Are agencies the only way into the I.T field?

What do you think? Do you feel agencies are the only way into the field at the entry level? I never get a call from companies hiring directly just agencies so I'm going to need to chance it if I want a career and stop being afraid of failing.

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Everyone

No. They are probably the only ones that will call you if all you're doing is putting your resume up on job sites. If you want to get in direct with a company you will have to apply to their open positions directly.

N2IT

Scott LaRock wrote: »

What do you think? Do you feel agencies are the only way into the field at the entry level? I never get a call from companies hiring directly just agencies so I'm going to need to chance it if I want a career and stop being afraid of failing.

Sometimes it feels that way, but like Everyone mentioned it's not the only way.

descender421

Everyone wrote: »

No. They are probably the only ones that will call you if all you're doing is putting your resume up on job sites. If you want to get in direct with a company you will have to apply to their open positions directly.

^ This. It's also about timing. Check the companies direct website daily as some positons are only help open for a week or sometimes even a few days. I got lucky on the timing of my job I started a few months back and have never been happier.

VAHokie56

Not the only way in by any means. When you are into the game with zero contacts, it can be a great resource.

YuckTheFankees

I would try craigslist. It's usually smaller companies looking for entry, mid, and senior level jobs. I've received more interviews through craiglist than any other source/ web site. I found my first IT job through craiglist, now I'm working at a growing company where I do everything from troubleshooting Linux based DVR's, troubleshooting networks, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

someuser23

I'm trying to stay away from a phone job becuase I have a speech impediment, most these agency call backs are phone based 100%. Looking more into PC rollout or even computer repair.

vahokiefan, what CCNET book you used?

N2IT

YuckTheFankees wrote: »

I would try craigslist. It's usually smaller companies looking for entry, mid, and senior level jobs. I've received more interviews through craiglist than any other source/ web site. I found my first IT job through craiglist, now I'm working at a growing company where I do everything from troubleshooting Linux based DVR's, troubleshooting networks, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

You've been preaching this for a while and I have yet to explore it. Shame on me, I think I'll cruise through the adds tonight.

Thanks

VAHokie56

Scott LaRock wrote: »

I'm trying to stay away from a phone job becuase I have a speech impediment, most these agency call backs are phone based 100%. Looking more into PC rollout or even computer repair.

vahokiefan, what CCNET book you used?

I used this
Amazon.com: CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Official Exam Certification Guide, 2nd Edition (9781587201820): Wendell Odom: Books

and CBT nuggets

YuckTheFankees

N2IT wrote: »

You've been preaching this for a while and I have yet to explore it. Shame on me, I think I'll cruise through the adds tonight.

Thanks

Depends on the area but tell me what you think once you look at the postings.

techdudehere

It wasnt easy to get a job without experience even when I started in the 90s. I imagine it's a lot harder now so if I were to have to do it all over again, I'd first try the easiest places to get in.

-Call Center is obviously out since you don't want that.

-PC Repair shops and independent Consultants. Get at least A+ and let them know you'll work cheap and when they need you. That's how you can get experience.

-There are a lot of per call type services. Sign up for one of those and start fielding service calls.

-Project work.

Basically, you have to start doing and stop thinking. Whatever action you can take, take it. That will get the ball rolling. Once you've got some experience, then you can think strategic and begin making plans from there.

The only time I've met a hiring manager that didn't care about experience was some college kid tasked with finding his replacement.. that job also paid 9$ an hour and system admin consisted of one server, 3 workstations, and helping renters get their laptops on the free wifi. Why don't they tell you these things before calling you in for an interview?

Michael.J.Palmer

Personally it felt that way for me, but I think it all comes down to your location and what kind of jobs are available in the first place.

A lot of positions I found were looking for folks with years worth of experience for direct hire jobs which basically limited me at first to just contract work, mostly project based. After doing that for about half a year though I finally struct gold with a long term contract at a HIT software company. After 11 months in that position the company I was contracting to finally converted me to a perm employee for them and that's basically how I got my first direct hire gig in IT.

