If you’re considering a career working in Information Technology – a fancy way of saying “working with computers” – congratulations! I can tell you from personal experience that it’s one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. I can also tell you from personal experience that it is never too late to begin!

I started my IT career 10 years ago, and it was a tough decision. I was 34 years old, and really knew next to nothing about computers. I decided to attend a technical school to get my career started, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Ten years later, I write ebooks and teach classes dealing with different facets of networking, I’ve earned the most difficult computer certification in the world, and I’ve never been happier. The same thing can happen for you.

As with any new venture, there are some things you have to watch out for, so I’m going to share my experiences with you in this new series of articles. I’ll tell you what worked for me, what didn’t work for me, and some tips and tricks on developing a fun, exciting, and financially rewarding career in Information Technology.

The first decision, and one of the biggest, is to decide what technical school to attend. If you think you can’t afford it, think again. Ask yourself this question: Can you afford not to go?

Almost every college and community college offers some kind of technical class, so look into those. For many of us, though, a technical college such as ITT or ECPI is a better bet. These colleges have more of a focus on technology, and can also help with job placement.

What you should beware with some technical schools is an unrealistic emphasis on how much money you’re going to make when you graduate. Some schools are fond of mentioning the MCSE Salary Survey, making it sound like you’re going to make $65,000 or more in your first IT job. I’m not saying that can’t happen, but it’s not very realistic for your first job. When you visit a school you’re thinking of attending, ask to speak to someone in the job placement department and ask them point-blank where they’ve recently placed graduates and the salaries at which they were hired.

Find out how many of the classes include hands-on labs. This should be close or at 100%. The only real way to learn about software such as Microsoft Server, or any computer hardware, is to really work with it. Just reading about it isn’t enough. Believe it or not, computer hardware and software doesn’t always work the way the books say it will!

You should also ask the school if any of their courses include preparing for computer certification exams. Professional certifications such as the CCNA, Network+, Security+, A+, and MCSE can be a huge boost to your career and your salary. We’ll talk more about that in the next installment of this series. In the meantime, stop dreaming about a computer career and start planning on how to make it happen!

 Article Source: >http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Bryant

In today’s competitive economy, it’s important to have an edge over the competition in the job market. One way to get ahead is to get a well regarded CompTIA certification. But which CompTIA certification is right for you?

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) offers a number of IT certifications that can help you qualify for a well paying job. CompTIA certifications cover a wide variety of disciplines including computer basics, IT security, computer networking, Linux programming, and more. But before you begin your CompTIA study, you should decide which certification best fits your expertise and career goals.

If you are just starting out in the IT industry, then the CompTIA A

+ certification is probably right for you. CompTIA A+ certification is designed to demonstrate competency as a computer technician. It covers topics such as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting. The exam is also vendor neutral and internationally accepted, so many employers see it as credible evidence of your ability to work with computers. The A+ certification is a stepping stone to more advanced CompTIA certifications, so if you are just starting out in the information technology industry, it’s a must have.

For people more interested in an important and up and coming field, CompTIA Security+ certification is the way to go. This certification proves your ability to manage system security, network infrastructure, and organizational security. Computer security threats are increasing in number and severity, so this certification is in high demand among employers in the business, healthcare, and government sectors. Pursuing a CompTIA Security+ certification is bound to ensure job security for years to come.

Another important CompTIA certification is CompTIA Network+. This certification exhibits competence in managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing, and configuring computer network infrastructures. This is especially important for companies with large computer networks connecting hundreds of employees. There is consistent demand for IT networking professionals, so getting your CompTIA Network+ certification is a good next step after you complete your A+ certification.

If you have a passion for open-source technology and some Linux experience under your belt, you should consider pursuing your CompTIA Linux+ certification. This exam covers the management of Linux systems, user administration, file permissions, software configuration, and the management of Linux-based clients. With many companies moving to open-source software as a method to cut costs, qualified Linux professionals are sure to be in high demand. Prove your ability with the right CompTIA certification, and you show potential employers a clear indicator that you are right for the job.

There are many more CompTIA certifications that deal with more specialized fields. You can find more information at CompTIA’s website, http://www.comptia.org. Once you decide on a certification, you can prepare for the test by taking CompTIA training classes at a qualified IT training school. Regardless of which CompTIA certification you decide on, you will be obtaining a valuable credential that will help you get a job in the information technology field. Many employers rely on third-party certifications such as the CompTIA exams as a clear indicator of future employee success. Prove your worth with the right certification, and you will have a definite edge in the job market.

