College is such a milestone moment in your life. After it is over, it can be difficult to transition into the real world and find a job that you want. You might have been fortunate enough to have an internship during your studies, or you might have struggled to get work experience. Wherever you land, there is still a leap that needs to be taken and that is your first step into a career. With so many directions to turn, where do you start? This post explores what you can do to navigate life after you qualify in Information Technology.
The Steps
The steps below are all things that you begin to do before you even graduate. However, if you don’t get round to them, try not to panic as there is all the time in the world to get your feet on the ground and get the ball rolling.
Use Your Experience
You managed to graduate for a reason, right? The reason being that you know what you are talking about, and you have a specific knowledge base that is a niche to this sector. Therefore, you can use this knowledge and experience to set you in the right direction. Using your experience can look like putting a portfolio together of your work and capabilities. There is a high probability that any prospective employee will want to see what you can do and how you execute tasks; therefore, being prepared beforehand with everything they might want to see can set you aside from other candidates looking for the same job. It can also be sounding knowledgeable in your applications. Job applications for professional roles may take time and require a higher level of effort than other, lower-level jobs but that is because they are looking for a specific set of skills to bring to the role. You need to be able to articulate why you fit the bill, so using your experience to do so seems like a natural step.
Look for Jobs
Again, this might have been on your agenda before you even took the certification but looking for jobs is a major part of being able to secure a job. This means that you have to be looking at the postings every day on multiple job sites and asking around for roles through word of mouth. If you have undertaken an internship during your studies, it is wise to stay in touch with the company in order to stay vigilant about any upcoming potential roles here too. You already have a connection with this specific branch, so why not use it? It’s not taboo, and it does not have to be an embarrassing process. As long as you didn’t burn your bridges while you were there, why wouldn’t you use that experience and opportunity to facilitate your career trajectory?
The other side of looking for jobs is actually applying for them too. It can be all too tempting to bookmark things to apply to later, but we don’t recommend that as a strategy. It can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed which can be detrimental to your greater goal and put you off actually going through with applications.
Networking
Networking! It is one of the best ways to get your face out there in the professional arena. It might seem daunting at first, but it is actually quite fun when you get into it. Networking can be done during your time at college, and the earlier you do it, the more likely you are to find something more quickly after you qualify. There are plenty of opportunities to meet professionals in your specific field during your time at college run through the university such as industry events, and old alumni mixers that give students the chance to engage with future employees and people who have been in your position and have found a way forward. The benefits of networking are not just limited to career advancement; they can also boost your knowledge and help you learn new things about your industry and raise your profile within that industry if you leave the right impressions on the right people.
Career Trajectories
Now we have covered the basics, let’s take a look at some popular career paths that come from an IT focused education.
Cyber Security
Cyber security is a multifaceted career. It can encompass lots of varying tasks that steer off into niche tangents. Some examples include bank and financial security, insurance companies, government roles, and federal crime work. The question of ‘is cybersecurity a good career’ is answered in detail in this link which notes all the draws and pulls of such a role. The answer would have to be, yes. There is a lot of value and a lot of career potential in cyber security because it is so vast and used so extensively by multiple types of organizations. Fighting against cybercrime on a basic level includes protecting customers from having their personal information stolen, or their financial information being used maliciously. It can also be ethical hacking, threat monitoring, and surveillance work too.
IT Consultant
An IT consultant tends to be a freelance role, which may put some people off initially. However, there are benefits to being a freelancer and essentially working for yourself. These include being able to set your own rates of remuneration, something you cannot dictate if you work for a company. Alongside this, you can set your own hours and choose your own clients. You can also be in charge of every aspect of the IT plan that you implement. If your area of expertise lands in this arena, then there are plenty of opportunities. IT consultancy roles are not just about fixing problems, they are also about creating solution centers. You may find that you are building a system from the ground up or making improvements and necessary tweaks to an existing system. You will need to make sure you have a way of talking to people and drumming up business, but once you are established then word of mouth alone should be enough to keep your clients coming in and coming back.
Data Analyst
A data analyst is quite a niche role in that not many people have the specific set of skills required to execute it properly. You have to be an expert in your field and have the confidence to follow through with your claims. Data analysis includes things like generating fields of data that can provide much needed information for a company with regard to clients, plans, or finances. These roles are problem focused and require a resolution or an answer at the end of the assigned period. It is time pressured and intense, but it is highly rewarding. Again, this role could be largely freelance but there are also opportunities to work with established corporations as well.
Interview Preparation
Of course, there is little to no point in pursuing a role if you have not prepared for the interview process. You can get professional input, for example from a careers center, or you can do your own research and you can even practice with family or friends. However, the key is in the doing. The main things to focus on are as follows.
Know The Company Inside Out:
If you turn up for an interview and it is clear that you know nothing about the company or what they stand for, you will instantly be moved down the list for potential hires.
Know The Role That You Are Going For:
The same can be said for the role that you are applying for. If you are fumbling over your answers and the reason is that you don’t know what the job expects of you, then you are not likely to be hired at all.
Ask Questions:
Asking questions is something that can really make you stand out from other candidates. There is always an opportunity to do this, and you don’t have to inundate the interviewer with queries, but you should appear at least willing to learn, and a good way to show interest is by asking things. These questions can absolutely be pre-prepared, but you can also plan them beforehand and use them if they sync naturally with the flow of the interview.
Dress Appropriately:
Not every interview is going to call for a suit, but some of them will. It is vital that you get the tone right before you get in the room otherwise you will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. You would not turn up to a professional role interview process in jeans and a t-shirt, unless specifically asked to, for example.
The world can be a scary place when you are thrown into it, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot navigate it regardless. You already have the qualifications and some experience under your belt, and the next step can be just as fun and just as achievable if you do it smartly and with your brain switched on. Information technology has plenty of job opportunities to take advantage of, after all.
