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Started By
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Anyone work in IT?
Posted on 11/23/21 at 7:15 am
Posted on 11/23/21 at 7:15 am
I figured maybe I could get some bites here. I’m thinking of making a move to work in the IT field, but I really wouldn’t know how to start. Can anyone offer some advice on what kind of certification I might need and who I could see about getting that?
8
Posted on 11/23/21 at 7:52 am to DeafJam73
What specifically do you want to do in IT?
It's very broad.
For example:
I work in IT, but I'm an MBA with a career in business process improvement etc. That has led me to ERP system implementations and other system technologies as they pertain to business improvement.
Actual IT support is totally different, but we are in the same group.
It's very broad.
For example:
I work in IT, but I'm an MBA with a career in business process improvement etc. That has led me to ERP system implementations and other system technologies as they pertain to business improvement.
Actual IT support is totally different, but we are in the same group.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 8:54 am to DeafJam73
Your posts makes it sound like you're interested in IT because you think the grass is greener than whatever industry you're working in now, not that you have genuine interest in it. I also suspect you're not a young college kid based on your user name, so even entry level positions to gain experience will probably harder to come by for you. To get a job in IT you probably need to start off by making IT a hobby.
Many computer skills that don't involve dealing with hardware can be self taught at home for free. You just need to pick an area of focus, start working on projects you find in online tutorials. Then make up your own projects, build a website tied to some hobby/passion you have. Or maybe you can think of a program to write tied to that.
Once you have a handle on what part of IT you like and are good at then you'll have a better idea of how to target jobs. Whether that's going to school, taking tests for certifications, or just building a portfolio of projects.
You should also try to think of any ways what you currently do ties into IT. Building reports is the obvious one that will have tie ins to most industries. Then instead of starting from scratch with no experience, you have all the experience from your current industry to help you stand out from people that may only have an IT background.
Many computer skills that don't involve dealing with hardware can be self taught at home for free. You just need to pick an area of focus, start working on projects you find in online tutorials. Then make up your own projects, build a website tied to some hobby/passion you have. Or maybe you can think of a program to write tied to that.
Once you have a handle on what part of IT you like and are good at then you'll have a better idea of how to target jobs. Whether that's going to school, taking tests for certifications, or just building a portfolio of projects.
You should also try to think of any ways what you currently do ties into IT. Building reports is the obvious one that will have tie ins to most industries. Then instead of starting from scratch with no experience, you have all the experience from your current industry to help you stand out from people that may only have an IT background.
This post was edited on 11/23/21 at 9:10 am
Posted on 11/23/21 at 9:30 am to DeafJam73
Everyone's comments are correct, which area are you interested in? If tech is a passion, there are lots of areas outside of tradition IT work. Tech has always been my hobby and my career is as a solution consultant for an enterprise low code/no code platform
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:27 am to DeafJam73
I've been in IT for 21 years.
Cloud architect or cyber security are some of the best areas of concentration now outside of development.
Cloud architect or cyber security are some of the best areas of concentration now outside of development.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 12:20 pm to DeafJam73
Most people in IT don't just suddenly decide they are going to "Do IT"
Most grew up with IT and live and breathe IT.
Most grew up with IT and live and breathe IT.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 12:24 pm to DeafJam73
Get Comptia A+ to open some doors, but usually you will start in help desk.
From there you can get Sec+ or Net+ then move to bigger certs from there.
From there you can get Sec+ or Net+ then move to bigger certs from there.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 6:41 pm to DeafJam73
What are you good at
What are you interested in
What are you passionate about
Determine that and start from there
A+
Net+
Sec+
Nice starter kit
Learn SQL if you like data
What are you interested in
What are you passionate about
Determine that and start from there
A+
Net+
Sec+
Nice starter kit
Learn SQL if you like data
This post was edited on 11/23/21 at 6:47 pm
Posted on 11/23/21 at 7:12 pm to DeafJam73
The advice I usually give to people just starting out or are thinking about getting into IT is to be open to moving out of the area. At least temporarily. I can only speak from personal experience, most people I went to school with went somewhere pulling cable or doing help desk type stuff for a small company starting out.
I decided to move to Tennessee and go work for Dell. It was tech support stuff, the money was lousy and benefits were non existent, but I stuck it out for a year and then moved back home. Having that on my resume got me the job I'm still at almost 20 years later.
You may not have to do this depending on where you live, but opportunities were limited for me at the time and by doing what I did it allowed me to kind of get a jump start on my career.
As far as certs I'd say anything security related would be very valuable. The A+, NET+ may be good places to start like others have said to see if you really have any true interest for it.
I decided to move to Tennessee and go work for Dell. It was tech support stuff, the money was lousy and benefits were non existent, but I stuck it out for a year and then moved back home. Having that on my resume got me the job I'm still at almost 20 years later.
You may not have to do this depending on where you live, but opportunities were limited for me at the time and by doing what I did it allowed me to kind of get a jump start on my career.
As far as certs I'd say anything security related would be very valuable. The A+, NET+ may be good places to start like others have said to see if you really have any true interest for it.
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