Cannot get interviews for entry-level IT jobs...advice?

Zinger549

Have you looked at working in a School as a IT technician. I know a few people who have got in to IT this way without having experience. If you can show them you have the skills and knowledge then they might give you a chance. I got a job in my old school, I don't know if that would be possible for you? Being an ex student was a plus for me and that was one of the reasons they gave me the job.

You can do it for a few years and that will give you the experience and a reference.

motorguy

What about call centre work? A lot of call centres do IT support work for other companies - 1st line, 2nd line, etc. Also, some are technical support for technology companies - eg tech support for Samsung, BT, etc.

Might not be hands on, but it would get you technical experience and dealing with customers.

mikemaple

Hi,

If you can spare the time you could try getting some work experience, if you can spare some days or weeks you might be able to get someone to let you come in and work with the teams. Desktop seems to be a lot of peoples way into a company.

Try asking friends and family to pass on a request to their IT team (if they work in an office they will have one). You won't get paid but the experience can we really worth it - and may get your foot in the door.

Mike.

consumers_revenge

Hi.


Showing on your CV that you've studied in your own time is usually good once you are already working in a company but again shows no experience. It proves your building on what you already know and are good enough to pass the test.


However...


It only shows you are good enough to pass the test. I know people who are good enough to pass the test just by reading the books and never turning a pc on. I've done ITIL for example and theres no technical competency there if you have common sense. Again but it shows employers you want to do things the 'right way'. Some IT tests show you can follow a guide, a step by step as such.


When I was in your position I think the thing that got me interviews was having a couple of college courses for IT on my CV ( these were 2 part time courses 2x10 weeks with a college certification at the end ) but I think they then show that you can follow tuition, have been assessed by someone who should at least be a mentor as such, a 2 way interactive conversation. Proving what you have learnt and retained that knowledge and be able to apply it. Same as what would happen in a 'entry' job.


Good luck and I hope that helps.


CR

Kryptos

Hello krs8997,

I was in a similar situation as you and funny enough I also did the A+ and Network + from CompTIA as my first step in I.T. I was lucky enough though to work for a local PC repair shop and get experience while I was doing the courses through a training centre.

I then started working in technical support and later did some Microsoft courses to move into programming and got a junior job that way.

I.T is a big field and I did notice while looking through jobs that (programming) especially software development / web development is more sought after in the UK and you're more likely to get a job than as a network admin.

I have a friend that has over 5 years of experience as a network admin and it took him almost one year of constantly applying in the north of England to get a job.

I'd say you need to be more persistent with local pc repair shops to try and get experience, or else try to move towards programming and see if you can develop a passion for it like I did. It will be easier to pull a junior job in programming than as a network admin.

Good luck !

krs8997 wrote: »

So I'm 26, left school with just GCSEs and have worked as a door supervisor and in retail for the past 8 years in various jobs but feel limited in my prospects and want to enter a new career in IT, specifically as a network engineer, 1st/2nd/3rd line support, system administration etc.

For the past 12 months I've been studying in my own time and have completed several relevant (and some not so relevant) certifications including:

CompTIA A+
CompTIA N+
CCENT
ITIL Foundation
PRINCE2 Foundation

I plan on studying for my CCNA next however this will take some time. From what I understand, all of the certifications I have completed are at least entry level at minimum.

My problem is, I have ZERO work experience in IT, however having completed the certifications I have (having invested my own time and money whilst working full time) I feel it is now time to get an entry-level job in a support role (e.g. 1st line support).

I've applied to about 30 entry-level jobs in my area and haven't been asked for a single interview. I meet all the entry criteria EXCEPT for experience. Even the "entry-level" jobs require at least 1-2 years experience! How am I supposed to gain experience if I can't even get an entry-level job?

I'm applying on sites like reed.co.uk and even "entry level" jobs have 100+ applications after a couple of days.

Can anyone advise on how I can make myself more appealing to recruiters for entry level roles? It's just so frustrating to not even get an interview, but I don't blame recruiters who read my CV and look at my work history and see that I've only worked in retail and have no previous work experience.

Thank you.

paddyrg

You've done enough courses, more won't help. You need practical experience (to find out how to apply what you learned, and how real life is nothing like a textbook!). Are there any furniture/shelter charities near you? Ask around, you'll find one. You could offer to collect up and patch up donated/found at the dump computers for the charity to sell cheap to vulnerable people who are starting again, out something like that. It's not necessarily what you actually want to be doing, but it is something and you will learn from it, and you'll meet people and be in the right place when someone's network is choppy and you can fix it.

Good luck, tier 1 is largely filled with offshore workers now, but tier 2 often requires domain knowledge and being in the company deeply. You can get there if you've the right altitude and get some lucky breaks. Lucky breaks come by taking chances, expanding the gene pool, doing stuff you can't see the immediate payoff for.

RahulDhawan

I would like to recommend you a website itjobboard.in there you can find IT related jobs.

iamsmith

I suggest you to apply for internship first and get in to gain little experience. It will open the doors for you.

Owen_IA

Lots of good suggestions here. I would avoid searching for internships however, as these are (in the most part) by definition graduate/student roles only unfortunately.

It might be worth contacting start-ups offering your availability, as often these need all the help they could get and may be more likely to give you some experience than larger employers.

You will get something eventually. You have already shown that you are proactive and hard working by gaining extra qualifications. I am no tech expert but do see a fair few CVs - Would be happy to have a look and give you some suggestions if you think that could help.

bartelbe

I'm afraid you have hit the classic bottleneck, UK employers don't invest in training and then complain about skill shortages.

I know someone who works in engineering recruitment, a so called shortage area and she says it is a bit of a myth. There is a shortage, but only because every company expects the perfect candidate with 20 years experience who will require no training and will work for low pay.

Not much help, but until someone tackles UK employers unwillingness to invest in their staff, people like yourself are going to be left stuck in deadend jobs.