New Kid on the block! 1

[y2k1981]

I'm guessing that most people, or at least alot of you are experts or are working in some area of IT. Well I don't... at least not yet! I'm working full time since I was 17 (now 21) and have just completed a part time IT diploma covering Systems Mgt, web design and systems analysis. Problem is, now that I have my diploma I can't seem to get a company to give me a chance to prove myself. I'm looking for a job either in web desing or technical support. My web desing (CIW) course covered HTML, CSS and JavaScript basics among others. I've since managed to teach myself alot more about JavaScript and have started to get into Perl & C. Basicly, my question is, does anybody have any advice on how to break into the IT field? Like I said, I don't have any experience but I KNOW that I could prove myself a good worker if somebody would just give me the chance.....

I'd love to hear some stories.
Thanks everybody

 

[AIXSPadmin]

Most websites today assume you already know HTML, but since they are gettting their data from backend databases, one must know java and servlet & jsp programming.

As for getting a job, I think it is going to be the number of resumes you send out and someone giving you a chance, but the pay will be low, but as you put in time the pay will increase.

I have a masters in education, and wanted to work in computers and could not get a job either. Someone gave me a chance, and I did everything (RPG programming, JCL, networking, pc repair, tech support, AIX admin, etc) but the pay was dismally low. However, after 4.5 years of doing it all, I am now a sys admin for a Fortune 500 company with the large pay. I am thinking of going into software, but I am very good with Unix and like different technologies, so not sure I would like day-in day-out programming, but just tossing around the idea.

If you are very good at what you do, people will hire you, and there always will be a job for someone like that, regardless of the economy.

Specialize in something, I liked Unix years ago and specialized in that, and had many different areas I worked in so had the chance to experience all and Unix is what I liked best.

If you want a job in web design, when you go on an interview, take examples you can show them of your work on a laptop. A picture is worth a thousand words. Showing them your work, versus having a certificate saying you can do it will go much farther.

Good luck.

 

[Gatorajc]

I was in the same boat your in. I could not get anyone to give me a try (I am awful at interviews). I took a job doing something totally unrelated to what I wanted to do. I hated it. But since I had computer skills and was a lot closer and responded a lot quicker than the IT dept I got do a lot of little things that that IT department had little time for. I also worked really hard at the job I hated.

Well as luck would have it. A new manager was brought in and noticed everything I did. But there were no openings but then this Imaging project came up and she recommended to the head of the project I help out. I did little test scripts and stuff but got to show my skills doing things. Well the project ended but kept in touch with the people I worked with, not hard they worked downstairs but you know how it is, well it happened that a need came up for the skills I had (PC, Programming) and I was offered the spot.
So that is what I doing now.

Moral of the story is work hard no matter what you do. And never stop working to a goal, no matter what people tell you. AJ
I would lose my head if it wasn't attached.

 

[KernelObject]

Really nice advice coming from all you people. Apart from these, I want to draw your attention to these:

1. When you go in for a tech job, you definitely have to know more about your subject than is being asked for. What I mean is, there is no point if you know exactly as much as all the rest. Knowing how the technology works is usually how to go higher on the pyramid scale.

2. Very strong fundamentals in whatever you choose to specialise in. A good view of the 'bigger picture'.

This is what I look for when I have to pick somebody for my organisation.

Goodluck!

/Srikanth In the sweat of thy brow shall you eat your bread.
-Bible