Are you passionate about working with computer systems and information technology? Wondering how to become an IT specialist despite spending a lot of time on this problem?
The road to conquering this destination is an arduous process that includes five steps, from obtaining the simplest background knowledge to conquering a master’s degree.
Scroll down to discover what you need to do for each step for a closer look!
What is an IT Specialist?
IT specialists are professionals responsible for building, developing, monitoring, and maintaining information technology systems.
In pursuing this career, they will develop further in information technology auditing, network analysis, database administration, system administration, web administration, security, and information assurance.
Companies often hire IT specialists to solve problems related to computer systems, hardware, software, networks, and cloud platforms. Some professionals work in person at the office, while others work remotely.
No matter what field professionals work in, they must have specialized knowledge and a broad understanding. Not only that, but they also need strong analytical skills, teamwork ability, and proficiency in programming languages.
Career Requirements
Becoming an IT specialist is a destination many people pursue, but not everyone can succeed. The main reason for this situation is the professional requirements and fierce competition.
To work as an IT specialist, you will have to prepare a lot of knowledge, including professional theory and working skills. For more of these under a more detailed look, scroll down to explore!
Degree Level
Degree level plays the role of a factor in helping you make the first impression in the hearts of employers. It is a fact that the higher the quality and quantity of the degree, the higher the satisfaction the employer will give you.
Graduating from a regular university with a bachelor’s degree will put you at a huge advantage. However, some employers prefer candidates with master’s degrees in information science and other technology-related disciplines.
Therefore, always take advantage of every opportunity during your work to gain experience and gain master’s degrees of higher quality.
Once you do well in this field, your chances of passing the recruitment round and becoming a full-time employee will be much greater than expected.
Degree Field
The field in which you need to gain experience is not necessarily only related to IT specialists, but it includes all fields related to information technology.
The more computer knowledge you have, the more potential employers see in your relentless efforts.
If you don’t know where to start, our advice is to research both Information Science, Computer Science, and similar fields.
License/Certification
These certifications play a role in demonstrating your previous work experience in organizations or companies.
Our advice is to actively join non-profit organizations to hone your practical skills right after graduation. If you want to try your hand at a more professional environment, apply to work in small companies as an intern.
In addition, you can register for online courses or training centers to strengthen your knowledge. By the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to earn certificates as trophies that confirm your talent.
Experience
Experience is an integral part of your resume. But, specifically, how many years of experience is enough to apply to work as a real specialist?
Employers will require you to have at least three years of work in the information technology field. If you want to apply for higher positions, you will need 5 to 10 years of working in this field.
Key Skills
To be successful in information technology, an IT specialist cannot lack skills, including professional knowledge and professional skills.
You need to be fluent in using computer systems, network analyzers, and servers in terms of knowledge. Improving your project and client management skills and developing server operating systems, software, and web platforms is also the key to conquering the job more easily.
This job will require you to work as a team with other tech professionals in terms of career skills. Besides analytical skills, you also need to focus on the ability to communicate, organize, lead, synthesize information, and make informed decisions in the end.
How to Become an IT Specialist
Becoming an IT specialist is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process that not everyone can afford to pursue.
But if you have the talent and passion for this job, we are sure that every achievement you get will be completely worth your effort.
So, how to become a successful IT specialist? Here are five steps that we have compiled and are waiting for you to discover.
1. Get Started From High School
It may surprise you, but graduating from high school is the first step to becoming a real specialist.
During your time in high school, you need to complete your thought work on all matters related to this profession. Determine a specific plan about the requirements of the profession and the university to which you will apply.
In addition, this is also a golden period for you to start practicing skills you will need later on, such as teamwork, communication, and information analysis.
If you don’t go to high school, that’s not too big of a deal. By completing the GED training program, you will have the opportunity to apply for formal training from universities.
2. Get A Bachelor’s Degree
Getting a bachelor’s degree is an extremely necessary condition to prove your professional ability in the eyes of employers. This step will explain the journey you will have to go through before graduating with a degree.
For those who don’t know where to start, consider majoring in computer engineering, electrical engineering, information science, computer science, information technology, or Information Technology. They serve as a foundation for further study of the IT specialist.
You’ll build on a strong foundation in science, engineering, and math as you enter these majors. You will then gradually become familiar with classes in numerical analysis, data structures, programming languages, and data management.