About The Author:

Shawn Livengood works for TechSkills, a career training school with over 25 campuses nationwide. TechSkills offers career training programs for IT certifications, healthcare services, accounting, and project management

Jobs that use this knowledge mean you’ll be more likely to work for large companies that are spread out geographically but need their computer networks to talk to each other. Or, you may move on to being employed by an internet service provider. These jobs are well paid and in demand.

If you’re just entering the world of routers, then the CCNA course is more than enough – don’t be pushed into attempting your CCNP. With a few years experience behind you, you will have a feel for if it’s relevant for you to have this next level up.

Several companies supply a practical Job Placement Assistance facility, to assist your search for your first position. The honest truth is that it’s not as hard as some people make out to find employment – as long as you’ve got the necessary skills and qualifications; the growing UK skills shortage sees to that.

Update your CV at the beginning of your training though – look to your training company for advice on how to do this. Don’t procrastinate and leave it for when you’re ready to start work. A good number of junior support roles are offered to trainees who’re still on their course and have still to get qualified. This will at the very least get you on your way. Generally, an independent and specialised local recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid commission to place you) will be more pro-active than a centralised training company’s service. It also stands to reason that they’ll know the local industry and employment needs.

A good number of men and women, apparently, conscientiously work through their course materials (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when trying to get their first job. Introduce yourself… Work hard to get yourself known. Good jobs don’t just knock on your door.

Locating job security nowadays is problematic. Companies often throw us from the workforce with very little notice – whenever it suits. When we come across growing skills deficits coupled with areas of high demand though, we can locate a new kind of market-security; as fuelled by conditions of continuous growth, companies are struggling to hire the influx of staff needed.

Taking a look at the Information Technology (IT) market, the recent e-Skills investigation showed a more than 26 percent shortfall of skilled workers. Quite simply, we can’t properly place more than three out of 4 positions in the computing industry. This disquieting fact underpins the urgent need for more appropriately trained computing professionals across the UK. We can’t imagine if a better time or market circumstances will exist for gaining qualification for this quickly expanding and developing industry.

There is a tidal wave of change about to hit technology over the next generation – and this means greater innovations all the time. We are really only just starting to comprehend how all this change will affect us. How we interact with the world will be inordinately affected by technology and the internet.

Let’s not forget that typical remuneration in the IT market throughout this country is much greater than average salaries nationally, therefore you’ll most likely gain significantly more with professional IT knowledge, than you could reasonably hope to achieve elsewhere. Excitingly, there’s not a hint of a downturn for IT jobs expansion in Great Britain as a whole. The industry continues to grow hugely, and as we have a skills gap that means we only typically have three IT workers for every four jobs it’s highly unlikely that this will change significantly for decades to come.

For the most part, a typical trainee really has no clue in what direction to head in Information Technology, or even which area is worth considering for retraining. Perusing long lists of different and confusing job titles is a complete waste of time. The vast majority of us don’t even know what our next-door neighbours do at work each day – so what chance do we have in understanding the complexities of any specific IT role. Arriving at the right resolution can only grow through a meticulous investigation across many altering factors:

* Your hobbies and interests – as they can reveal the possibilities will give you the most reward.

* For what reasons you’re moving into computing – it could be you’re looking to conquer a particular goal like working from home for instance.

* Your earning needs that guide you?

* Often, trainees don’t consider the work involved to gain all the necessary accreditation.

* You have to take in what is different for each individual training area.

To cut through the industry jargon, and uncover the most viable option for your success, have an informal meeting with an advisor with years of experience; someone that will cover the commercial realities and truth while explaining each qualification.

Article source: GoArticles.com

When it comes to choosing IT training course, there is no shortage of choice. So first, find out which certification you would like to pursue. Based on the certification requirements you can choose the right training course that will help you get certified.

Courses

IT training courses cover wide variety of technology topics like:

- Windows training – Systems Analysis training – UNIX, Linux and Open Source training – Microsoft training – Mac training – Novell training – Java training – Cisco training – Oracle training – VMware training – Security training – Web Development training – XML and Web Services courses – Network training

These are just some of the areas in which training is available.

Internet Networking Field If you are interested in a career in the Internet networking field, you can opt for Cisco IT training. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate) are certified courses that cover the basics. CCNA and CCDA are designed for beginners.

Once you have attained CCNA or CCDA certification, you can advance to the next level. Here you have two choices – CCNP and CCDP. These are certifications for Cisco Certified Network Professionals and Design Professionals.

