5 Simple Steps for a Successful IT Career

The IT industry is full of opportunities and can be an incredibly rewarding career. Not only can it offer more than comfortable salaries, but working in IT can also give you the chance to help develop new and exciting tech that could change the world, depending on where your career path takes you. It’s a very specialist job, but if you’re willing to dedicate your time to learning and developing these skills, it could be the perfect career option for you.

If you want to change careers from your current position to the IT industry or are starting on your career journey as a young student, here are five simple steps to help you achieve a successful career in IT:

1. Education

The first place to start is making sure you get the relevant education for these kinds of jobs. An undergraduate degree in IT or a similar subject will be most beneficial, and continuing your studies with a master’s degree is also something worth thinking about. If you have already been to college and studied a different subject, think about enrolling in an online degree course in IT, or if your current undergrad/master’s degree held some relevance to the IT industry, think about how you can utilize it in your applications.

2. Get Industry Certifications

As well as getting a college education in IT, you should also look at other industry examinations that could help you stand out from the crowd. Certifications like Microsoft Azure fundamentals certification have helped many IT professionals get ahead in their careers, and there are numerous specialist subjects you can choose from. This will help you stand out from other candidates and show your determination to develop your knowledge and skills in the field.

3. Network

Networking is important, no matter what industry you work in. It allows you to make connections within your company and beyond, which could open doors for you later in your career. Making the time to socialize with your colleagues after work is a good way to do this, as well as attending specific networking events or conferences. For these more formal events, have business cards printed to hand out to people with your details on and take their information to help build your contact list.

4. Accept Entry-Level Jobs

If you are looking to switch to an IT career from a different industry, you need to be willing to start again from the bottom of the career ladder. This can be frustrating for some people, especially if they’re used to a certain wage or seniority from their last job role. However, you need to accept entry-level jobs if you want the opportunity to rise to better positions, even if it does mean a slight reduction in your salary for the time being.

5. Keep Updated

Finally, it’s important to keep up to date with the latest IT industry news. With so many developments happening all of the time, if you want to be taken seriously in your career you need to keep up with what’s happening in your industry. You can apply these trends and news bulletins to your work and also use them to recognize more career opportunities for yourself.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in IT, make sure you’re taking these five basic steps to achieve your goals.

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