Before I begin, I want to take this moment to say that if you ever require help with obtaining that next position, breaking into IT, study paths, CV review or more, please contact me on [email protected]. I'd be more than happy to do everything I can to help you with your journey, at no charge.
Tech jobs are in higher demand than ever before, as applications and hiring surge. Amidst the buzz and anxieties surrounding generative AI—the excitement of new possibilities and the fear of job displacement—many are seeking a change, venturing into the digital workplace.
This article uses my 16 years of IT experience to break down landing and succeeding in your first IT role.
As much as I may sometimes glamourise the tech sector in this article, it comes with its shortcomings and hardships, into which we’ll dive into a little later.
The Current Demand for Tech Workers
Businesses' expanding digital transformation post-pandemic fuels a growing need for skilled workers. As IBM (one of the largest tech companies in the world) put it, “tech industry executives are struggling to fill roles with high skill demands”.
Digital workplace careers offer endless opportunities. It’s a career that requires constant learning and iteration as technology rapidly develops.
Hopefully that didn’t put you off. It shouldn’t. It’s an exciting place to be where no 2 days are the same with a great sense of achievement and highly rewarding (salary wise too, so as long as you find the right place).
How I got into the world of technology
My first tech interview was a failure, but I still received the job offer. Now, that may sound a bit off, red flags going up, and you’d be right to think that!
I didn’t find this out until 10 years later, while on a break in my new place of employment. While chowing down on my sandwich on a lunch break, someone caught my eye. It was my old hiring manager in my first tech position, as a “Junior network engineer”.
We caught up, discussing things that have changed. People moving on from the old place of work, families and more, then we moved onto discussing employment since leaving my first tech role.
We started talking about “the good old days” and a question I’ve never asked before had sprung into my mind, and I couldn’t hold it in. I had to ask.
“Why did you give me that job?”.
I thought he might hesitate or forget why the opportunity arose, but his reply was instantaneous. “You showed 10x more interest in the position and learning more about networking than all the other candidates”.
Now, I have had zero experience in networking. I was a fresh college student who was working in the local tech and appliance store to fuel my junk food habit. Christ, I remember one of the interview questions, “What is a VLAN?” and I answered “A virtual network? I’m unsure, but it's something I’m going to look into and study more following this interview”.
They didn't hire me for my knowledge, nor for my mother's ill-chosen interview suit. They hired me because of my genuine interest and willingness to learn.
A lot of IT/ tech is the desire to know more, go deeper than required. A desire to learn continuously. Working in a position in tech requires consistent learning and interest. Without those basics, you'll face significant challenges. IT is a rapidly evolving area, so keeping up to speed with the latest technologies is always a must.
If you are of a curious mindset, you’ll excel in IT.
Different Technical Roles in IT
The choice is vast in the realm of technology. You would struggle to find a role you wouldn't enjoy, from Project Management to Cloud Engineering to Software Development.
These roles detailed in the next section are more suited towards more experienced individuals, but it’s giving you an idea of what's out there and potentially curate your own track to that role. It’s not exhaustive nor in any order, as there are hundreds of different roles out there. The aim here is to simply curate a list of some of the more popular and growing positions.
Roles
Data Scientist: Interprets and analyses complex data to uncover patterns and insights, helping businesses make data-driven decisions and improve strategies.
Cybersecurity Analyst: Protects organisations’ computer systems, networks, and data from security threats and breaches by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing defensive measures.
Cloud Solutions Architect: Designs and manages scalable, secure cloud-based infrastructures and solutions that enable businesses to store, process, and access data from anywhere.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer: Develops and integrates intelligent algorithms and machine learning models for software applications, enabling automation, personalisation, and predictive analytics.
DevOps Engineer: Bridges the gap between development and operations teams, streamlining software delivery, improving collaboration, and speeding up deployment cycles.
User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Designer: Focuses on how products and services look and feel, crafting intuitive, appealing interfaces and user journeys that enhance customer satisfaction.
Product Manager: Orchestrates product development from idea to launch, aligning cross-functional teams, prioritising features, and ensuring the end product meets user needs.
Full-Stack Developer: Builds end-to-end solutions by working with both front-end and back-end technologies, ensuring cohesive, well-functioning applications and websites.
Blockchain Developer: Creates decentralised applications and secure digital transactions using blockchain technology, enabling fresh forms of trust and value exchange.
