My plan on getting a job in the IT field. What do you think?

ITguy83

Hi everyone, just wondering what you think about my plan to get into the IT field. Right now I am about to start a internship for a local ymca in their IT department the only problem is that it is a volunteer internship. Oh well. I am most the way through my associates in IT - Computer Support and can finish the rest of my classes online next fall semester. During this semester I plan on getting my A+ or Network+ or some other degree still not sure exactly which one, but have studied a lot for the A+ and Network+. After this semester I hope to land an entry level job in the IT field and finish my support degree online in fall and finishing the IT-Networking specialist degree that I have also started in the spring semester of next school year also online. Do you guys think I will have trouble landing a IT job after this semester after doing my internship and a cert on my resume? Any advice? Thanks for reading!

hypnotoad

Hi ITGuy, welcome to the forums. It sounds like you are off to a good start. What kind of job are you hoping to find? What part of the country are you in?

It seems to be that some combination of experience + certification + education is the status quo for IT jobs. People will argue at no end to the weight of each variable in the equation, but you should keep up the good work!! You are on the right track.

The A+/Network+/AA degree combination is pretty solid for many tech support jobs. I encourage you to stick with the YMCA internship for experience.

networker050184

As hypnotoad stated you are on your way to the three things needed to be successful in your career- experience, certs and education. As long as you keep expanding your skills and qualifications you shouldn't have too much trouble landing some sort of IT gig. Just keep your expectations in check with reality.

Good luck!

jryantech

A+, Network+ and an Associates Degree is a GREAT start. Get those and then go Entry Level Job + Bachelors.

I agree with hypnotoad stick with YMCA for now if you can afford to do it. Great for the resume!

msteinhilber

jryantech wrote: »

A+, Network+ and an Associates Degree is a GREAT start. Get those and then go Entry Level Job + Bachelors.

I agree with hypnotoad stick with YMCA for now if you can afford to do it. Great for the resume!

Agreed, YMCA is a great option even if volunteer as experience is a big player in landing a job. And after you get your Associates out of the way, if you decide to pursue a Bachelors degree and can manage to find an employer that offers some form of tuition reimbursement then you should be in a pretty good position I would say.

ITguy83

Thanks for the welcome and the replies everyone. I am located in Wisconsin and am not going to be picky after this semester ends and I am looking for a job. I am hoping to someday get into IT security. I would also like to say that everyone that participates in the forums here are great and I really enjoy this entire site. Thanks again to everyone!

Kasor

The location can be a problem.... U might need to travel further out...

msteinhilber

Kasor wrote: »

The location can be a problem.... U might need to travel further out...

There are usually a fairly decent amount of openings in Wisconsin. The Fox Valley area if the OP is familiar with it is quickly expanding and the Madison and Milwaukee regions are also good locations for tech jobs. Wisconsin isn't just a state full of drunk rednecks and dairy farmers after all.

hypnotoad

I suggest checking out the big job boards/newspaper sites in places you might want to locate to for jobs that would fit your certs, education, and experience. This will give you a handle on what is expected of you, and what you can expect.

Also, if you do decide to get a Bachelors, it's never been easier to bridge the gap -- schools nowadays are offering more options than ever.

Edit: I forgot to mention that your school probably has a career center/counselor who can advise you.

markk2008

One of the things that I have found useful is just to go out to every agency and company in the area, and spend a whole day giving out your resume/cv to everyone, something is bound to turn up or you may get a few useful leads from it, when I did it one of the agencies that I visited phoned me the same day with a suitable position.

Nerd_Soon

I don't know what test to take. I have no certifications. I have a bachelors of science degree in management computer information systems.

I was gonna take the 70-270 for a technical support position. However, they need experience which I lack. So I am faced with taking the old XP 70-270 exam or just start out with the 70-620. I could take both but I ain't rich, since I can't find any IT jobs that don't require experience.

Short story... How has anyone gotten their experience?

Also, I am indesisive on what path to pursue:

Networking (Windows Server 2008, SQL 200

Programming (Visual Studio 2008, .NET)

Database( I dont know)

I want a job that will last me a life time. The IT job market fluctuates so I don't want to get the wrong certification. I need help and alot of advice. I was just thinking changin to a boring salesman position. I mean I will always have to study for certs. Renewing certs every 4 years. Thats like being a lawyer. Reading all the time.

What technology should I go with? What software?

Help a confused college graduate without experience. NO IT jobs for me, only 2-5 day contracts. Also No certs yet. I will spend my life studying technology only if it can make me 60 dollars an hour. so what route should i go?

what about the a+?


thanks nerds

Plantwiz

Nerd_Soon wrote: »

I
Short story... How has anyone gotten their experience?

thanks nerds

NERD -
STOP Spammming the forums with the same whinning question. You complained about this in A+ already.


AND QUIT Posting in your rainbow colors. If you want to emphasis a word or phase then use the fancy formatting. Otherwise, use the default fonts to keep the forum easy to read.

Revenue

Plantwiz wrote: »

NERD -
STOP Spammming the forums with the same whinning question. You complained about this in A+ already.


AND QUIT Posting in your rainbow colors. If you want to emphasis a word or phase then use the fancy formatting. Otherwise, use the default fonts to keep the forum easy to read.

Word. +1