If you want to gain CCNP certification, you would first have to get CCNA certification. One thing that you can be sure about is that after Cisco certification you will see a definite advancement in your career because Cisco products are the best in the IT industry.

IT Security Field

Computer and IT resource security field is another area which has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. According to IT experts, IT security is the next big thing. So if you are looking for a career in IT security, the best place to start is with IT training courses related to this field.

Network security engineer is the top level professional in the IT security world. To get there you would need skills and experience on your side. Besides experience you also need training to boost your career chances. Beginners can start with CompTIA A+, Network+, or Security+ certification. SANS CSEC certification is another plus that you can add to your resume.

Microsoft, IBM, Red Hat, Cisco and Sun are some of the other computer training programs designed for IT security professionals.

MCSE

Another great training program is the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). MCSE training will take your career to new heights. It gives you the skills and knowledge to work in any organization that has a Microsoft computer network.

MCSE training gives you the skills to set up, manage, and troubleshoot Microsoft based networks and computer systems. You will have the skills necessary for maintaining a Microsoft based network. Moreover, you will also know how to run diagnostics and scan for viruses. Upgrading the system would be one of your responsibilities as a MCSE professional.

Therefore, whether you are looking for a career as a Database Administrator, Application Developer, Network Security Engineer, or Information Security Specialist, there is a training course out there to help you achieve the necessary certification. With IT training you not only become certified, you also improve your career options.

Article source: GO Articles.

With regard to any career courses, seek out someone who will be able to guide you on the right type of training for you. Someone who can get an understanding of your personality, and find out what types of work suit you:

• Is it your preference to work in isolation or perhaps being around others is an essential criteria for you?
• What elements are you looking for from the market sector you work in? – We all know that things have changed, look at building and banking for instance.
• Once you’ve trained, how many years work do anticipate working, and will the market sector offer you that opportunity?
• Are you worried about your possibilities of getting new work, and staying employable to the end of your working life?

A predominant industry in the United Kingdom to meet the above criteria is the IT sector. There’s a need for more skilled workers in IT, just search any jobsite and you will find them yourself. Don’t misunderstand and think it’s all techie people sitting in front ofscreens all day long – there’s a lot more to it than that. The majority of employees in the computer industry are people of average intelligence, with jobs they enjoy and better than average salaries.

So many training providers only concern themselves with gaining a certificate, and completely avoid why you’re doing this – getting yourself a new job or career. You should always begin with the end in mind – don’t make the journey more important than where you want to get to. It’s quite usual, in many cases, to find immense satisfaction in a year of study but end up spending 10 or 20 years in something completely unrewarding, as an upshot of not doing the correct research at the outset.

Stay tuned-in to where you want to get to, and then build your training requirements around that – not the other way round. Keep on track and begin studying for an end-result that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years. The best advice for students is to speak with an experienced industry advisor before they make a decision on a particular retraining programme. This is essential to ensure it contains the commercially required skills for the career path that has been chosen.

It’s not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees – this always means you have to pay for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. Before you jump at a course with such a promise, why not think about this:

It’s become essential these days that we’re a little more ‘marketing-savvy’ – and usually we cotton on to the fact that we’re actually paying for it (it’s not a freebie because they like us so much!) Evidence shows that when students fund each examination, when they’re ready to take them and not before, they will be much more likely to qualify each time – since they’ll be conscious of what they’ve paid and therefore will put more effort into their preparation.

Why pay your training course provider up-front for examinations? Find the best deal you can when you take the exam, instead of paying any mark-up – and do it locally – not at somewhere of their bidding. Big margins are netted by many companies that get money for exam fees in advance. A number of students don’t take them for various reasons but the company keeps the money. Surprising as it sounds, there are providers who rely on that fact – and that’s how they increase their profits. In addition to this, ‘Exam Guarantees’ often aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Most companies will not pay for re-takes until you’re able to demonstrate an excellent mock pass rate.

Exams taken at local centres are in the region of 112 pounds in Great Britain. Why spend so much more on ‘Exam Guarantee’ costs (often covertly rolled into the cost of the course) – when good quality study materials, the proper support and consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software is what will really see you through.

If you’re like many of the students we talk to then you probably enjoy fairly practical work – the ‘hands-on’ type. Usually, the world of book-reading and classrooms is something you’ll make yourself do if you have to, but you’d hate it. Check out video-based multimedia instruction if book-based learning really isn’t your style. If we’re able to involve all our senses in the learning process, our results will often be quite spectacular.

