this sound like you don’t worry CompTIA is here for you every step of the way we’re breaking down specific steps that you can take right now to get a job in it quickly whether you’re a recent grad changing careers or a student while your journey may look different we’ve got you covered follow these steps to get working in it.
Don’t Panic
fast step one don’t panic any experience no problem no college degree, not a problem either a large portion of it professionals do not have a four-year or even two-year degree there are many branches of i.t but it support is often the first step for entry-level professionals.
The text, Don’t Panic TO GET JOB and Don’t Panic TO lose JOB are both written in small caps. The typeface is open following by condensed and stressed. This design was created for those who may have the stress of having just lost their job or may have a panic about getting their next job. Stressful moments need simple wordings with a clear message to be conveyed no matter where is it read.
identify your strengths
step two identify your strengths there’s an abundance of i.t jobs out there all you have to do is figure out which type of it job suits you best first ask yourself a few questions what’s your natural skill set do you already have a technical background or maybe strong soft skills well use CompTIA’s free career quiz the link is in the description to match your existing skills.
interests to actual i.t roles next read it job descriptions do they sound like you and lastly reach out to it professionals and ask them about their careers or watch day in the life videos we’ve got several in this playlist that you can check out about it support once you have a better sense of which roles interest you and how they play to your strengths it’s time to get your hands on the knowledge that you need step 3.
Tinker
tinker ever had an issue with a smartphone or a computer and searched online for a solution that is exactly what it pros need for trial and error troubleshooting here are a few tips to help get you tinkering tip 1 the internet is full of it pros helping each other with tech problems take advantage of the shared knowledge to debug your own tech tip two ask family members or friends.
if they could use it pro in training to help troubleshoot and repair their devices tip 3 get your hands on some second-hand computer or phone parts and take them apart and put them back together again and tip 4 checks out our full video on how to get hands-on experience linked in the description it’s real talk right from the experts covering specific resources and apps that you can use to get the real-world experience we did our best to make this as easy as we could for you.
study from home comptia offers
step four study from home comptia offers many options that allow you to learn new skills at home on your own time option one try out the comp tia serpmaster suite of products to pick up the key it skills you need with a customizable study plan option two comptial labs is a great option.
if you prefer to practice your tech skills with real equipment in a virtual environment if you prefer a classroom setting option three is instructor-led training you’ll get expert guidance from an instructor who knows the industry inside and out.
Get Certified
step five get certified your it certification will show that you have the specific skills needed to excel in it in other words if you’re certified the hiring manager will know that you’re prepared that’s why almost 90 per cent of hr managers use certifications as a screening tool or hiring criteria.
if you’re just starting out the first certification that you should tackle is CompTIA a plus is foundational it’s considered the industry standard for establishing a career in it because it proves your ability to perform critical i.t tasks and think on your feet and don’t forget that to get a plus certified you’ll need to take your plus exams.
get hands-on experience
step six get hands-on experience so how do you get real experience without a job easy you can get real i.t experience from volunteer positions apprenticeships part-time jobs and internships there are also plenty of online resources that can help you get hands-on experience check out a few of them in the video we mentioned.
get the job
step 7 get the job first add your certification to your resume next make sure that your certification is also listed on your linkedin profile check out the resume tips linked in the description you’ll then use the power of networking to connect with a hiring manager.
other it pros so how do you network with it pros you don’t already know well there are so many different ways to try out one of these strategies and move closer to getting that j-o-bone scan your LinkedIn network find someone with an interesting i.t career and reach out see if they’ll hold an informational interview two talks to friends for example and family about your it career goals they may know someone whom you can connect with three you can attend professional association events networking gatherings and conferences and who says networking has to be boring four find lan parties or gaming nights where it people get together for fun you can also read more tips for your next job search.
there you have it follow these steps to get your hands on that job fast if you want to discover what kinds of it jobs and salaries a CompTIA certification can get you.