Getting your first job
- That IT Jazz
- March 9, 2022
- 7:57 pm
At this point you either have your A+ or are confident that your current skill level can get you that first job. In either case, checkout the tips below, but also don’t use this as your only resource. The information on here is based off one person’s experiences.
resume
By no means am I GOD when it comes to resumes, but there are certain aspects of an IT resume that I believe are staples. Certifications should always be at the top. You can still have your quick summary stating your goals and other Jazz, but immediately after that should be the certifications you currently hold or whichever one you are working on. After the certification section is where I like to see the Skills portion. This is to cover any technical and non-technical skills you want to highlight based on the job description you are applying to. Even if you aren’t certified or have no “professional” experience, that doesn’t mean you can’t add those skills to your resume. If you setup an Active directory lab to practice, state that you are familiar with active directory. If you’ve built/worked on personal computers, mention that you are capable of hardware repair/troubleshooting.
After the skills section is where it starts to become a typical resume. For your work experience, be sure to emphasize the technical aspects of the role as well as customer service. IT is a customer service business first so even if your technical ability isn’t strong yet, excellent customer service can take you a long way. With work experience knocked out we can now look at education. In most scenarios your education isn’t looked at much which is why I leave it at the bottom. If you happen to have a degree related to technology, then you may want to bump that up higher in the resume. Lastly are the references, I don’t name any references on my resumes. Instead, I type “Provided upon request”, I can’t say whether this is best practice but it’s what I do.
applying
Take that updated resume of yours and BLAST it online. Upload it to Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, DICE (IT jobs only), Zip recruiter, and anything else you can think of. Often enough, IT recruiters will see your resume online and contact you with jobs they think you’re a good fit for. Even if you turn down the initial offer, most recruiters will work with you to find another job that fits your preferences.
Utilize LinkedIn, create an account or update an existing account and start connecting with IT recruiters. You can create a template message for the connection request to let them know you are on the job market. Aside from recruiters, you should also start connecting with professionals who are currently working in the role you are after. At this stage those roles would be helpdesk, desktop support, desktop analyst. Keep in mind that direct hire IT roles are rare. Often you will start off on a contract or contract-to-hire basis. A typical contract-to-hire opportunity is 3-6 months. If possible, avoid anything longer than that 6 months.
This part isn’t necessary but having a spreadsheet to keep track of jobs you’ve applied to is nice to have. Below is a snippet of one of my old spreadsheets.
job types
Entry-level jobs can be broken up into 3 sections (again, this just my perspective) Field Technician/Helpdesk/Desktop Support.
Field Technician:
I can’t speak for all field technician roles, but from my experience this is the most chill. You don’t have a manager hovering over you all the time, you can work alone, and schedules can be flexible depending on the work volume. It sucks in other forms though. The work is usually routine and being in the field means it’s a lot tougher to form relationships with the networking/security/systems teams. Forming these relationships is one of the best ways to grow your career so I would avoid field technician roles.
Helpdesk:
Alright, so Helpdesk comes in a few flavors. MSP (Managed Service Provider) is hands down the most stressful. An MSP provides IT support to smaller companies that can’t afford to have their own IT support. This means the MSP helpdesk has to deal with random companies with random software and random issues at a very fast pace. There is one big benefit to them, being exposed to this environment means you’ll learn a lot faster than you would in any other entry-level position. Even with that benefit I would avoid it at all costs, that’s just me, you do you. I’m sure not all MSPs are created equal, I’ve just had a poor experience with them.
The second flavor is easier to deal with. Working as the private helpdesk for a single company is much better on the psyche. You won’t be learning as fast as with an MSP but you do still learn a ton so you can’t go wrong here. Since it is a helpdesk role you would be tied to a desk all day everyday which may not be your thing.
Whichever flavor you choose still comes with the benefit of working near the other teams (usually). This comes with the benefit of building relationships and opportunities to shadow the teams, making it easier to advance your career. That being said, helpdesk is a solid choice and abundant, but it still isn’t my first pick.
Desktop Support:
This is probably my favorite, it’s a hybrid of the 2 previous roles. I like to refer to this as “Corporate”. You spend some of your time at the desk or on the phone working remotely and the other half of the time you’re handling the physical work. It isn’t as chill as being a field technician, but it’s also not as stressful as helpdesk so I see it as a win-win. From the physical side you would be setting up desks, troubleshooting hardware for cubicles or server rooms, replacing/ installing equipment, etc. This is what I would shoot for when looking for your first job. Although my definition of a desktop support role is half remote half physical, you will find that IT job titles are not consistent. “Desktop Support” for one company could be “helpdesk” at another.
closing thoughts
Regardless of what you go for, consider the size of the organization you’re applying to. If you land a gig at a large, settled corporation, you may not have the opportunity to advance your career as quickly. Working for a smaller company means you’ll likely wear multiple hats and assist other teams with their work. This leads to learning more skills at a faster rate which will open more doors for your career in the long run.
I understand that everyone’s situations are different, but I want to stress that you should not jump at the first thing that’s offered to you. Wait for the right opportunity before accepting a role, this will ensure you have a smoother ride up the ladder. Before I forget, on average entry-level IT roles pay from 15-20 per hour. Don’t cave to the low-ball offers. Good Luck!