Fully interactive motion videos with demonstrations and practice sessions will beat books every time. And you’ll find them fun and interesting. Be sure to get a training material demonstration from any training college. The materials should incorporate demo’s from instructors, slideshows and virtual practice lab’s for your new skills.

It’s unwise to choose training that is only available online. Due to the variable nature of connection quality from the ISP (internet service provider) market, make sure you get CD or DVD ROM based materials.

Speak with almost any skilled consultant and they’ll regale you with many awful tales of how students have been duped by salespeople. Make sure you deal with a skilled advisor who asks some in-depth questions to uncover the best thing for you – not for their paycheque! You need to find the very best place to start for you. An important point to note is that, if you’ve had any relevant qualifications that are related, then it’s not unreasonable to expect to start at a different point than someone new to the industry. Opening with a basic PC skills program first is often the best way to get up and running on your computer programme, depending on your skill level at the moment.

MCITP certification attests that the candidates have the necessary set of skills to deploy, build, optimize, design various applications operating technologies with respect to a particular job role and that they are capable of designing and making a number of technology decisions crucial to accomplish successful technology implementation projects.

While the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credential enables IT professionals with a more focussed and simpler framework to display their technical and professional skills, some reputed MCITP 70-642 certification training programs available on the net enables the candidates to systematically acquire the required knowledge and skills needed to make their cherished IT dreams come alive and besides easily securing a great paying job in the purview of the IT industry.

One of the most important aspects that you need to note regarding this certification is that it also highlights your exclusive field of expertise as there are about twelve concentrations available within this one certification. This will help you distinguish yourself among other IT professionals by possessing the up-to-date skills and surpassing job-role capabilities to effectively work with a comprehensive set of Microsoft technologies.

While choosing the right site for getting trained for this certification, always look for programmes that are offered by certified instructors. This will help you with a quality education necessary to enhance your IT career. One of the greatest advantages of securing this certification is that you are actually letting the employers know that you are more capable than others to get the job done right.

Article Source Go Articles .Com

Before we even think about individual training courses, discuss your thoughts with an industry expert who will be able to guide you on what to look for. Someone who has the ability to get a feel for your personality, and find out the best career for you to work towards:

• Are you hoping to be involved with others in the workplace? Would that be with the same people or with many new people? Perhaps working alone with your own methodology would be more your thing?
• Banking and building are not coping well right now, so it’s important to look very carefully at what sector would suit you best?
• Once your training has been completed, would you like your skills to see you to retirement age?
• Do you want your study to be in an area where as far as you can see you will be able to work up to retirement age?

The most significant market sector in the UK to meet the above criteria is Information Technology. There’s a shortage of knowledgeable people in the industry, simply have a look at a local jobs website and you’ll discover what we mean. However, it’s not full of techie geeks staring at theirscreens every day – there’s a lot more to it than that. The majority of the people in the industry are ordinary people, with well paid and stimulating jobs.

Don’t forget: the actual training or an accreditation is not the ultimate goal; a job that you’re getting the training for is. A lot of colleges seem to place too much importance on the actual accreditation. It’s a testament to the marketing skills of the big companies, but a large percentage of students start out on programs that sound marvellous from the prospectus, but which provides a job that doesn’t satisfy. Talk to many university students for a real eye-opener.

Stay focused on where you want to go, and then build your training requirements around that – don’t do it the other way round. Keep on track and ensure that you’re training for an end-result that’ll reward you for many long and fruitful years. Look for advice and guidance from an experienced advisor, even if there’s a fee involved – as it’s a lot cheaper and safer to discover early on whether your choices are appropriate, instead of discovering after two full years that you’re doing entirely the wrong thing and have to return to the start of another program.

Please understand this most important point: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor support. Later, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t adhere to this. Avoid those companies that use call-centres ‘out-of-hours’ – with your call-back scheduled for typical office hours. This is no use if you’re stuck and need an answer now.

It’s possible to find professional companies that give students direct-access online support at all times – no matter what time of day it is. If you accept anything less than online 24×7 support, you’ll regret it very quickly. You might not want to use the service during the night, but what about weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

When did you last consider the security of your job? Normally, this issue only becomes a talking point when we experience a knock-back. However, the lesson often learned too late is that true job security simply doesn’t exist anymore, for nearly everyone now. However, a marketplace with high growth, where staff are in constant demand (through an enormous shortfall of trained people), provides a market for proper job security.