Typically, you’ll have to go through four years of formal training and countless IT classes before being eligible to sit the graduate exam.
If this method doesn’t work for you, you can still pursue this career by attending online training programs. This way, you will still receive a structured and effective education while saving time.
Arizona State University (ASU) offers a bachelor’s degree in information technology that includes three areas that you should consider. These include information systems, networking and security, and business computing.
No matter which training method you choose, you must be eager to learn and constantly strive to learn. Take advantage of any resources such as computer labs to gain hands-on experience with the software taught.
Once you’re confident with your qualifications, you should consider a term as an intern. Contact local information technology companies or appropriate non-profit organizations to improve your employability skills.
3. Get Entry-Level Work
According to experts, the working time that employers often require for IT specialists is at least three years of experience.
If you have not accumulated this working time, you can still try information technology companies with lighter requirements.
Many companies require candidates to demonstrate their expertise through specific products, such as Oracle, Cisco, and Microsoft certifications.
It proves that the more quality certifications you get, the more potential employers see and the skills you can bring.
Therefore, take advantage of all opportunities to accumulate information technology-related certifications anytime, anywhere.
The final year of college is a golden time for you to orient yourself to what job position you will take on in the future. For those who are still wondering about this issue, here are the typical job positions that receive the most choices from IT specialists:
- Web developer
- App developer
- Systems or business analyst
- Database Administrator
- Technical Support Specialist
4. Get Some Vendor-Specific Certifications
After starting to work as an IT specialist, the field you take-up tends to favor either software languages or computer systems.
Because of the highly competitive nature of this profession, in-depth research into your field is essential.
To further bolster your expertise, vendor-specific certifications you might have include:
- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
- Apple Certified Contributor (ACA)
- Cisco Certified Network Contributor (CCNA)
- Linux Essentials Professional Development Certification (PDC)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
5. Get A Master’s Degree
Each company has a different recruitment requirement with different levels of rigor. Some places only require you to have at least a bachelor’s degree to qualify, while some companies require candidates to have a master’s degree to apply for work.
In our opinion, obtaining a master’s degree will bring you countless benefits.
Your knowledge will reach a much more perfect level than other candidates. Besides increasing your chances of getting hired, it also allows you to advance in the field.
Therefore, actively learn through courses in computational modeling, computer graphics, computer vision, artificial intelligence, and algorithms.
Then apply to earn a master’s degree in cybersecurity, business analytics, information technology, or big data.
FAQs
Is It A Good Career Choice?
IT provides its pursuers with benefits and remuneration that are often better than expected. So, it is an ideal career worthy of your consideration and pursuit.
The IT industry ensures employees’ recruitment needs are always stable with countless job opportunities. Besides, the perfect salary is also a factor that makes the work environment always at a highly competitive level.
In 2023 alone, the number of employees working in the IT field in the United States reached 4.2 million people. Along with technology development, experts say that this number will always increase and show no signs of decreasing.
Once you pursue this job, you do not need to worry too much about where you will work in the future. The popularity of IT is so widespread that you will be able to find employment in many local companies and even non-profit organizations.
Information technology covers dozens of different fields, making your work always flexible. That’s why your working day will bring fresh experiences without boring constraints.
What Is The Salary Of An IT Person?
Because of its high competitiveness, the IT specialist job will bring you an attractive salary and benefits beyond expectations.
According to our data, an average professional salary was about $76,260 per year.
Compared to the average salary of all occupations ($59,428), this is an impressive number that everyone wants to pursue.
Is 35 Too Old To Start an IT Career?
Do you wonder if you should pursue an IT career because you are 35 years old? Get excited because it’s never too late to do whatever you’re passionate about!
Starting your career at this age will certainly make you quite difficult. The main reason is that you have missed the perfect time for youth to study this profession in-depth.
But that doesn’t mean you’ll never get a job. Instead, redouble your efforts in studying to hone your abilities.
Besides, well develop your soft ability. Once you confirm your credibility and ability, employers will hire you without hesitation because of your age.
The Bottom Lines
How to be an IT specialist in today’s evolving technology era? With the specific 5 step process above, we are sure you have your answer.
The journey to pursue IT-related jobs has never been an easy task for newbies.
But as long as you have enough curiosity and effort to overcome difficulties, we are sure that the achievements you will receive will be worth all your efforts.
Regardless of your choice, good luck on your chosen path!