Job sites

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Why is it so difficult to find an entry level IT job on them? I use all the best sites - Jobserve, CWJOBS, monster jobs etc yet the majority of jobs I see advertised require experience. How does one get a job in IT with without experience and an MCSE? I am just looking for my first role in IT, nothing big just to get my foot in the door yet it seems even getting a job on a helpdesk is very hard. It will be very interesting to see what people have to say about this, and if you know of some magic website that lists entry level IT jobs it would be much appreciated if you let me know lol.

 

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If there was such a site, the amazing volume of traffic would probably crash it. . I don't know what to say. Everyone's "first job experience" is different. In my case, I have a steady "slave" job (non-IT and low pay) that I used to pay the bills while I went to school.

I took the odd contract job in IT to build my experience. I started getting contract jobs more and more frequently until I got an offer for a three month temp position. Talked to the missus about it and she said "take the plunge". I quite my slave job and did it with the understanding that I'd be unemployed in three months which did happen.

I kept getting day and weekend jobs and finally a part-time bit at HP. Not enough to pay the bills in the long run, but it did continue to build up my experience base. Finally, after six-months in the part-time gig, I got a permanent offer elsewhere.

There's no magic. There's just hard work, dedication, slowly building up, and taking risks. I wish I had an easy answer for you. I don't think there is one. Just hang in there and keep shooting for the stars. Someday, you'll make it.

 

Hi Ant,
I am in the same boat as you. I want to get my foot in the door but it seems quite hard.
Vicious circle comes to mind! Can't get work experience without a job- can't get a job without experience
I am doing just as trip advices to plod on trying every avenue and getting certified on the way
Sooner or later..... The beauty is there is no shortage of jobs.

All the best
Boyce

 

I phoned up asking after a IT helpdesk job (3 months at £8 per hour, hardly the job of the century) and got told that it wasnt even worth asking unless I had three years experience!!!!!

As much as anything its just coming across the right job, I have found a perfect entry level position within a IT department, its only 12k per year (well for six months anyway) and long hours but I count myself very fortunate.

 

Sorry to be bleak but IT is very cut throat to get into it's the same old thing can't get a job without experience and can't get experience without a job. As demand grows and more people get into IT employers can be more selective and ask for more than they would five years ago. So instead of maybe needing 1 years experience for an entry-level job they might ask for three years and an MCSE. That’s the unfortunate state of play it's all down to supply and demand. All I can say is if you can't get your foot in the door try voluntary work in IT for a local learning centre or similar even if it's only 1-2 days a week for a couple of hours Also expect to maybe having to take a crappy paid job for your first job to get a year under your belt then move on. These are things that a lot of people will have to do.



As for these job sites they are mainly geared towards professionals who have been in IT for years or specialist IT roles. I saw a job in Glasgow for a cool £1,000,000 pa nice work if you can get it. Again unfortunately they are particularly good for looking for entry level IT roles. I would look on the job seekers website or your local paper. We have the Evening Chronicle in Newcastle, which has a job supplement on a Thursday so if you have something similar then it's a good place to start.

 

Unfortunatly, there is indeed a shortage of jobs at that level
lots of people get into IT, but never really progress, lots of people stay in the same jobs doing the same things

the lower levels of IT employment are over saturated which is why you dont see hardly any jobs available, and why they pay crap
once u have those few years experiance under your belt things get a little more peachy
as alot of those folks at the bottom, never really progress up

unfortunatly thats the way it is in most industries, more people at the bottom, less people at the top, but if you notice the sheer volume of high end jobs on jobserve, u know there IS a shortage of the top end people

 

Sorry- didn't make myself clear. What I meant was that once you have that "foot on the ladder" there are places to go as some people are happy to stay at a certain level.