Taking the IT business for instance, the most recent e-Skills study showed a skills gap in the United Kingdom around the 26 percent mark. Put simply, we’re only able to fill just three out of each 4 job positions in IT. This glaring concept reveals the urgent need for more properly accredited Information Technology professionals across the country. We can’t imagine if a better time or market settings could exist for acquiring training in this hugely growing and evolving sector.

Don’t accept anything less than an accredited exam preparation programme included in the package you choose. Be sure that the mock exams are not just posing the correct questions on the right subjects, but ask them in the same way that the proper exam will phrase them. This really messes up students if they’re met with completely different formats and phraseologies. Be sure to have some simulated exam questions in order to check your comprehension at any point. Simulated or practice exams help to build your confidence – so the actual exam is much easier.

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The most common entry-level IT job is usually some sort of Desktop Support role. In this type of position, the new IT worker will get his beak wet by directly supporting either internal or external customers in a help-desk type setting. Often times this position (and many others in IT) has multiple tiers. You usually start as a “Level one technician” then move up to “Level 2 technician”, and so-forth. Because these type of workers work so closely with clients and customers, they often become the “face” of the organization and there is as much customer service involved as there is technical support.

How do I take this first step?

Getting your foot in the door at this type of IT position is not as easy as it used to be. Indeed, It seems like everyone has some level of computer and troubleshooting skills these days. If you’re serious about obtaining one of these jobs you’ll need to go above and beyond to obtain qualifications that might have been considered “overqualified” just a decade or so ago.

If you’re reading this article, I’m assuming that you have some experience working on a computer, and probably have, at one time or another, set up or troubleshot a network at home. It’s also nice to have some basic repair knowledge. Can you open up your computer case and swap out parts? These are the bare essentials for starting an IT career.

Set yourself apart with certification:

Certification is probably the best way (barring on-the-job experience) to set yourself apart from other candidates and more and more employers are requiring certifications even for otherwise entry-level jobs. Prospective employers are more willing to invest in a candidate who has gone the extra mile to invest in his/her self.

So which certification should you get? By far the most popular and widely recognized entry-level certification is the CompTIA A+. This is a good credential that doesn’t require you to have specific on-the-job experience and it will help you get your foot in the door. It’s a vendor neutral certification, which means that you don’t have to specialize like you will with more advanced certifications like those offered by Cisco and Microsoft. A+ serves as a great building block for more advanced certifications that you’ll want once you have some real-world experience under your belt.

In order to obtain the A+ certification you’ll need to pass 2 exams. The first is A+ essentials. This covers basic elements of security, soft skills, installation, repair, troubleshooting and maintenance.

Once you have passed A+ essentials, you’ll need to pass one more exam to be certified. The three that are available are: IT Technician, Remote Technician, and Depot Technician. IT Technician is by far the most popular and is the most relevant to entry-level desktop support positions. There are a lot of training resources on the internet, some training companies will offer free or discounted A+ exam vouchers when you order their training products. This is nice because you won’t have to pay to take the exam.

Customer Service is important too!

Once you’re certified and ready to start your career in IT, you need to keep in mind that everyone you deal with will not be as savvy as you. Remember that in your job role, customer service and soft skills will likely be just as important as technical skills and knowledge. Some people may need hand-holding to walk them through their computer issues, but be sure to find a balance and don’t talk down to them. Remember that if not for them, you wouldn’t have a job in the first place.

What Salary Can I Expect?

This can vary widely. In the USA, most people with A+ credentials can expect to start between $30,000-$40,000. As you gain more experience you become exponentially more valuable. It’s worth it to stick around at a job as a level 1 technician, because when they need level 2 techs, they tend to promote from within because you already know the system. Try to learn as much as you can, both about your job and about network and information systems in general. This will help you when you’re looking to obtain more advanced certifications to make yourself more marketable.

Where To Find A Job?

It’s hard to say because every local market is different. You’ll want to check classified ads and job boards. It’s also worthwhile to check out the websites of large companies who have a presence near you. Contract work is a great opportunity because it allows you to establish some work experience which will make you more desirable as an employee in the long run.

In summary:

Desktop support is an excellent place to get your feet wet in the Information Technology industry. You’ll be exposed to a wide variety of obstacles and learn how to formulate solutions while using your soft skills to communicate technical concepts to a non-technical audience. This will become valuable later on in your career when that non-technical audience is the higher-ups in your company.

