How to Gain Experience in IT
1.) Use your current job
This is perhaps the most common route, though not applicable to all. Maybe you work in an office and you are known as 'the IT guy'. You work in shipping, and though you're not technically trained everybody comes to you with their IT problems. Put it on your CV. Better still, get your boss to recognise that you do this unpaid role. Are there training courses he could put you on? They're out there if you look. Maybe your unpaid role could be incorporated into your job? With a bit of persistence you might have created a new role.
2.) Lower your sights
A dilemma you might face is how high you should pitch your training. You must be realistic. IT is an excellent industry in which once you get the experience you can quickly move up. Don't expect to be taken seriously if you study higher-level qualifications but have never solved a customer's IT problems in your life. An IT career ladder is no different from any other. Pay your dues, prove yourself and you'll end up further along than you planned.
3.) Work Placements
There are initiatives that provide temporary work placements sometimes as part of a work or training scheme. Placements can range from a week to a few months and provide general exposure to the sector. Employers may use these schemes for assessment before offering a permanent position. Placements can be difficult to find but a little experience is better than none.
4.) Part-time or weekend work
It's not practical for many to simply 'give up the day job' in the hope of finding something different. Part-time or weekend work could be a solution. Many companies do not need a full-time IT department. Use such opportunities to gain experience which counts.
5.) Theory based education with lab work
Most training programmes, even to degree level, recognise the need for 'hands-on' learning or lab work. This is a good chance to put theory to practise. Be aware of how detailed the hands-on training is - it may not be 'real world' enough for some employers especially with distance learning. Enquire about this aspect of a programme before you embark on study.
6.) Volunteer at a charity
Most organisations depend on some form of IT, but many are woefully under funded. Making enquires at a charitable organisation may be an excellent way to gain hands on experience. It's likely to be unpaid but the experience gained could prove priceless in the future.
7.) Internship programmes
For those with some formal training, many large companies offer structured internship programmes that may lead to full-time positions within the company. They often follow a set path as you progress within the company. Many of these are designed for University graduates and entry can be competitive.
8.) Friends and family
Hobbyist experience alone is often not enough, but it can be used to demonstrate your interest in the field. Could you design websites, create databases or troubleshoot for people you know? Getting out there in any capacity can highlight your interest in IT to people that may not have already known. Opportunities often arise through networking. Once people know what you're after, they'll notice opportunities on your behalf.
9.) Volunteer at your local computer shop
Future employers will look at unpaid experience, so find a way to increase the breadth and scope of equipment and skills you've handled. Also gain customer service experience. This is can be highly desirable to employers.
10.) Don't struggle alone
There are companies and courses designed to tackle this 'experience/training' dilemma. At Cerco, we train for the IT Support and Computer Maintenance sector and other companies offer similar courses. Help and advice is available from numerous sources including employers themselves. Don't be afraid to ask. The chances are these people have once been in a similar situation themselves.
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