To begin with, Information Technology is undoubtedly a large field offering a wide spectrum of career paths. Job descriptions may include: programmer, systems analyst, healthcare assistance, technical services, helpdesk, and even things as exciting as the admin of the best slot sites in UK! A very attractive perk that singles out a career in IT is the variety of industries that a worker can be exposed to whether its healthcare, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and so on. Regardless of the perks, entry requirements need to be fulfilled before you begin job hunting.
Formal Education
If you already have a company or enterprise that you would like to be part of in mind, then you need to take a look at the minimum requirements for each IT role available in order to get a glimpse of what is expected of you. As a general rule of thumb, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant computer field is usually a prerequisite for most jobs in IT. For instance, computer science, information science, or a degree in information systems would fit the bill.
Experience
As a disclaimer, you should be on the lookout for a few years of experience in the industry you would like to work in, as most firms want to see candidates that have already proven their competence alongside their academic achievements. Internships and volunteer work all count as experience and you may also want to be engaged in extracurricular projects during your studies.
Online Courses
If you are done with your education and are looking for employment you need not waste time. There are plenty of courses online that can further your knowledge of computing. Udemy offers courses pertaining to information technology that cost around $15 when on sale and comprise of approximately 25 lectures depending on the program. Moreover, edX has plenty of specialist courses that are verified and popular amongst technologically savvy students. If you really need to take a course in bioinformatics, DNA sequences, or probability distribution models – edX has it all.
Online courses are usually flexible enough that you can work on the material at your own pace, not to mention that they can be done anywhere with internet access. We are not saying that online courses will give you an edge separating you from other candidates, but rather they are a valuable way of spending your time if no work is available for you just yet.
Applying
There may come a point where an attractive job lists more requirements than you can fulfil. It is at this point where you must make a tough decision and think about just how many qualifications you lack as it still may be worth the trouble of applying for the vacancy.
If you cover most of the areas necessary you should send your CV because you may still be considered for the work. Having said that, if you do not meet most of the requirements it is better not to waste someone’s time. We understand that it is tough out there in the labour market but stay positive and persevere.