If you are trying to learn how to become an information technology specialist, you are in luck! Check out our career guide by clicking right here.
Have you always had an interest in working on computers? You might be the perfect person to launch a career as an information technology specialist.
There are almost 900,000 Americans working as IT specialists these days. But the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections indicates that more than 80,000 new IT specialist jobs are expected to open up within the next ten years.
If working as an information technology specialist sounds like it could be appealing to you, start preparing to become one now. It’s not as difficult as it might appear to be to kickstart a career in the IT field as long as you’re passionate about hardware, software, and everything else that goes along with computers.
Use this career guide to get your IT career off the ground in no time.
Begin by Learning About What an Information Technology Specialist Does
Are you 100% sure that you want to be an information technology specialist? Before you say “Yes!”, spend some time looking at what it is that IT specialists actually do.
As an IT specialist, it’s going to be your job to provide companies with the assistance that they need when it comes to managing their computer hardware and software. From fixing problems with individual computers to securing large computer networks, you’ll have a hand in almost everything related to computers within a company.
Is this something that would be a good fit for you? You might want to shadow someone working as an IT specialist now to see what their days are like. It’ll let you know if you’re cut out for life as an IT specialist.
Major in Information Technology in College and Obtain Your Bachelor’s Degree
If you decide that you do, in fact, want to work as an information technology specialist, the next thing you’ll want to do is enroll in a university or college as an IT major. You should take IT classes as well as computer science classes.
These classes will teach you everything that you need to know about working in the IT field. They’ll also help you get your hands on a bachelor’s degree at the end of it all.
If college isn’t something that you can afford, no worries. You can also take IT, classes, at many vocational schools and obtain a certificate. You might need to take additional IT training courses later before landing a job, but it’s another viable option for those interested in IT.
Apply for Entry-Level IT Jobs and Gain Experience
Once you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in IT or an IT certificate from a vocational school, start sending out resumes to companies hiring for IT positions. While you might want to work as an information technology specialist right away, you’ll need to cut your teeth as a lower-level IT employee first.
In a perfect world, you should spend about three years working at an entry-level IT job before applying for IT specialist positions. This will allow you to gain real-world experience that will help you later on.
In many cases, companies will require you to have three to five years of experience before even considering you for IT specialist positions. It’s why you’ll want to get to work right away after school.
Earn as Many IT Related Certifications as Possible
To work as an IT specialist, you’ll need more than just a degree or certificate and some real-world experience. Those who work as IT specialists are considered to be experts in one specific area of the IT world and need to know it like the back of their hand.
Turning yourself into an expert is going to call for you to take different training courses and earn certifications in whatever areas of IT you choose. For example, you can become a Cisco Certified Network Associate or a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator.
When you’re able to show companies that you’ve earned the right certifications, they’ll be more likely to hire you. You can give yourself a leg up on the competition by locking down multiple certifications.
Update Your Resume to Showcase All Your IT Skills
At this point, you should have a ton of real-world experience under your belt as far as IT is concerned. You should also have at least one or two IT certifications that you can use to your advantage.
It’ll be time to update your resume before you begin applying for IT specialist positions. List everything from your original IT degree or certificate to your experience and your certifications.
Your resume should illustrate all the things you’ve been able to accomplish so far in your career. It should show employers why they should strongly consider hiring you over the other potential candidates in your field.
From there, you can start sending your resume out to large corporations, small businesses, and every kind of company in between. There are always companies looking for IT specialists, so it shouldn’t take you long at all to locate a job with one of them.
When you do, remember that you should always keep on learning new IT skills. The IT world changes fast, and if you don’t take the time to keep up with it, it could pass you by within just a few years and leave you looking for a new employer.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be an IT Specialist?
As you can see, transforming yourself into an information technology specialist will take some time and effort on your part. But there is a very clear path that you can follow if you want to live your life as an IT specialist.
Want to learn more about some of the other IT opportunities that are available? Look through the articles on our blog to see more careers in the IT field.
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