So yeah, you may have to relay on contracts and recruiters, of course it all comes down to what is available in your area. If you have an abundance of companies that offer direct hire positions than shoot for them. If not, then you'll likely have to go the contract route. It's actually a sad realization to say this but more and more companies are going the contractor route these days than direct hire. I'd keep an eye out for contract-to-hire positions, typically those are three to six months contract positions with the option for the company to hire you directly after that. If you're a solid worker and know your stuff then there isn't any reason at all that you shouldn't get hired directly after your contract period is up.

Roguetadhg

I found my current job as a promotion from a different branch in another state. I reversed engineered a local website to increase my productivity, and got noticed this way. Luck would have it that the tech where I am now was gone for 6 months, and we were looking for a tech that would take the pay (not much), long hours and unbeknown to me - the politics. Not to mention the client I was working for within the company was slowly outsourcing their work to India, so I jumped at the chance for a continuing paycheck. The first thoughts of starting: Toto, This ain't Kansas anymore.

I tried to get a job with a school where I lived, as a tech but they outsourced to contracting the work.

buc

How I became a full time colleague with bennies: Soon out of school, posted my resume on every job board, applied to every entry level position. Called and introduced myself to every recruiting agency in the yellow pages - soon after, project work trickled in- one weeks worth of work here, 3 weeks of work there; it was scary as the pay wasn't regular but I smiled every job I got. 6 months later, I started getting offered contract work: 3 and 6 month steady work. Grouped the multiple project work as experience under 1 employer on my resume. After a year or so outta school- I got a call from a recruiter looking for a contract-to-hire; took the job, became a full time employee and now rocking the 401k match and tuition reimbursement. Looking for a job is a full time job. I think taking every crappy 1 week project work sold itself to the agencies/recruiters which led to the longer contract work offered by them. Good Luck!!!

Roguetadhg

Experiences tend to lend itself better than certifications. Getting that experience, like buc, may mean taking the crappy work everyday. You may need to take volunteer work. Yes, work for free. If you want the experience, do what you need to. Anyways, it passes the time so you won't be thinking about "I need a job"

Enjoying the work. learn from the work. Taking the opportunity to do better opens more doors.

someuser23

techdudehere wrote: »

It wasnt easy to get a job without experience even when I started in the 90s. I imagine it's a lot harder now so if I were to have to do it all over again, I'd first try the easiest places to get in.

-Call Center is obviously out since you don't want that.

-PC Repair shops and independent Consultants. Get at least A+ and let them know you'll work cheap and when they need you. That's how you can get experience.

-There are a lot of per call type services. Sign up for one of those and start fielding service calls.

-Project work.

Basically, you have to start doing and stop thinking. Whatever action you can take, take it. That will get the ball rolling. Once you've got some experience, then you can think strategic and begin making plans from there.

The only time I've met a hiring manager that didn't care about experience was some college kid tasked with finding his replacement.. that job also paid 9$ an hour and system admin consisted of one server, 3 workstations, and helping renters get their laptops on the free wifi. Why don't they tell you these things before calling you in for an interview?

I need to make a certain amount of money to handle my bills, I have rent, I don't live at home. I got your point but it's not like I can afford to just leave a full time job and go contract work until I find something full time. I do have expenses, my CC's are all paid off now I just have school loans and I'm in the clear but I need to work and bring enough to cover my expenses.

Roguetadhg

Have you tried to find volunteer work part-time? I'm sure churches and organizations are willing to hire free work.

nerdydad

Contacts, contacts, contacts. Do your friends know you are looking, do thier parents, people in your church, your neighbors? Nothing beats having someone that knows you recommending you for a position.

BradleyHU

Everyone wrote: »

No. They are probably the only ones that will call you if all you're doing is putting your resume up on job sites. If you want to get in direct with a company you will have to apply to their open positions directly.

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