4-Tips to Land a $60k+ Entry-Level SMB IT Role
80k+ with some experience...
Hello everyone! In this issue I am going to show you 4 tips to help you land a $60k+ ENTRY-LEVEL role in IT.
Following these tips will put you on a path to making 80k+ after a 2-3 years of experience. I know these work because I’ve used them to get 85k+ roles after working full-time for three years.
The best part is the IT job market is growing and will be for the foreseeable future. You’ll be putting yourself on a path to making 100k+ within 5 years. Pivot these skills to IT contracting or starting your own biz and you’ll be uncapped.
Note: I’m currently ~3.5 years into my full-time career (been doing IT stuff for 6-7). My guess on the IT contracting and biz is just based on things I have observed.
Unfortunately, most people use an inefficient process to getting a job, so they never get the job that “starts” their career.
It’s easier to get a role if you prove you can do stuff
Without doing the right things it is hard to convince hiring managers and yourself that you are worthy of a role. Here’s how to fix that:
Get relevant certifications…then stop
Build portfolio projects that matters
Format a resume to show yourself off
Apply ruthlessly and take the extra step
You can implement all of these tips in an 8-week period if you go hard. A more reasonable time period would be 12-16 weeks. That shouldn’t discourage you though.
That means it only takes 3-4 months to make a full career pivot or go from nothing to something.
Let’s get into the tips:
Tip 1: Get relevant certifications…then stop
This is the first thing I tell people that want to get into the IT or cyber field. Certifications are quadruple whammy:
Teach you the basics in foundational level skills needed for IT.
Are recognized by hiring managers making them a resume booster.
Build your confidence. You must know something if you got the cert.
Get you in the habit of self-studying.
So what certifications are worth pursuing?
If you are starting from nothing then I suggest the CompTIA Network+ and then the CompTIA Security+. These certifications build on each other. The Network+ introduces you to networking equipment, theory, and troubleshooting. The Security+ builds on Net+ concepts and adds in Security terminology and best practices.
After you complete these two you should stop getting certifications. No more. You’ll be wasting your time.
People think that certifications are all they need and that is wrong. Certifications get you the foundational knowledge and help get your foot in the door. The valuable thing you are truly after is experience.
Read BowTiedCyber’s guide on getting the Net+ and Sec+.
Get the Net+: Takes 4-6 weeks from 0.
Get the Sec+: Takes 3-5 weeks from 0. This is faster because it overlaps with the Net+.
Then continue with tip 2.
Tip 2: Build portfolio projects that matter
Portfolio projects are a way you can build some experience before you get a job. This is best done after you finish with your certifications. What is a portfolio project that matters?
A portfolio project that matters is one that you learn from, is relevant to entry-level roles, and uses relevant technologies.
A project that matters: Setting up a postfix email server to learn how email servers work. In the project write-up you discuss the steps you took to set up the postfix server, what you learned, and why proper email setup is important.
A project that doesn’t matter: You build an example website in Wordpress that mocks a business website. This is a project would suck. Most businesses hiring for an IT role already have a website. You are trying to showcase more technical skills. It is trivial to set up a Wordpress site in 15 minutes.
Find portfolio project ideas by looking at job descriptions on LinkedIn and Indeed. Let’s look at this example:
This is for a Senior Systems Administrator role. They are telling me exactly what they are looking for. I would compare this to other Senior Sysadmin roles and pick out commonalities.
Right off the bat I would create projects that show off my Powershell skills, Windows Server skills, and network storage skills.
Do 3-4 projects and do write-ups on each of them. Put the write-ups on what you did and what you learned in a Wordpress blog. Include the link to your Wordpress site on your resume.
Tip 3: Format a resume to show yourself off
This tip should be easy if you completed the first 2 tips. This resume will begin to write itself.
I am not a resume expert, but the guy running Cultivated Culture is. This is the guide I followed to rework my last resume that landed me an 85k+ job offer.
By the end you should have a resume that is broken into four sections:
A Resume Summary
The Work Experience
Project Section
Education
If you’re reading this guide then there is a chance you opted to pursue a different degree in college or opted not to go. This will lead to some tweaks in your resume:
On the work experience section put the last job you had, or the one your currently working if employed, and then focus most of your time on the project section. In the work experience section try to tie it to IT soft skills if your last job wasn’t technical.
Examples of IT soft skills are customer service, analytical thinking and communication skills.
For the education section you will list the degree you did get and your certifications. Just list the certifications if you have no college degree. Be upfront with the employer if they ask about the absence of a degree.
Tip 4: Apply ruthlessly and take the extra step
Make your way over to Indeed or LinkedIn. If you don’t have a LinkedIn you should make one now. Your LinkedIn profile should be a digital reflection of your resume. Begin searching for jobs with the following titles:
System Administrator
Help desk technician
IT technician
System Analyst
Keep the job posting age in mind. I’ve gotten interviews with job postings that were ~30 days old.
You do not need to hit all of the requirements on the job posting to apply. Many job postings are written by hiring managers with no technical background. You’ll see them ask you to be an expert in 4 different technologies. It is insane.
I categorize applications into two different buckets. There are jobs I really like and jobs I find “meh”. For the “meh” jobs I do the easy apply option and move on with my life.
For the jobs I like I first check their company site to see if I can find the opening. It is usually under some kind of careers page. I’ll apply there. Then I will go and find the hiring manager for the position. If I can’t find the hiring manager I’ll find any HR person.
Then I will send that person a LinkedIn DM or send them an email. In the email I do a quick introduction of myself and mention that I submitted an application.
This is taking the extra step.
You actively reach out cold after applying in an attempt to sell yourself. You are trying to shortcut the line. If you are reaching out to 4-5 hiring managers a week then you should have a job within a month.
If you keep getting rejected then don’t be afraid to ask these hiring managers what you’re missing. Most people are nice and will help you if you are putting in a genuine effort.
TL;DR
To get a 60k+ entry level IT role you have to prove that you have skills. Use the following tips to do this:
Get relevant certifications like the Net+ and Sec+
Build projects that matter and do write-ups in Wordpress
Format a resume that highlights your certs and projects
Apply ruthlessly and reach out to hiring managers
Post questions in the comments or reach out to me over DMs.
awsome