Over the past few years, the ongoing demand for IT workers has increased, and as technology grows, it only makes sense to consider an entry-level IT job. It’s hard to resist the variety of niches and attractive salaries the IT industry offers.
Entry-level jobs are open to people looking to start their careers or professionals looking for a career shift. Read on to find out why you need an entry-level job in IT that can help you kickstart your career and how far you can leap!
What is An Entry-level IT Job?
An entry-level IT job is for recent graduates or young professionals with no-to-minimum work experience like internships. For Entry-level IT jobs, recruiters or companies are often looking for individuals who have basic knowledge of the IT industry and not necessarily full-time or professional experience. This IT position gives you access to higher-level work-related opportunities that require more experience.
This position can be full-time, contract, or part-time, and require different educational backgrounds and experience— depending on the area of IT you want. Sometimes, you may need a college degree or a higher academic qualification. Recruiters may also require you to have specific skills and techniques, but most times, entry-level IT jobs are on-the-job training to help you gain valuable industry knowledge and experience.
Why is An Entry-level IT Job Important?
Although these IT positions are generally starting positions, a hallmark benefit is the opportunity to gain career advancements and professional growth. Entry-level IT jobs expose you to many areas of work as you’ll get to work on a variety of tasks and on-the-job training to expand your skills and learn valuable experiences along the way. Additionally, these IT roles help you develop soft skills and promote personal development such as responsibility, communication, problem-solving, commitment and teamwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get into an entry-level IT job?
Entry-level IT positions are often easy for individuals to get into because of the little or no professional experience tag that comes with it. Although there are different requirements for entry-level jobs, having a bachelor’s or college degree can help you rank better during the application process. You should also consider your strengths, prior skills, experiences, and interests when you’re job hunting for an entry-level IT job especially if you’re looking towards a specific IT role. Although some entry-level IT jobs give opportunities for on-the-job training, it just still makes sense to apply for a role you have a good schema in.
If you can’t find one, consider expanding your search scope, or take on other certification courses to help you stand out from the crowd. Since you have little or no working experience, the only area of your resume that can sell you well is your transferable skills. So don’t forget to adjust your resume and cover letter to fit the job description, especially your skills section. To make a good first impression, make sure to practice and prepare for your interview.
What should I look out for in an entry-level IT job?
When applying for an entry-level IT position, look for potential career advancement and network opportunities. Be sure that there is a clear path for more job responsibilities to help you acquire more skills and build your professional network. A good organizational culture is another essential aspect you should look for. Make sure you do an organization shadow to know what the organization values and how best their teamwork is. Do they practice diversity, equity, and inclusion? What is their leadership style like? Do they have a laid-back culture or are they action-oriented? What is a typical day working in the organization like? Having a company whose culture fits you well, will increase your productivity, and job satisfaction.
Look out for the salary, incentives, and job benefits. Because the salary and job benefits vary across different organizations and the IT job role you’re applying to, make sure you’re satisfied with what the organization has to offer. After all, your entry-level jobs don’t pay as much as professional level, but there are incentives and other factors like training opportunities that can help you enjoy your work at this stage.
What skills do I need for an entry-level IT job?
Although technical skills for an entry-level IT job varies depending on the job role you’re applying to and most times, it takes a lot of training and experience to master. But, you should have basic knowledge in big data analysis and management skills (such as SQL, data mining, modeling or statistical analysis), coding and programming (such as react, java, HTML, C++, or Python, operating system, or software and hardware skills), network and data security (such as Cloud/SaaS Services), project management skills (such as quality assurance, benchmarking, or fabrication) and digital marketing skills (such as web Analytics, automated Marketing Software, social media or research)
Your soft skills should also include but shouldn’t be limited to effective communication, project management, problem-solving, leadership, flexibility, negotiation, time management, collaboration, team management, creativity, and analytical abilities. Recruiters and hiring managers are constantly looking for candidates that can start work on the first day, so having the right technical and soft skills can help you stand out from the crowd.
6 Entry-level IT Jobs to Kickstart Your Career.
Here are six entry-level tech jobs to consider as you begin your job search, their requirements, and tips on how to land them. Keep in mind that the average salary for each job can be affected by many factors like location, experience, skills, educational background, and negotiation during the hiring process.
Computer Support Specialist
Computer support specialists can also be called help desk technicians or desktop support technicians, but they all perform the same job responsibilities. A support specialist helps test, maintain, install and troubleshoot hardware, software, or networking issues to provide technical help to customers or clients. You require basic technical knowledge in computer and network systems and troubleshooting, such as CompTIA A+, and if possible, get certifications to help you stand out.
Other important qualities for this role are effective communication skills, customer service skills, listening skills, and problem-solving skills. As you gain experience, it’ll be easy to advance to other information technology positions, like information security analysts, network and systems administrators, cloud engineering, and software developers.
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
This IT job entails developing, determining, and maintaining a company’s computer systems and networks needs. It also involves configuring and installing networks, servers, hardware, and software systems to keep businesses running smoothly. A relevant degree or diploma in any computer or information is okay, but relevant certification programs like Microsoft and Cisco are also beneficial. Some other core skills you should have include analytical skills, communication skills, multitasking skills, and problem-solving skills.
It’s important to know how to stay relevant with the latest network, system, hardware, and software technology, as this will help you succeed in this role and help you advance to roles like systems engineer or computer network architect.
Website and Applications Developer
Web and apps developers help create and design interactive websites and apps, and sometimes they analyze the users’ needs and use their feedback to modify applications and websites. Although this job role may employ front-end developers, back-end developers, or webmasters, each position has a particular function and requires different types of education and prior experience to get qualified for the role. To do this, you should be proficient in (but not limited to) programming languages like JavaScript, HTML, or SQL.
You should also know multimedia publishing tools like Flash. More so, your communication, problem-solving, and creativity skills should be sound, and you must be detail-oriented with the ability to keep up to date on new tools and computer languages.
Technical Writer
Technical writers research, create and edit the content about a company’s product or services. Most technical writers have to create white papers, blog posts, or user manuals to help customers and users understand the company’s selling point. This entry-level IT job can help you get your foot in the door of other IT jobs like project management or business analysis.
While there are no restrictions on the educational background for a technical writing position, you’ll need to have a strong writing portfolio to impress the hiring managers and recruiters. This job position requires excellent writing skills, critical-thinking skills, research skills, team collaboration, and being detail-oriented. Technical writers have the technical skills to translate complex tech information and simplify it to non-techies.
Information Security Analyst
These IT analysts ensure that a business’s hardware, software, and networks are free from attacks and remain secure. This role requires you to analyze, safeguard IT data from potential threats, and prevent cyber-attacks.
For an entry-level position as an information security analyst, you should have a bachelor’s degree in any computer and information technology-related field.
If you don’t have one, consider entering boot camps or an internship that can give you some knowledge or better skill to take certifications such as Security+. Your analytical and communication skills should also be top-notch alongside, your problem-solving skills and skills in managing security audits, threats, and vulnerabilities are also necessary.
To Sum Up…
Entry-level IT jobs are the best start if you’re considering entering the IT industry. Although it may require a lot of on-the-job training and taking courses, it will definitely help you to grow professionally and provide career prospects in the long run. Start by using your connections to locate a work opportunity or apply for these roles via the company website or social sites such as LinkedIn.
Don’t forget to revamp your resume to fit the job description and prepare for your interview. If you still find it very hard to maneuver, consider speaking with an IT recruiter or recruitment team to determine the type of role you can get with your current level of education, location, and experience, and what you can do to increase your chances of getting into an entry-level tech job.
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