Studying For a Diploma in IT Will Be Your First Step Towards a New Career

Working in IT allows you to solve problems, help people, and learn new things constantly. A career in IT can reward both the generalist as well as the specialist after completion of a diploma in IT.

Additionally, the computer and IT growing fields offer solid salaries for entry-level workers. Computer and information technology employment is projected by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow by 11% between 2019 and 2029. According to Glassdoor, the average pay package of entry-level in IT was $63,828 as of April 2021.

What are the best ways to break into the Computer and IT field?

How to get a job in IT

1. Know the space

It’s important to know what exactly IT work entails and what types of jobs are available if you’re seeking IT work. Doing your research to get an overview of IT and then pursue a diploma in IT is a good first step.

Create a list of jobs that interest you on completion of a diploma in IT. Do you want to assist an organization’s computer network to run smoothly daily or do you want to develop websites? If you were an organization, what kind of organization would you like to work with? If you were in a position, what would you like to do?

As a bonus, you’ll gain familiarity with some of the terms you’ll encounter during the process. Consider reading about entry-level IT jobs or learning about different IT careers if you are not sure where to start after a diploma in IT.

Do you think that IT jobs are only available in big coastal cities?

Computer and IT workers can work for virtually any business that uses technology. While most tech companies and start-ups in the United States are located in urban areas, IT workers can work for businesses across the country. Banks, universities, and healthcare facilities might be hiring IT workers. Plus, there are signs that smaller cities are becoming new start-up hubs. Start-up funding has increased in places such as Boulder, Des Moines, and Ann Arbor in recent years.

Also, keep in mind that remote work in the Computer and IT may be available for positions in larger cities as well.

2. Polish relevant IT skills

Employers look for different skills in the Computer and IT workers depending on the role. Browse several job postings you are interested in to determine what specific skills you should acquire.

An IT job description could include the following skills.

• Operating systems: Being knowledgeable about Mac, Linux, and Microsoft operating systems will enable you to work with various devices and broaden your list of potential employers.
• Systems: IT professionals can benefit from a fundamental understanding of computer and internet security. Cryptography and firewalls are examples.

• Networks: Gaining an understanding of network issues, such as network access and IP services, may help you land a job.
• Communication: Working in IT will require you to communicate with others regularly. IT professionals are very often anticipated to help other members of the company who are having technical issues or to work on new projects with other team members. Your professional life can be greatly benefited by improving your communication skills.

3. Network

By networking, you can learn more about a job or company, connect with opportunities that might not have come your way otherwise, or boost your chances of getting hired. Alumni from your alma mater, old coworkers, friends, and people you connect with through professional sites such as LinkedIn can make up your network.

It is not necessary for successful networking to end with a job offer. Additionally, you can network to get some job search advice as well as find out what it’s like to work in IT.

4. Search for entry-level positions

Entry-level positions usually require minimal related work experience in most fields. There are quite a few titles an entry-level position in the Computer and IT might have, however, due to the variety of responsibilities one might have as an IT worker. In your job search after completion of a diploma in IT, you might consider the following entry-level titles:

• IT Associate
• IT Assistant
• Database administrator
• System analyst