How to Start a Career in IT

How to Start a Career in IT – Spokane Technology Jobs and Careers

How do you start a career in IT? The technology field is constantly expanding and finding a job might be easier than you think. Read on to learn more.  

Are you interested in technology careers in Spokane? Our Philantech3 team regularly receives emails and phone calls from those who want to get into the field but aren’t sure where to begin. While we are always happy to provide advice, we decided it might be a good idea for our team to put together a short blog post. Here are a few tips on how to start a career in IT.

Should You Pursue a Degree at a Community College?

The first decision you need to make once you’ve decided you would like to work in tech is how you’ll receive your education. In some cases, this means pursuing a degree at a community college. Most community colleges—including SFCC and SCC—have excellent entry-level technology degree programs. This includes those in network administration, cybersecurity, and other pertinent topics.

Best of all, most of these institutions retain pretty solid relationships with local companies that hire tech students after graduation. This alone is almost worth the amount you pay for in tuition. These partnerships typically span a wide range of industries and entry-level jobs can start at $40,000 or more per year.

Do Four-Year Universities Offer Degrees for Those Who Want to Start a Career in IT?

In addition to community colleges, you have the opportunity to attend a four-year university to get your degree in a tech field. They generally have more variety and more specific programs, but the result is often the same. Universities also build strong relationships with local employers and many have hiring events to help graduates and future graduates find internships and full-time positions.

What About Technical Certifications?

Not sure you want to go through the time and expense of post-secondary education? That’s okay. Plenty of people build their skills by seeking technical certifications. Technical certifications are often a more significant factor for employers during the hiring process than a simple diploma on the wall. Some students will try to do it on their own using knowledge and experience they get without school and in the information age this is entirely possible.

There are almost too many resources available for us to list out here. A few of the most common methods include tech certification programs through Lynda.com and CBTNuggets.com. These sites offer paid instruction in topics such as network administration, PC repair, web design, graphic design, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and much more. Some local libraries even offer free subscriptions to these services, allowing you to take courses and obtain certifications without spending a dime. Plenty of people have taken this self-taught route and landed great entry-level tech jobs that turn into successful careers.

Finding Your New Career in IT

Of course, if you’ve already done these things and are looking for a new career in IT, we would love to hear from you. At Philantech3, we are constantly looking for talent to fill entry-level positions at our firm. Please get in touch with us via this page to learn more.

Wil Buchanan