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How did you get your first entry level IT job?

M

michaelh20

Senior member
Where/how did you guys get your very first entry level IT position?

As a person with a college degree but no experience (to speak of besides being able to assemble computers, install Os's etc.. like everyone else here), I've had quite a problem getting my foot in the door. I also have a year of CSR experience (Customer Service, not helpdesk) While I'd like to get into Software Development, I'm basically willing to start anywhere to get there eventually.

I've been sort of trying to get into the Helpdesk field to work out from there, given my phone/csr experience, but even in the helpdesk field, they basically seem to be after people with experience (arggg). I interviewed for one sort of Tech Support job and appearently the flood of potential candidates washed me out 🙂

Internships are so out of out more or less, since I graduated a semester ago.

I've heard someone mentioning volunteering for programming and other work. That I figure I can do, but I don't think it will count as much as a real at least "sort of" IT job, even if it isn't exactly what I want to do in the long term. So I probably want to try to get some sort of IT job and do volunteering etc..

And then of course there is the "Develop a Hit Freeware App" and be hired by Microsoft approach. I think almost every single Csci grad probably has their own pile of sort of functioning applications, hence I don't think that will make the grade.

Then of course there is lots of stuff on sourceforge.net, and I think I will probably take up some work there.

Most of these places seem to always need at least 1 year of experience in some cryptic development app that I do not have. It seems to me that I am just going to have to gain whatever experience "crumbs" I can and apply and harass thousands of companies to find that one that will take me seriously..


As one example job I applied for I've applied for an IBM job that basically involves unpacking of computers (shipping and receiving) which can potentially lead to a Desktop support kind of job (applied for, haven't heard back on it yet).

Any other ideas about other such jobs that are out there or other ways of getting experience? How did you overcome the "need experience to get the job that you need to get experience" problem?
 
Start looking into small computer stores or computer support and upgrading places in CompUSA & Best Buy etc. Then start applying for better jobs.

Or roll back time about 4 years, and accept a $60,000+ job right out of college 🙂
 
7 years ago. I worked for a small ISP in Michigan, The Internet Ramp. I was lucky that a friend of mine was basically in charge of all things technical at the time.

They were eventually bought by OneMain, who were bought by Mindspring, who were bought by Earthlink. 😀

 
I kind of lied and said that I could do things that I really couldn't. I did look the interviewer in the eye and told him that no matter what he throws at me I will be able to handle or figure out. He knew I was BSing but gave me a chance. I was at the right place at the right time.
 
Network, network, network. It's WHO you know.

I've worked 2 different IT jobs since I've been in college, and both of them I was able to get a leg up by having an advocate in the company pulling for me.

I still had to pass interviews and tests for both, but a fairly average resume that would normally have been overlooked was singled-out by having someone I know mention it to the recruiter.

 
My first job was working for a local computer shop. I was 17 and they needed a tech bad. I proved myself in one hour by fixing 4 computers on their shelves. I was hired by the end of the day and making $12 an hour.

My second computer job was working as a tech for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. It was a student-type position that didn't pay well, but I was in school and just making beer money. I did this for 2 and a half years.

My third computer job was shortly after I got the second one, but it was more of a summer job. I was recommended by some people to a state agency for the Welfare to Work program. I was doing computer and network installations and teaching computer classes for the Tennessee Dept of Labor...I was 18.

My fourth computer job was for the Olan Mills, Inc. Corp Headquarters. I was doing Help Desk calls and taking care of database replication for about 1300 studios across the country and Puerto Rico. Of course, there were many other people involved, but it was a very 'busy' job.

My fifth, and current computer job is back at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I'm now a Network Systems Administrator here because I had proven myself in the first few years that I worked here. I know the place well and have fun working with new technologies and doing research.

That's pretty much my IT resume...I'm 22 years old....and counting.
 
I just applied & was in the right place @ the right time.

My company was just happening to be looking for a junior level sys admin to assist the senior admin.
 
I responded to an ad in the paper. They needed someone fast and I was ready to start ASAP. They didn't pay much but I got my foot in the door.
 
My brother knew a guy - but that was back in early 2000. I'd have found one easily anyway, since jobs were plentiful for new grads. These days? Frankly I wouldn't have a clue where to start unless I knew somebody who was able to hire me or give a VERY good word to a company hiring. The market is tough. Goodluck!
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
My brother knew a guy - but that was back in early 2000. I'd have found one easily anyway, since jobs were plentiful for new grads. These days? Frankly I wouldn't have a clue where to start unless I knew somebody who was able to hire me or give a VERY good word to a company hiring. The market is tough. Goodluck!
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If you ever needed a job Skoorb, I'd hire you. I always have laundry or dishes that need washing. 😀
 
While I'd like to get into Software Development, I'm basically willing to start anywhere to get there eventually.
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Was your degree a BS CS or something else? For experience that counts towards a development job, the only really related fields are QA-test and software tech support. Starting in the shipping department won't really help you towards a development career.

Things that would help your resume (besides QA-test and tech support):
- script guy for a mod project (risky since many projects seem to fail before being finished).
- open-source development on some major project, preferably one in wide use (as you're already planning to look into).

