1.Re-examine and Apply Your Past Experience to the IT Industry
When you first make the decision to pursue a new career in IT, it's important to take a hard look at your prior experience. It might seem like you have none of the skills listed on job postings, but "soft skills" can be surprisingly important and many skills are transferable into IT roles.
You'll need to create a new resume with relevant experience listed and tailored specifically for the kinds of roles you're trying to land. Employers are highly likely to take a look at your LinkedIn page during the application process. Using your new resume, you should revise your profile to make sure the two match up. You should also take time to write a new cover letter that explains your prior experience, how it'll be useful in your new role, and why you're interested in changing industries. This will help answer a lot of questions if your resume piques their interest.
2. Earn Industry Certifications
Getting certified may be the fastest way to break into information technology. While a tech degree can take 1-4 years, certifications can be studied for and earned in just a few weeks. There are many comparisons between getting a degree or earning certifications, but a degree isn’t necessary for entering the IT workforce.
By getting certified, you'll show potential employers that you have the skills they need. This can go a long way towards making up for a lack of experience. For some roles, the right certifications will put you higher in the stack than applicants with limited experience and no certifications. Best of all, certifications can help open up more entry-level opportunities instead of just taking the first IT job that comes your way.
3. Your Degree in Another Field May Be a Huge Asset
You may be tearing your hair out with regret, wondering why you used all that time in college on a degree that isn't helping you with your quest for a lifelong career. But don't be too hard on yourself. Many employers are more inclined to offer you a job simply because you were able to accomplish the feat of earning a degree.
Instead of focusing on how your degree may have cost you time and money, focus on the ways that your degree can be applied in moving your life forward into an IT career. For example, an IT worker with a literature degree will be more likely to take a creative approach to problem-solving and have superior writing and communication skills. A philosophy major has a deeper understanding of logic and a unique way of approaching challenges. By casting your degree as an asset, you'll stand out from other applicants who only have computer or tech experience.
With the rapid evolution of IT, there is a huge demand for individuals from diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives.
4. Be Open to Starting at the Bottom
It's important to note that you may have to "start over" in IT. You may have been a manager or an advanced professional in your old industry, but remember — you're leaving it for a reason. Be prepared to start with a entry-level position and work your way up. The experience you get working at the bottom of the ladder will be valuable as you grow into a more challenging position.
If you want a "head start," considering getting a degree or a few certifications. These credentials have the potential to help you out significantly.
Getting educated about your field of interest shows your commitment to your new industry and helps to give you an advantage over other applicants. It can also prepare you for more advanced positions down the line. With no experience, you still won't be able to jump to the top of the ladder. But with so many open positions all across the IT industry, the right credentials can help you quickly climb to higher-paying and more specialized positions in IT.
5. Don't Forget the Power of Networking
You may be surprised by how powerful your connections can be. When looking to fill a job role, most employers are more interested in hiring somebody based on a recommendation than interviewing a bunch of total strangers. Finding an IT mentor can help guide you in your career and learn from their experience .
Make sure to use social media and everyone in your address book and reach out to anybody you know who's associated with the tech world. Simply putting a post out there letting your connections know that you are looking to get into tech may bring out an opportunity that you never expected.
You can even just ask your friends or connections if they know anybody who's looking to hire for the type of positions you want. The right connection can give you a huge head start over the competition — and might even spark a career passion that lasts the rest of your life.
6. Learn Relevant Tech Skills and Gain Experience
When it comes to technology, there are a million different things to learn that can improve your resume. Anything from understanding Salesforce to knowing how to post on WordPress might be useful to your next employer. Utilizing YouTube and learning from countless free videos is a great way to learn new skills and reinforce old ones. Check out ACI Learning’s YouTube channel for free videos on IT.
Follow your interests and teach yourself about software and hardware in your free time. You'll be able to add these skills to your resume once you're competent at them, and they just might make the difference between getting hired and getting looked over.
A great way to get some hands-on experience is through virtual labs. Practice Labs, an ACI Learning Company, builds, hosts and maintains virtual labs for learners to practice their digital and IT skills within a safe, live-lab environment. This allows you to get experience with real servers without the fear of breaking anything. This can help you gain the experience to feel confident in real-world environments.
7. Look for Crossover Positions
While you might not have any direct experience, there are IT workers in every industry that use networks and computers (practically every industry out there). If you have years of experience in car sales, for example, it might help to look for an IT position at a car dealership. Understanding half of the business can go a long way towards making you a valuable employee right from the start, even if your tech skills aren't top-notch. You'll still have to start at the bottom, but it could be the perfect way to gain your first year or two of IT experience.
All in all, it is not impossible to start a career in IT with no experience — hence the word "start" — but many individuals are still skeptical of making the leap into IT. By arming yourself with the right tools and knowhow you can significantly increase your chances at starting a career in tech that will last a lifetime.