 (C) Troy Argil. Check out my IT Certifications blog for quality career advice on IT Certification Training

The 3 Main Areas

There are several kinds of IT certificate programs available today, such as computer technicians, network administrators, network support technicians, technical trainers, security engineer and even technical trainers. These are highly diverse positions and you might be quite confounded at which one you must pursue. However, when you think about things, you will find that everything boils down to just three main areas. These are computer hardware, computer software and networking. You could make a clear decision on which IT program you want to pursue by first deciding which of these three niches you want to become a specialist in. Here’s a tip-anything to do with networking is much in demand in the current scenario.

Vendor-Based Programs

Vendor-based programs are those programs that deal with products of a particular company only. An instance is Microsoft certification. The trainers in this case are mostly Microsoft themselves and they will make you an expert in their own products. Now, this has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that you become an expert in this particular company’s product and hence their chance of hiring you increases. You can also expect a higher salary as you are an expert now. The downside is that your scope of getting work is reduced. You will only be recruited in places that use the products that you have qualified yourself with.

Avoid the Obscure Courses

Just take a look around-you will find that there are easily several IT certification programs out there, and with a lot of programs, you may not even have an inkling of what they are about. It is also possible that you will find a lot of IT training programs dealing with software that no one has ever heard of. If you take up such a course, it is definitely not going to help your job prospects any. Go for the big names; this is what companies are waiting to recruit people for. In the IT world, the bigger the name is, the better the prospects are.

CompTIA Courses

CompTIA stands for Computing Technology Industry Association. This is a body that provides high quality IT certification programs for people around the world. Choose a program from this trainer and you will have a program that is well-worth the money you spend, and really gives you the prospects you are looking for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Hunter

Changing to an IT career:

There are a lot of people that want to break into the IT industry, but they face a dilemma: they aren’t certain whether or how they should make the switch from their current career. This article will offer some helpful hints for anyone looking to make the change to a new and rewarding IT career.

The first and most important thing for any candidate is to understand the industry. Any candidate serious about an IT job will want to become familiar with publications that are popular with those in the industry. These publications include “Fast company”, “Business 2.0″ and “The industry Standard”. Candidates should always strive to gain understanding of key business principles and common problems within the technology world. Jargon is very important in this industry. If you’re working for an internet company, you’ll want to know the difference between “hits” and “uniques”.

Update your resume:

If you haven’t switched jobs for a while, you might notice that resumes and job searches are completely different these days. You may want to invest in a professional resume writer or at the very least, do some research on how to write a modern resume. There are a lot of new things that employers are interested in, and a lot of old things that you should no longer put on your resume.

Your resume shouldn’t be too lengthy and should contain only quality information. Employers like it when you keep the message to the point. The point of the resume is to get you an interview. You can explain things in detail there. It’s important to show career highlights and while you certainly do want to explain your day-to-day work, your work history should focus on achievements. If they want to know anything specific, they will ask you in the interview.

Establish your relevancy:

You are looking to enter a new field. In order to impress an employer, you’ll want to draw comparisons between your past achievements, and the employer’s expectations. Present your experience in such a way that it looks relevant to the position you are applying for. This takes a lot of creativity but the goal is to have a prospective employer view your accomplishments in the most positive light. Most successful companies have similar processes and procedures even when the industry or product is greatly different. Normally training is provided for any company-specific tasks.

Search online:

It’s important to establish that you are familiar and comfortable with technology. Working online is the fastest way to get your resume to employers. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones that are less visible so dig deep in your internet services. Less visible employment offers attract less applicants and that means less competition for you. Many companies do not post on big job boards like Monster.com and instead will just post job opportunities on their own web site. There are services that crawl company websites to retrieve these postings, one notable example is Hound.com. Whatever tactic you choose, make sure that you do take the time to apply to positions off the beaten path.

Never Stop Learning:

In the IT industry, things change fast and it’s important to keep your skills up-to-date. Employers are more likely to make an investment in a candidate who has first invested in themself. There are many globally recognized IT certifications that will signal to an employer that you have highly marketable IT skills. The most common entry level certification is the CompTIA A+, and it’s likely that many employers will require this certification. There are a number of certification training companies online that can help you to prepare for your A+ exams.

Stay motivated:

If you’ve had success in your current industry, you should be able to obtain success in IT, but you need to have the proper motivation to learn and devote your energy towards moving up.

(C) Paul Griffin. Check out my Preplogic blog for quality career advice on IT Certification Training