how to get experience?

chevy454

How do i get experience if the entry level jobs require experience? i was browsing for jobs yesterday and every entry level job i saw required at least two years experience

SrSysAdmin

If you don't know anybody who can give you a job, your best bet is to volunteer in some way and work on certs while you're doing it.

pml1

Personally, if I saw and "entry level" job that required 2 years of experience, I would apply anyway. When I was hired on to my current job, the posting asked for 2-3 years of experience, and I had none, but I was able to get the job anyway.

JrSysAdmin is right on about volunteering also. I had done some menial IT work at my church which I think helped my case. It definitely wasn't anything glamorous, but I had done some computer repair and helped install some access points. I think also that volunteering demonstrates to employers that you are putting forth some effort. I know I would rather hire someone had been volunteering to gain experience instead of someone who had been sitting on their can waiting for a job to fall from the sky.

mikej412

You apply for those jobs anyways, have a resume that presents your qualifications in the best light possible without becoming a work of fiction, and keep doing what you can to add to your resume in the mean time.

If all the other good job candidates the employer is interested in think they're worth 100K and the job only is worth 35K to the employer, then you may get a shot at an interview.

NetworkingStudent

chevy454 wrote: »

How do i get experience if the entry level jobs require experience? i was browsing for jobs yesterday and every entry level job i saw required at least two years experience

Often a 2 year college degree can counted as 2 years of experience. Lately, I have noticed that more and more help desk jobs require at least an Associate’s of applied Science degree in IT. However, if you want experience beyond that there are some options.
Try free Geek
YouTube - Welcome to Free Geek
Free Geek - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Volunteer match is a great website, that allows you to search for volunteer opportunities.
Use the search term Computers, and your zip code to find volunteer opportunities near you.
VolunteerMatch - Where Volunteering Begins
Check Easter Seals
Easter Seals : Volunteering
Also, any local library, church, or school will always be looking for help.
Apply for a jobs at Microcenter:
https://www.ultirecruit.com/MIC1003/jobboard/ListJobs.aspx?__VT=ExtCan
or geek squad

chevy454

thankx guy i didnt think about that, but my next question after gaining experience does a help desk tech comes first then help desk support? or does it matter

redline5th

Most people will take an apprentice/intern.

LAN_Man

How I got my start was by volunteering in the IT Department of a local YMCA and after about 4 months my hardwork paid off and I was offered a paid position. My friend also did the same thing but for a public library. If the company is in need they will find it hard to turn down free labor, if the person has some sort of background in the field.

chevy454

im going to try to volunteer in the IT department at school

redline5th

Sounds like you're on the right track. Unfortunately the free labor kinda sucks, but it pays off as experience, which is what companies WANT. Especially if you're at school anyway, why not? Who knows it might work into a paid position later as you learn how things are laid out.

L0gicB0mb508

chevy454 wrote: »

im going to try to volunteer in the IT department at school

I got a lot of good experience being a student worker in the IT dept. It will definitely help boost you up a little bit. I wish you the best of luck.

veritas_libertas

L0gicB0mb508 wrote: »

I got a lot of good experience being a student worker in the IT dept. It will definitely help boost you up a little bit. I wish you the best of luck.

+1 it is also looks good on your resume. I learned a lot, and made good contacts.

MentholMoose

veritas_libertas wrote: »

+1 it is also looks good on your resume. I learned a lot, and made good contacts.

+2 All four people in my group (network and systems administration) are former student workers. It definitely can be useful.

Dilan-LT

I worked 1 year for free in IT company to get exp.(In my country is problem to find any IT job for newbies) Now I work tech-support .What I want to say, work hard and never give up

Jonny70

I'm not sure where you are but I've had a couple of acquaintances getting into IT by taking jobs managing ticketing systems. They don't actually do the tech work but they do assign tickets to the appropriate places. This has worked out well as a segue for a couple of them.