On December 22, 2018, the U.S. government partially shutdown, leaving nearly 380,000 federal employees furloughed, according to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. Whether you’re furloughed, laid off or out of work for another reason, you might find yourself with time on your hands. You might also be wondering if it’s time to change careers. If the answer to that is yes, a career in IT could be a great option for you – even if you aren’t a tech whiz or math pro. IT is a growing field that offers job security and competitive salaries. You can use your downtime now to get the skills you need to launch your new career.
The Skills You Need For IT
You may be surprised to find out that you already have the skills needed for IT. If you’re a good communicator, organized, analytical, creative, curious, resourceful or a problem solver, you already have a great foundation to be an IT pro! When picturing a career in IT, you may think of being isolated in a basement, messing with wires and machines. In reality, most IT pros prefer a social environment where they can interact with others and help solve their problems.
If you have the soft skills to be a successful IT pro, next comes the tech knowledge. Where to get started? Well the technical skills it takes to be an IT pro are all learned skills, and that’s where CompTIA comes in. We’re here for you every step of the way. Start with the CompTIA CertMaster suite of products, eBooks and more to learn the skills you need to get into IT. Then go after those highly desired IT certifications that are found on many open job postings. Think you may be ready for that career change? Take our quiz to find out the path that’s right for you.
Why You Should Consider IT
There is a never-ending list of why you should consider a career in IT, but here are the highlights.
- There are plenty of jobs. During the fourth quarter of 2017, U.S. employers posted more than 520,000 IT jobs, according to Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights.
- You won’t be bored. Technology is ever-changing – you won’t feel complacent, in fact you will feel challenged and will constantly be learning.
- You will have a work–life balance. Many IT careers are structured on a standard work week with benefits, paid time off and potential flexibility to work from home. A good work–life balance will make you a happier and healthier individual and make your job more enjoyable, too!
- You get to help people. Helping people gives you satisfaction. It’s so rewarding to be seen as the go-to person to help others and solve problems.
How to Get into IT
There are many different tracks your IT career can take. If you’re interested in protecting systems, a career in cybersecurity will give you a lot of opportunities for growth and career satisfaction. If you like helping people and problem solving, then working your way up from help desk to advanced tech support or computer networking could be a great start.
You don’t have to make that decision today. Learn more about IT, experiment to find out what you like and run with it! One way to learn about IT careers is to meet other IT professionals. The CompTIA Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP) and Women in Tech Summits (WITS) are two ways to do just that. Furloughed government workers can even get a scholarship to attend WITS Mid-Atlantic in 2019.
IT certifications can help you explore the different outlets of IT and learn a lot, too. CompTIA certifications particularly align with IT infrastructure and cybersecurity career paths, with each added certification representing a deepening of your expertise.
Core certifications, like CompTIA A+, lay the groundwork for the specialized pathway certifications, and additional professional certifications, like CompTIA Project+, cover necessary IT skills.
So, what’s next? We’d like to offer you a free trial of CompTIA CertMaster Practice to get your feet wet and test out IT. CompTIA CertMaster Practice is an intelligent online course that helps you learn fast and remember information long-term as you prepare for your certification exam. It quickly assesses what you know and then focuses on filling your knowledge gaps. It’s a great addition to your exam prep plan and guides you to mastery of the curriculum. Try CompTIA CertMaster out and discover how exciting learning about technology is. And if you think learning about it is fun, wait until you land a job in IT – that’s when the real fun begins!
