The demand for IT professionals is growing rapidly. Jobs in IT are projected to grow by 15% between 2021 and 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With high salaries, career stability, and multiple learning options, many people ask, “How do I get a job in IT?”
You need to understand different roles, learn essential skills, and prepare for job applications, if you want to start an IT career path. The good news is that IT careers do not always require a four-year degree. Many professionals enter the field through certifications, bootcamps, or self-study.
This guide provides a step-by-step approach to help you break into IT. You will explore job options, develop skills, and get insights into salaries, job stability, and career growth. Whether you’re a beginner or switching careers, this article will help you prepare for success in the tech industry.
Why Choose an IT Career?
Consider these key benefits, if you wonder “why choose an IT career path?”:
Job Stability
IT offers job stability because the demand for skilled IT professionals exceeds the supply. This demand grows daily.
Low-Cost Training Options
People can train for IT careers without completing a four-year university degree. This makes the training cost much lower than other high-paying fields like medicine or engineering.
Constant Learning Opportunities
IT career fields change as new technologies emerge. This makes IT ideal for people who enjoy learning new skills.
High Salaries
IT jobs offer competitive salaries. Many positions pay above the national average.
What Are The 7 Steps To Starting An IT Career Path?
Here are the 7 steps to starting an IT career path:
- Explore Roles And Positions
- Create A Shortlist
- Start Learning How To Write Code
- Sign Up For Good IT Training
- Connect With IT Professionals
- Work Freelance For Experience
- Prepare For Technical And Behavioral Questions
1. Explore Roles And Positions
The IT industry includes many specialties such as cloud engineers, data scientists, software developers, and DevOps engineers. Research these roles to find which ones match your skills, interests, and career goals.
2. Create A Shortlist
After your initial research, create a shortlist of potential jobs. Research the requirements for these roles. This helps you focus on education and training that prepares you for your chosen positions.
3. Start Learning How To Write Code
HTML and CSS are often the first coding languages people learn because they are simple to learn from a training course. Other languages to consider include JavaScript, Java, C++, and Python. These advanced languages require good education to master.
4. Sign Up For Good IT Training
Sign up for training that aligns with your IT career goals and strengthens your job applications. Research the most appropriate training programs for your needs.
5. Connect With IT Professionals
Find networking opportunities with other IT professionals before starting your IT career journey. Attend events where you can meet them to increase your job prospects. These connections help you gain attention in a competitive field.
6. Work Freelance For Experience
After developing your IT skills and building your network, gain experience through freelance work. Freelancing helps you enter the IT world by gaining experience while managing your business. View all freelance work as an opportunity for growth.
7. Prepare For Technical And Behavioral Questions
When interviewing, be ready to answer technical questions and solve technical problems. Research common technical interview questions to test your IT skills. Also prepare for behavioral questions.
Some common IT career interview questions include:
- What do you know about HTML?
- What is the relationship between React Native and React?
- What is a Docker Container?
- What do you know about Container Orchestration?
- What is the difference between git pull and git fetch?
- Can you tell me about yourself?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- How do you work in a team?
- What are your salary expectations?
Alongside these technical and behavioral queries, it’s equally important to be aware of things to avoid saying in a job interview to ensure a positive impression and effective communication of your skills and aspirations.
Tips For Developing Your IT Career Path
Get Certificates Related To Your IT Career Fields
Popular certifications include Microsoft, Oracle, CompTIA, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), and AWS Certified. Earning these certifications can improve your job prospects and help you advance in your IT career path.
Update Your Social Media Profiles
When job hunting, present yourself as professional and competent. Update all your social media pages to show your interest in technology.
Annual Earnings By IT Career Path
The median annual wage for computing and IT career fields is $88,240, more than double the pay for all U.S. occupations ($39,810). Information technology salaries increase every year. The tech unemployment rate typically stays at half that of other fields. Despite COVID-19, the current unemployment rate for IT specialists (2.8%) remains well below the national average (6.7%).
Plan your earning potential with updated wage data, apply for information technology jobs, and start an IT career path that maximizes your salary.
Salaries By IT Careers Job Role
Average salaries by IT job role (According to Glassdoor):
- Technology Management: $185K – $288K
- Cloud Computing: $107K – $195K
- IT Risk Management: $151K – $226K
- Cyber Security: $113K – $203K
- IT Architecture & Design: $74K – $112K
- Project/Program Management: $116K – $184K
- Information Technology Compliance: $79K – $122K
- DevOps Engineering: $157K – $243K
- BI, Data Management & Analytics: $110K – $172K
- Programming & Application Development: $112K – $161K
- Networking & Telecommunications: $89K – $152K
- IT Help Desk/Technical Support: $47K – $70K
For more information you can read our article titled “How Much Do Coders Make?”
Start Your IT Career with Clarusway
Clarusway offers you the chance to change your career and build a bright future. We help students reach technical proficiency and support them from training to job placement. Our Career Management System (CMS) team provides life coaching sessions, resume preparation help, and interview training. We also help students build their LinkedIn profiles, which is crucial for IT career success. Contact us to learn more about starting your new career.
Ready to begin? Join Clarusway today and take your first step into IT!
