Careers in IT: How to Get Your First Job from Pluralsight

This course is a practical guide for students moving from school to their first job in Information Technology. It covers the job hunt process from beginning to end.

This course is a practical guide for students moving from school to their first job in Information Technology. It covers the importance of school (hint: not just grades!) and how to develop the skills that employers are looking for today.

The course walks students through the job hunting process from beginning to end:

In this course, you will learn helpful tips and tricks to help you through the process of finding an IT job. This course covers the job hunting process from beginning to end. Specifics include: the importance of school, key skills to develop, soft skills and technical experience, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, and much more.

This course is designed for recent college graduates or current college students who are planning for their IT career.

Some common entry-level IT jobs include: business analyst, quality assurance analyst, PC technician, technical writer, web/software developer, and computer systems administrator.

Yes, this course covers resume writing tips as well as tips on writing an effective cover letter.

Hard skills are teachable and measurable abilities, such as writing, reading, math, or using computer programs. Soft skills are the traits that make you a god employee, such as etiquette, communication, listening, and organization.

What's inside

Syllabus

Your IT Job Success Starts Now

Myth-busting School

Amplifying Employability

Spot-on Resume Essentials

Highly Effective Job Mining

Nuts and Bolts of a Killer Job Interview

Supercharge Your Job Offers

FAQs: More Real-World Tips, Tricks, and Secrets

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a complete overview of the IT job hunt process, from preparation to securing an offer

Includes specific guidance on resume writing, cover letters, and interviewing techniques

Focuses on the IT job market, providing insights and tips tailored to the field

Emphasizes the importance of developing skills beyond academic knowledge, including soft skills

Covers common entry-level IT job roles, providing a comprehensive view of the field

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Careers in IT: How to Get Your First Job with these activities:

Attend industry events and meetups

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Network with professionals in your field, learn about industry trends, and discover potential job opportunities.

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Identify relevant industry events and meetups
Prepare an elevator pitch
Attend the events and actively network
Follow up with potential connections

Build a LinkedIn profile

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Create a professional LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills and connect with potential employers.

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Create a LinkedIn account
Add a professional profile picture
Write a compelling summary of your skills and experience
Showcase your projects and accomplishments
Connect with industry professionals

Follow tutorials on cloud computing platforms

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Enhance your knowledge of cloud platforms through guided tutorials, covering topics like infrastructure, security, and data management.

Browse courses on Cloud Computing

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Choose a cloud platform and tutorials
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises
Build a simple project using the cloud platform
Attend workshops to develop new skills and refine existing ones

Four other activities

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Join a study group or participate in peer programming

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Collaborate with peers, share knowledge, and strengthen your understanding of course concepts.

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Find or form a study group or peer programming sessions
Meet regularly and work on assignments or projects together
Discuss course materials and share perspectives
Provide feedback and support to each other

Create a blog post or article

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Share your knowledge and insights by writing a blog post or article on a topic related to your field, showcasing your expertise.

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Choose a topic that you're knowledgeable and passionate about
Research and gather information
Write and edit your content
Publish your article or blog post

Contribute to an open-source project

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Contribute to an open-source project related to your field, gaining practical experience and building your portfolio.

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Identify a project that aligns with your interests and skills
Fork the project and make changes
Submit a pull request
Collaborate with the project maintainers

Read 'Cracking the Coding Interview'

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Review the classic book on coding interview preparation, covering data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving strategies.

View Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming... on Amazon

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Read each chapter thoroughly
Work through the practice problems
Attend workshops to develop new skills and refine existing ones
Participate in mock interviews

Career center

Learners who complete Careers in IT: How to Get Your First Job will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Web Developer

Web Developers are responsible for designing and developing websites. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in web development technologies and principles. You will learn how to create and maintain websites, as well as how to use web development tools and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Business Analyst

The Business Analyst role involves understanding the needs of a business and translating them into technical requirements. This course can help prepare you for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in IT concepts and methodologies. You will learn how to analyze business processes, identify areas for improvement, and develop solutions that meet the needs of the business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Developer

The Software Developer role involves designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in software development principles and techniques. You will learn how to design and develop software applications, as well as how to use software development tools and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Computer Systems Administrator

Computer Systems Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining computer systems. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in computer systems administration principles and techniques. You will learn how to manage and maintain computer systems, as well as how to troubleshoot and resolve common computer problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Systems Administrator

Technical Writer

The Technical Writer role involves creating and maintaining technical documentation, such as user manuals, training materials, and product documentation. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in technical writing principles and techniques. You will learn how to write clear and concise documentation that is easy to understand and follow.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts are responsible for testing software to ensure that it meets the required standards. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in software testing principles and techniques. You will learn how to design and execute test plans, identify and document defects, and work with development teams to resolve issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

IT Auditor

IT Auditors are responsible for evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of an organization's IT controls. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in IT auditing principles and techniques. You will learn how to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of IT controls, as well as how to identify and mitigate IT risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Auditor

Network Administrator

Network Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining computer networks. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in network administration principles and techniques. You will learn how to manage and maintain computer networks, as well as how to troubleshoot and resolve common network problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts are responsible for protecting information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in information security principles and techniques. You will learn how to protect information systems from threats and vulnerabilities, as well as how to respond to security incidents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

PC Technician

PC Technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing computers and other electronic devices. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in computer hardware and software. You will learn how to troubleshoot and resolve common computer problems, as well as how to install and configure new hardware and software.

See salaries and explore the career path for PC Technician

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining databases. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in database administration principles and techniques. You will learn how to manage and maintain databases, as well as how to troubleshoot and resolve common database problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Computer Support Specialist

Computer Support Specialists provide technical support to users of computer systems. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in computer support principles and techniques. You will learn how to provide technical support to users of computer systems, as well as how to troubleshoot and resolve common computer problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Support Specialist

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help organizations make informed decisions. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in data analysis principles and techniques. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, as well as how to communicate your findings to decision-makers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

IT Consultant

IT Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to use IT to achieve their business goals. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in IT consulting principles and techniques. You will learn how to provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to use IT to achieve their business goals, as well as how to develop and implement IT solutions.

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IT Project Manager

IT Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing IT projects. This course can help you prepare for this role by providing you with a strong foundation in project management principles and techniques. You will learn how to plan and execute IT projects, as well as how to manage project teams and resources.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Project Manager