How to Start a Career in Information Technology

Co-authored by Jonathan Soormaghen and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: October 4, 2023 Approved

If you love all things digital, information technology (or IT) might just be the perfect career for you. As an IT professional, you might work with computers, mobile devices, networks, web pages—the options are nearly endless. Even better, it's a rapidly-growing field, so you'll likely have opportunities to advance your career over time. We're here to answer your questions about how to break into the IT field and get the job of your dreams!

Things You Should Know

While you don't need a college degree to launch your career in IT, many employers do require at least a bachelor's degree as a part of their hiring processes.
If you don't have a degree, start by looking for entry-level help desk positions while you work on technical certifications in your spare time.
Data storage (cloud computing, in particular), information security, health, and financial technologies are all knowledge areas in high demand.

Question 1 of 8:

Can you get an IT job without a degree?

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You may be able to get an entry-level position in the IT field if you pass a certification exam that shows you have the skills for that job. There are a number of technical certification programs to choose from—look for one that matches the knowledge you already have and the career path you want to follow.^{[1]
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Try getting a help-desk job to get started. A lot of people start out their career in IT working in customer support. While some positions do require a degree or certification, in some cases, just taking a few college-level computer classes might be enough. From there, you may be able to work up to into other IT positions, like working as a network administrator.^{[2]
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- In addition to being computer-savvy, you'll also need to have good problem-solving and customer service skills.
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Tailor your resume carefully to the job. Since you may still be competing against candidates with a bachelor's degree, it's important that you use your resume to show employers why you're right for the job. Carefully read through the job listing, looking for any requirements that match your resume. Then, emphasize those in your job application and your interview—that will help you stand out. Also, whenever possible, back up claims on your resume with concrete accomplishments.^{[3]
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Expert Interview. 7 October 2020.}
- For instance, if the job listing includes something like, "Use tools to analyze and resolve technical problems," you might mention that at your last job, you successfully helped your boss troubleshoot the printer network.

Question 2 of 8:

What qualifications do you need to work in IT?

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Most employers will prefer if you have a bachelor's degree. Choose a major like Information Technology, Computer Science, or another tech-related degree program. Getting a 4-year degree from an accredited school will show that you have the technical skills needed in your field, as well as the knowledge you need to apply those skills in the real world.^{[4]
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- If going to college full-time isn't an option for you right now, consider signing up for an accredited online degree program. These typically cover the same material as you'd learn in a classroom setting, but you have the flexibility to learn on your own time.
- As you're working on your degree, especially focus on courses that teach in-demand skills like Python, HTML, Flack, Asana, and Salesforce.^{[5]
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Question 3 of 8:

What IT certifications are helpful for beginners?

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Try for a Comp TIA A+, CCNA, or Microsoft MDAA certification. While the entry-level certification you choose should be based on your particular skills, there are a few that are well-respected by employers. Some of the most popular include:^{[6]
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- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): Cisco's IT certification shows that you're able to install and maintain networking hardware, including access and security.
- CompTIA A+: This shows you can perform maintenance on PCs, laptops, mobile devices, networks, and other hardware.
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Association: This Windows-based certification shows employers that you can perform basic administrative and maintenance duties on PCs and Windows laptops.

Question 4 of 8:

What personality traits are good for a career in IT?

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You should love technology and be adaptable to change. Of course, if you want to work in IT, you should really enjoy working with computers, whether that's programming networks, building websites, or digging into the code that makes things work. Since the IT field is constantly evolving, you should also be committed to constantly learning, and ready to change your approach at a moment's notice if a new technology emerges.^{[7]
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- Although you'll do a lot of work with machines, you'll need to communicate with the people you work with, so good people skills are a pretty important part of this career, as well.

Question 5 of 8:

What are the careers in information technology?

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There are a lot of different fields in the IT industry. As an IT worker, you might start out doing things like working in customer support or administrating databases or networks. As you gain experience, though, you might move into things like developing software or websites, analyzing computer systems for businesses, or working in network security.^{[8]
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- Exactly what you'll do will depend on your particular area of expertise. For instance, if you concentrate on getting certified in networking, you might work as a Network Systems Administrator, Computer Network Architect, or Information Security Analyst.
- If you focus more on coding, you might work as a Computer Programmer, Software Developer, or Web Designer.
- If you want to work on the cutting-edge of technology, you might pursue a Master's degree and work as a Computer & Information Research Scientist.

Question 6 of 8:

What is a normal IT job salary?

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The median annual wage is around $90,000. Of course, there's a pretty broad range of salaries within this versatile field. Positions that don't require as much experience, like computer support specialists, might earn closer to $55,000. On the other hand, if you were to earn a Master's degree and become a computer and information research scientist, you'd probably earn upwards of $120,000.^{[9]
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- Even lower-paying IT jobs are still higher than the average for all occupations, which is currently around $42,000.

Question 7 of 8:

Is the IT field expected to grow?

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Yes, this industry should continue to grow over the next decade. Currently, there are about 6.7 million people working in the IT field in the United States.^{[10]
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Research source} If that's not impressive enough, the field is expected to grow an additional 11% by 2029—that's significantly higher than expected growth for all occupations.^{[11]
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Question 8 of 8:

What type of IT jobs are in demand?

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There's currently a big emphasis on data storage and security. As the IT field grows, certain niches are expected to be in especially high demand over the next 10 years. In particular, there will likely be a lot of growth in jobs that involve cloud storage and computing, network and information security, and big data storage.^{[12]
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- Health-related IT careers are also a quickly-growing field!^{[13]
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How do I get a job in information technology?

Jonathan Soormaghen
Career Coach
Jonathan Soormaghen is a Career Coach and Founder of Resume Advisor, a career counseling firm that specializes in creating personalized products such as resumes, CVs, cover letters, and online branding tools to propel clients toward their next career milestone. Jonathan holds a BA in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was honored to serve as the Valedictory speaker of general commencement. Prior to founding Resume Advisor, he worked in management consulting and finance at companies including Accenture, Target, and Ernst & Young. Jonathan's clients have landed job offers from leading firms including Netflix, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Uber, Deloitte, KMPG, Accenture, and Merrill Lynch.

Jonathan Soormaghen

Career Coach

Expert Answer

Make sure your resume is tailored as much as possible to the actual job description. If there are technical requirements that you meet or are even willing to learn, go ahead and list them. Lastly, try to draw a concrete connection between actions you took and what they achieved. For instance, if you managed marketing campaigns, a proper bullet would say "managed 20 plus marketing campaigns with budgets of up to $1 million, which resulted in 20% to 30% growth in social media following," not simply "managed marketing campaigns." Showing action and results is key.

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Where should I start if I want to develop software?

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Get Linux. Then start using the Shell, use Bash, not zsh. Zsh teaches bad programming habits with its autocompletion that can cause terrible mistakes if you don't know what you're doing. Then learn C++ and Ruby. Just start at the base (the shell) then learn higher level languages. Then go back later and learn some assembly code.

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Will IT courses be hard to a person who loves computers but does not have any formal IT knowledge?

Eric Chatham

Community Answer

This depends on the person's aptitude and skill level with computers.There is a very broad spectrum of fields and subsets within IT such as programming, networking, and hardware. Some people who are more geared towards math may be better at programming, and people who are more technically minded may be better at hardware, such as building servers or PCs. Remember you can always enroll in an introductory IT course.

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