How to Get an Entry Level Position in Information Technology

The field of Information Technology (IT) offers many career opportunities because computers are used by almost all businesses and organizations. This means there is job security and room for advancement if you do well in an entry-level position. Even at the entry level, it still takes an associate's or bachelor's degree and some perseverance in your job search. If you are willing to get an education and aggressively pursue a job, you can do well in this field.

Instructions

1. Decide on the specific entry-level IT positions you would like to pursue. According to the eLearners site, these positions typically fall into the following areas: computer programming, software engineering, database and network administration, computer science and computer support.

2. Earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in IT, which is sufficient education for most entry-level positions in IT. Focus your elective courses on the specific type of entry-level job you hope to obtain. According to eLearners, these positions include web, application or database developer; business or database analyst; technical or systems analyst; or help desk technician.

3. Prepare a resume to submit to potential employers who are advertising entry-level IT positions. Since you are looking for entry-level work, it is not absolutely necessary to have any previous IT experience but experience will give you an advantage over other applications who do not have an IT work background.

4. Search for entry-level IT jobs online at major websites such as CareerBuilder and Monster. The most popular job search sites will let you narrow down your search to your area of interest, so it will be easy to pinpoint entry-level IT positions. Also check the classified section of your local newspaper. Newspaper categories are often more broad, so you'll need to do a little more searching.

5. Submit your resume, along with a cover letter, to all of the entry-level IT positions that look like they might be appropriate. Personalize the cover letter so it mentions the company name and shows a little bit of knowledge about its history and what it does. This will help you to stand out from other entry-level applicants who send a generic letter. If you can find any specific information about the company's IT department, work that into your letter.

6. If you are called in for an interview but do not get the job, don't get discouraged. Continue your job search, no matter how many times you are rejected. Competition for entry-level IT positions can be fierce, as computers are a popular area of study and you'll be competing against hundreds of other graduates. The only way to break into the field is to continue your search aggressively.

Tips & Warnings

• If you decide to place your resume on an online career site rather than simply approach potential employers yourself, use a throw-away phone number. Unscrupulous businesses will sign up for those sites and sell phone numbers to telemarketers. Some will actually call job seekers, claiming to have a position and asking for information. Buy a pay-per-use cell phone that you can dispose of when you get a job to foil the telemarketers and never pay anyone a fee to get a job. Legitimate headhunters get their fee from the employer.

Resources

• eLearners IT information