The first thing you need in order to get one of these jobs out there is to get some professional training. Preferably, you'd have an associate's degree, followed by a bachelor's degree, and then your certifications. However, this is the standard that most people strive to achieve when seeking employment in this field. When competing for the various tech jobs out there, it's important to be diversified.
Since so many people have the same qualifications as you do, you have to show them that you can do more than the others. This is usually done by having a diversified portfolio with letters of recommendation from previous employers, peers, and teachers. The better you make yourself look professionally the more the employer will consider hiring you. Of course, the more work experience you have also contributes to whether or not you get hired.
Having advanced knowledge of the systems involved in the jobs you're looking into can also help you land that coveted position. The field is constantly creating new job types, and positions in companies due to new technologies being invented. This equals more job positions available to aspiring employees. As we all know the economy is tough right now, so more jobs means a better chance for employment.
What most people don't know is that IT jobs aren't always desk jobs. Many positions in the field of information technology have to do with what is referred to in the industry as "Grunt Work". This means that aside from the jobs technician positions there are many spots that involve hard physical labor, and a great deal of walking. This is due to the simple fact that someone has to lay the cables, and installation areas out in the first place.
While it's nice to be a remote service technician, or an on call computer technician those systems had to be installed in the first place. Laying out the framework for computer networks, and business communications is a very profitable job. While others may specialize in repairing and replacing systems, you would be specializing in installing them in the first place, and making everything come together. Not a job for the faint hearted to say the least.
However many perspective employees are facing competition from job seekers from other countries. Often these immigrant technicians are more experienced, and have a better education as well. This makes competing competitively in the field even harder. However, there are a few ways to stand out even in this crowd.
As stated, having a diversified portfolio helps when searching for jobs. But the question is what do you round it out with? The tech field has many different facets from installation, to maintenance, to security, and all of them can help you get a spot as a jobs technician. Specializing in more than one field and having substantial knowledge of the rest can ensure that you stay on top of things.
If your employer has a problem that he needs fixed that's outside your required field and you know how to handle it, it can go a long way towards job security. Being adaptable and flexible is key to survival in this market. You also have to continue your education to stay current with your knowledge. In this field, staying uninformed for more than six months can be disastrous.
It's hard to update your skill set and work at the same time. Many businesses will pay for your continued education, or train you on site. If you show you are committed to them, they will be committed to you. All you have to do is show some dedication and stick with it.
When looking for IT jobs keep this in mind. Employers are looking for diverse and adaptable workers to hire. Having the most rounded resume can often be better than the number of contacts, and employment history you have. The information technology field is constantly evolving and you need to evolve with it. Otherwise, you'll get passed up for that technician's job in favor of a more skilled employee.