Internet of Things (IoT) Engineer: Develops and implements smart, connected devices and systems—such as wearables and smart home appliances—bringing the physical and digital worlds closer together.
Starting from Zero
It can be daunting and overwhelming trying to find your first IT position. Heck, even I felt the same prior to my first tech job. “What jobs are out there? What jobs could I even apply for? How should I prepare?”.
For IT newcomers, the following section highlights more relevant roles. What you aim to do here in these positions is get into an organisation, learn the essentials and study, study, study.
A lot of these companies will provide you with a budget for courses, exams and more. Take these opportunities and niche down into the area of IT you feel is most interesting to you.
But that's not all. Once in an organisation, you have a good overall view of the company and its IT teams. Speak to people. Question and chat with different teams about their day-to-day. Request permission to shadow members of those teams to see what their day-to-day is like and learn more.
Doing this will help get you a better view of the skill sets required and if it's something you’d enjoy doing in the long run. Speak to the management of teams or colleagues and find out if there are any learning paths.
Work hard, learn more, express interest, profit.
Entry-Level Positions
Help Desk Technician / IT Support Specialist
- Serve as the first point of contact for users experiencing technical issues with hardware, software, or network connectivity.
- Troubleshoot basic computer problems, reset passwords, and guide users through simple fixes.
- Document issues and resolutions in a ticketing system.
Future Opportunities:
- After gaining experience, you might specialise as a systems administrator, a desktop support analyst, or move into fields like cybersecurity or cloud support.
Technical Support Representative
- Assist customers remotely (via phone, chat, or email) with product setup, troubleshooting, and configuration.
- Learn product knowledge in-depth to help users effectively.
- Escalate complex issues to higher-level engineers.
Future Opportunities:
- Opportunities to move into roles like product specialist, quality assurance technician, or even product training and technical writing.
Junior Network Technician / NOC Technician
- Monitor network health and respond to alerts (e.g., downed servers, routing issues).
- Perform basic maintenance, such as resetting network equipment or running diagnostics.
- Work under the supervision of senior network engineers to learn networking fundamentals.
Future Opportunities:
- Progressing to network administration, network engineering, or cybersecurity roles focusing on network security and architecture.
IT Internships / Apprenticeships
- Rotate through different IT functions (help desk, systems admin, security) to gain broad exposure.
- Assist with routine tasks like software installs, updates, or equipment inventory checks.
- Learn industry-standard tools and best practices from experienced professionals.
Future Opportunities:
- Depending on the area of focus, you may move into many specialised IT roles: security analyst, systems engineer, DevOps engineer, or database administrator.
Junior QA Tester (Software Quality Assurance)
Test new features or software releases to ensure they function properly.
- Identify bugs, document issues, and communicate findings to the development team.
- Follow established testing procedures and learn how software development and release cycles work.
Future Opportunities:
- Progressing into QA engineering, automation testing, project management, or software development roles.
Any other tips?
- Experiment: Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. This could mean taking on a side project, learning a new coding language, or even volunteering for tasks outside your usual scope. Experimenting allows you to discover your strengths and interests, which is crucial when deciding on a career path. Plus, employers value candidates who show initiative and a willingness to learn.
- Break stuff: This might sound counterintuitive, but making mistakes is an essential part of learning. By ‘breaking stuff’, you push the boundaries of your understanding and identify areas that need improvement. Whether you’re debugging code or testing a new marketing strategy, embrace the errors as opportunities to learn and grow.
- Read articles: Keep up to date around industry trends and best practices by regularly reading articles, blogs, and research papers relevant to your field. This not only keeps you updated but also helps you engage in insightful conversations during interviews, showcasing your commitment and love for the industry.
- Try to follow along with projects: Take part in projects you may find online. This hands-on experience is invaluable, as it helps you apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. It also builds your portfolio, which can be a significant advantage when applying for jobs.
- Develop a portfolio: Similar to point 4, showcase completed projects on a website or GitHub page, even enhancing them with unique features.
- Check job boards regularly and connect: Platforms like LinkedIn not only facilitate conversation and networking within your industry, but also host a global job board.
- Be curious: Cultivating a curious mindset will drive you to ask questions, explore different solutions, and continuously seek knowledge. Inquisitive, proactive candidates who find solutions and improve processes attract employers.
Final Words
Although brief, I hope this post shed a little more light into getting employed in the IT industry and the recruitment process. As stated earlier in this post, this is a single part of a new series and platform to assist people in IT and those that are not, to help get them into IT.
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