Maintenance work is actually good experience, since many employers would start you out doing updates to an existing project rather than new development.
 
when i was in school i answered an ad by an operations research analyst who had some custom software (in Fortrash) that he needed to finish. he liked my software skills & we clicked on a personal level.
 
Was your degree a BS CS or something else? For experience that counts towards a development job, the only really related fields are QA-test and software tech support. Starting in the shipping department won't really help you towards a development career.
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B.A. Csci

So I take it from all you guys that Your Local Computer Shop might be a place to start 🙂

I'll have to whip out that A+ studying thing so I know I can pass that test, that's what all those people want to have, isn't it? I could probably pass the test already..
 
friend. the company was looking for people

after my 5 minute interview i was hired!

And she didn't even demand sex for it!

🙂
 
www.monstertrak.com
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Hmmm, perhaps my resume wasn't spiffy enough I posted it before? I could try that again.
Make yourself a resume that you can honestly backup with real references.
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And what do you mean by real references -- to not fake my real on the job experience -- which == NULL right now? Do real references w/o real experience mean something?

It was looking kind of pathetic the last time I looked at it, although my Liberal Arts (College Liberal Arts - University of Minnesota) has kind of eaten Monstertrak.com for me anyway. monster.com has tons of stuff, which I only *wish* I had a chance at.
 
Originally posted by: michaelh20
www.monstertrak.com
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Hmmm, perhaps my resume wasn't spiffy enough I posted it before? I could try that again.
Make yourself a resume that you can honestly backup with real references.
Click to expand...

And what do you mean by real references -- to not fake my real on the job experience -- which == NULL right now? Do real references w/o real experience mean something?

It was looking kind of pathetic the last time I looked at it, although my Liberal Arts (College Liberal Arts - University of Minnesota) has kind of eaten Monstertrak.com for me anyway. monster.com has tons of stuff, which I only *wish* I had a chance at.
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I'd do your best to look for alternatives to online job searching. In my experience it's almost entirely a waste of time and I've read nothing but bad things about its true effectiveness rate on various job sites. Frankly put few people find a job after looking for it on the internet. Still, they are worth doing because some people find jobs through them, but I would look for alternative routes as well.

 
Is the IT sector really that hard up these days? Are all the programming jobs in India? WTF

I want to be a lawyer personally....
 
Originally posted by: LordSegan
Is the IT sector really that hard up these days? Are all the programming jobs in India? WTF

I want to be a lawyer personally....
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naw.. indians/pakistanis are just damn good programmers and they work for cheaper and their work ethic is ususally prettygood. I'm talking about the immigrants, not the ones born here. I've known Russians to be really good as well.
 
'd do your best to look for alternatives to online job searching.
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I agree with you on that point. I've not gotten far doing it, although I wouldn't be aware of all the companies that are out there advertising positions that I don't really get 🙂 I've heard that cold calling is a good technique, and that you can expect a 1/20 response rate or something like that. Now I just need a huge list of companies, which I think my career center has too...

Of course without *something* on your resume you're likely to get blown off by most people, whether you search on the internet.

Definately true..


As to the other question, I think it's "that tough" if you don't have on the job experience, no internships, and you aren't Top of the Class A+. Perhaps I haven't been networking enough
 
? Are all the programming jobs in India?
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It's funny (well not really for potential software people) but several of the companies I have interviewed for actually went on at some length about how most of their software was developed in Russia. Hence the positions were just front-line developers or tech support or something like that.
 
Before I got into the field I was doing freebie volunteer work upgrading and installing PC and network equipment for a non-profit organization that homosexuals and atheists don't like. After the first few weeks I had improved their infrastructure so much that they told me to start charging them as a contractor, name my price. I not only got real world experience, but I was getting paid for doing something I enjoyed.

Since then I've worked for temp agencies and the job I have now, believe it or not, came from a resume I posted on the Internet. I got a phone call one day and the guy interviewed me for 2 hours over the phone. Two days later he called me back and hired me. That was 3 years ago and to this day I have only seen him once when he came into town for other business and he took me out to dinner. All of my daily jobs come through email or on the Blackberry RIM.

I love my job.
 
Originally posted by: michaelh20
? Are all the programming jobs in India?
Click to expand...

It's funny (well not really for potential software people) but several of the companies I have interviewed for actually went on at some length about how most of their software was developed in Russia. Hence the positions were just front-line developers or tech support or something like that.
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its true. i've discussed this with a few of my other peers, and like it or not, in general, those two countries produce some of the best programmers. and i'm not just saying that.

a measure of good programming can be gauged by SEI's standards. The Software engineering institute is a collaboration between carnegie mellon and the U.S. D.O.D.

I belive only a handful of countries in the world have been recognized and meeting the highest standards, i think 4 or 5. I heard 3 of these companies were in India.

I heard Adobe is producing one of their apps (forgot either pagemaker, go live or photoshop) entirely in India from now on. i've also heard that 20% of MS programmers are Indian (yeah we all know windows sucks but it wouldn't be correct to blame the newer programmers because from my understanding it is based old code, that has been added to. there hasn't been a complete and total revamp, a code from scratch yet for quite some time as far as i know).
 
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