Computer Careers And Training Schools: Building A Network Of Contacts

Getting that first computer job and getting your IT career started can be tough - and you've got to go the extra mile to get it started! Learn how from Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933.

Almost all computer schools and colleges have some sort of job placement assistance (and you should ask about this before signing up!).   The people who work in these departments work very hard to get your computer career started and get you into your first job in the computer field, but you shouldn't leave it all up to them.  You need to know how to build two kinds of networks to get ahead in IT - the physical kind that carries packets, and the personal kind that can get you hired and get you ahead.

When it comes to getting that first computer job, you have to show initiative.  Don't just send a pile of resumes out and expect the phone to ring off the hook.  If you're attending a computer training school, you have two great resources to draw on in your job search.  First, schedule an interview with someone in the job placement assistance department.  Ask them what you can do to help them get your computer career started.  Showing initiative will also help you stand out from the crowd, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Your second resource is a group of resources, actually - your instructors.  Odds are that your teachers know people in IT that can help get you started. Even if the people they know can't hire you today, they're still contacts.  And getting your computer career started is a contact sport - the more people you contact, the better you do!

I know how hard it can be to get a computer career started, and I also know how lucrative such a career can be.  Get out there and meet people, get involved with your school's job placement department, and get started!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 200 free certification exam tutorials, including CCNA certification training articles. His exclusive CCNA study guide is also available!Visit his blog and sign up for Cisco Certification Central, a daily newsletter packed with CCNA, Network+, Security+, A+, and CCNP certification exam practice questions! A free 7-part course, ?How To Pass The CCNA?, is also available, and you can attend an in-person or online Cisco CCNA training boot camp with The Bryant Advantage!