Still trying to get my first entry level IT job

Magmadragoon

Hello, I have a hard time in the job market and wondering if I can get some advice. I have my Comptia A+ and currently studying for the CCENT. I'm trying to get a job in desktop support to build experience as I achieve more knowledge in IT. When I try to find jobs locally in the Philadelphia market, I keep finding temp agencies. I do not want to deal with an agency but it seems to be the only thing that will help me access a job since I have no IT experience. Maybe I think it is my resume, can you review it and give me some feedback?

SteveFT

Deal with the agency? I'm in the same position. I just finished my A+ and Network+, but have no IT experience. On top of that, my degree is in Kinesiology. If an agency can get me in the front door, I know that I can always leave for greener pastures two years later after I have improved my resume.

TechGuy215

Resume does like a little light, but as you've stated your looking for an entry-level position to get your foot in the door so that shouldn't be an issue.

However, just a heads up; be careful what you list as skills/certifications.

I see you listed SQL and VCA-DCV. Let's assume you make it to an interview, do you REALLY know these things/have these skills? For someone who has zero experience in IT, i truely doubt you would be comfortable working with VMware or SQL Server at an enterprise level. If you do know these things then great! You just don't want to get blown away with technical questions at an interview.

There are a few entry-level positions that can be found in the area without recruiters. You just have to really sift through the job board sites, or visit the direct sites for large companies.

Good Luck!

DoubleNNs

Dealing w/ agencies isn't that bad.

Also try craigslist. That's how I got my 1st It position.

dave330i

Helpdesk have a high turnover rate. Contract work will be the best way to get in.

ScrawnyRonnie

CraigsList is where I found my current Help Desk/Desktop Support job. My resume was formatted the same way with my certs in one section and other relatable-to-the-job skills in another. It took me about 4 months of searching/applying to finally get my foot in the door.

Magmadragoon

I'm currently trying to find jobs through craigslist, dice, monster, and careerbuilder. I currently have a Poweredge 1850 set up in my home lab with VMware ESXi that I use to practice with virtualization. I have a wamp server set up on another computer I use for web programming with PHP and mysql. I have two 2950t switches coming in the mail any day now to study for CCENT. Is there any thing I should add or change to my resume? Do you have any recommend temp agencies, I keep seeing Robert Half technologies on dice.com?

DoubleNNs

Technically, it took me almost a year to get my 1st IT job. I was applying and couldn't get anything - no interviews or even call backs. Not even any calls from recruiters. So I got a cashier job (at CVS actually) to hold me over while I worked on my certs.
I got my Net+ and applied - nothing.
I got my Sec+ and applied - nothing.

Then I got my A+, and within less than 2 weeks of completing my CompTIA trilogy I had accepted the offer for my 1st IT job, which I had applied for off of craigslist.

Not saying you need more certs. But keep applying while working on your skills and/or certs. Keep revising your resume and putting out the new version every 2 weeks or so. Notice what how recruitors and employers respond to different revisions of your resume and decide what is worth keeping, adding, or taken off of your resume.
Then, when the opportunity finally comes, you'll be surprised by how quickly it all moves, as well as how many opportunities follow afterwards.

DoubleNNs

Another thing, I think you should figure out exactly what kind of job you want to get. Once you do that, tailor your resume towards that kind of job.

Sure, I've done quite a bit of Java programming during my college days - even a few projects on my own. And there was a time I wanted to be a web developer and did a few freelance sites. However, I don't include any of those skills on my resume because they aren't relative towards what I want to do going forward.

It was hard for me when I was looking for my first IT job to REMOVE skills I had learned and kept up w/ from college. But if you want a help desk position, it helps to laser focus your resume to what an employer/recruiter wants to see.

I see skills such as SQL and Visual Basic on your resume. You don't necessarily need to remove them, but you have your A+. At the very least, add something about operating systems, troubleshooting, hardware, networking, and the rest of what you learned from the A+. (If you're going for a Help Desk/Desktop Support position)

coreyb80

An agency or contract work, as stated before, may be your only way in. I had been looking for an IT gig since last summer. Went to a few interviews and struck out. Finally got a call back in July for 2 phone interviews and then a face 2 face interview. Landed a position as desktop support for a solid company and I've learned alot in the past couple of months I've been here. If you're not already, I highly suggest getting familiar with Active Directory. Setup a lab at home to gain some experience as well. Somehow incorporate technical experience in your previous jobs on your resume.

MagnumOpus

Reference the [FONT=arial, sans-serif]MicroNugget: Building a Great IT Resume. It has definitely help me get a foot in the door. I believe someone on the forum previously posted this, kudos to them!

[/FONT]http://youtu.be/vw7cdgVtw_o

markulous

Try to find a low-paying job at a call center doing tech support. They start out at very low wages, but they will hire almost anyone that has a little IT knowledge. If they do not have much in the way of advancement, then it should be good for your resume for the next company you go to. Even if it's a fairly easy job that isn't that "techy" you can still embellish about it based on what you already know from your own personal experience.