"Wanted: entry level IT pro. Needed: 20 years of experience" - Setting up for success

Everyone, and I mean everyone, has been in this dilemma. School ends. You've earned that diploma through blood sweat and tears. Everything in you screamed “quit” but you persevered (even though you died inside a bit).

“But technology is an industry ripe for employment”. Indeed, it is! It’s also incredibly competitive and often difficult to break into. The reality for today's generations is collegiate degrees alone will likely not suffice. Although obtaining such a credential is incredibly beneficial (and an achievement), an individual must obtain competencies and experience through other avenues in order stand out from a sea of other capable candidates. Remember, this is not a complete list and no one suggestion will be the magic key to success. The following potential experiences are not an end all. In fact, one will likely need to follow some practices for their entire career. After all, success in the IT world is driven by continual challenge and learning.

Build positive relationships with other IT professionals. Although knowing a multitude of individuals isn’t a detriment, stride to make them meaningful. We all know of LinkedIn users who flex their 10,000+ connections:

If you know of or seeking a specialization, find a relevant meetup group. Do a search on Meetup.com and see what is interesting. Whether your passion involves virtualization, Open Source solutions or Data Science, get plugged in. Do the best you can to connect with at least 2-3 members. Demonstrate your strengths and discuss the areas where you're going. Don't undersell, but show a willingness to learn and progress.

It is beneficial to pursue industry recognized certifications. Although they do not replace authentic work experience, candidates who earned a certification tend to be more attractive to hiring managers. Earning a certification should be a mark of dedication to the field and a willingness to learn. Bear in mind many organization's do not value certifications (although far more do). Here is a short list of certification vendors and examples that I learned are well recognized from research and personal experience:

a.      Desktop, help-desk, and end-user support: CompTIA A+ and Network+, Apple Certified Mac Technician, and the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate: Windows 10.

b.     Traditional and Cloud Infrastructure: Red Hat Certified Linux Systems Administrator (further specializations available) Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (many specialization options), AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, and VMware Certified Professional, Puppet Certified Professional, and Docker Certified Associate (or other containerization certificates).

c.      Networking: various vendors offer specializations that are helpful to pursue. A great place to start learning network architecture and configuration is with the widely valued Cisco Certified Networking Associate: Routing and Switching credential. Also, read into Juniper's certification offerings as they are similar in what topics they cover.

d.      Information/Cyber Security: credentials from organizations like SANS, GIAC, ISACA are valuable. Although the knowledge of Cyber Security certification is not my strong suit, I encourage you to visit their respective website and research their offerings.

Thoughts on Software Development Certifications: although certifications exist from Microsoft, Oracle, and other vendors, it’s my understanding that they do not hold as much weight in the development concentration of IT. My recommendations:

a.      Research the role of a software developer. Try learning a general-purpose language to gain a basic understanding of software programing. C#, Python, and Java are solid choices in that regard. Other languages that compliment well are SQL, HTML/CSS, Javascript, Ruby-on-rails, and other front/back end tools.

b.      Try writing scripts and programs that solve a problem for yourself or others. You don't need or necessarily want to create the next killer app for Android phones (yet)! This may set you up for disappointment or burnout. The key is to build a portfolio of problems significant or small that you've solved. The benefit of this approach is quick satisfaction and a steady increase in motivation. For example: do you have a manual process you perform in Excel? Create an automation with Python that can do it for you! Additionally, practice writing meaningful documentation so that anyone can look at your code and understand how it works. 

c.      Generally, it’s best to find or create a project first, then research the best language for the job. There are no “one tool fits all” in the land of IT.

d.      Become familiar with your development environment. Download a popular text editor (see Notepad++), Integrated Development Environment (Visual Studio Express, Eclipse, etc), version control system (Git), and a remote code repository (Github, Gitlabs).

As with most beginning IT professionals, you may need to start at an entry level position. The benefits of starting small are worth considering:

a.      In an entry-level role, employers are generally more understanding when it comes to your skill level and making mistakes. If you make a mistake, don’t panic! Learn how to avoid it in the future! Additionally, ask seasoned colleagues for advice and mentoring. Most experienced professionals enjoy passing down expertise.

b.      Prioritize applying with organizations you have existing connections to. Preferably, companies that are known for opportunities and room for growth. Size and culture may make a difference. However, don’t be afraid to connect with companies you aren’t familiar with. Not everyone lands a role with an Apple or Google right off the bat.

c.      If you're interested in infrastructure, shoot for a NOC, Incident response, or Operations Command Center role. This would give you a wide exposure to many technologies, tools, and specialties. Additionally, there is nothing wrong with a helpdesk position as it’s an opportunity to learn soft skills (underrated), troubleshooting (also underrated), and other essential disciplines in the field.

Essential Job Seeking Tips:

a.      You've heard it before, but do not ignore it. Dress for the job you want! Even if the potential employer allows jeans “all day, every day”, a well ironed dress shirt, suite, tie, polished shoe, clean pants, groomed hair (including facial), sends a message about your attitude and desire for the role.

b.      Interviewing is a skill not everyone innately possesses but can be developed. Be confident in your strengths and abilities. Keep in mind, most interviewers recognize embellishment! Besides, honesty goes a long way in showing your character. Bring a notebook with good questions for the employer. You might ask "what are your expectations for this role and it's day-to-day tasks" or “Can you describe the team and company culture”. If you do not know the answer to a technical question, do not be afraid to say, “I don’t know”. The reality is, every job presents new challenges where you won't know the answers right away. What’s more important is showing the interviewer the aptitude to solve a problem. Shake the interviewers hand, thank them at the end and the night after. This shows appreciation to the hiring manager. They set aside valuable time to consider you. They don’t owe you anything!

c. Seek out and get to know recruiters. They are an incredible asset! Treat them well since there are times where it's reasonable to jump ship. Whether it's connecting with other professionals or resume' writing, don't discount their value. A great recruiter finds a good candidate that fits a company well. This is a three way win for the company, recruiter, and candidate.

Create a home lab!

a.      Delve into tinkering. Research and pick out components to assemble a desktop.

b.      Learn about operating systems and basic networking.

c.      Install an evaluation copy of Windows Server, install Active Directory Domain Services, file, print, and other services.

d.      Read and watch videos on the TCP/IP protocol suite, OSI model, and other basic networking topics. Learn what routers and switches are, what they do, and how they became important.

e.      Read books on topics that are interesting and relevant. Sift through Reddit pages designated for IT professionals (i.e. homelab, networking, sysadmin, linuxadmin, ccna, etc).

f.       Did you find a new tool? Install and tinker with it. Compare it with other tools you've written.

g.      Find a way to break your lab and do your best to fix it.

Remember that the above tips are simply guidelines. By no means will they guarantee you a job. However, I’m confident you be a cut above the competition! Stay humble, passionate, eager, mindful, self-aware, disciplined, and personable as these qualities will take you far. The ball will always be in your court when it comes to your career!

Later!

Eric Chambers