Graduate jobs in IT

SpaceCowb0y

Just wondering if anyone knows the best way to find work in IT once newly graduated. I am about to finish up a computer science degree but I am not and will never be a programmer, I have a web design background (2 years industry experience) but i'm open to working in the IT/Networking fields either if i can just get a start.

I have scoured the jobs boards and continue to do so pretty much every day but most of the jobs i see listed are for junior developer jobs. Any design based jobs require more experience then i currently have although i still apply for the positions all the same. In the last month i'd say i have applied for about 40 odd jobs online and so far i've only heard back from 3 companies and only one gave me an interview.

Even the tech support jobs i've seen posted are looking for a year or twos experience in a tech support role which i haven't got.

While I do believe there is a boom or whatever in the IT sector it doesn't really seem to favour graduates but rather there are a lot of jobs for those already with a lot of experience.

Any help on where to look or how to go about getting a start would be great as im starting to worry about finding work now with only 5 weeks to go.

hobochris

Unless you get into a grad program, you'll find it difficult to find non programming work on just your comp sci degree. Generally for networking you'll need a Cisco or other network qualification. IT support generally requires additional qualifications to(A+ etc..). perhaps try first level support positions first to get your foot in the door.

Web design is an accelerated race to the bottom with so many people doing it, you'll be lucky to get without a cheap rate and amazing portfolio.

Graduates take time to train, need more supervision and generally are not versed in best practices yet. An experienced person can work reliably unsupervised, give accurate time frames based on experience and generally make less mistakes.

I sit on the other side of the interview table quite regularly, The one piece of advice I will give is if you get an interview, make sure you know your stuff, If its on your CV, you will be asked about it. It is very easy to tell if someone doesn't know their stuff.

I would decide on the area you want to go into and then perhaps try somewhere like www.prometric.com to get the additional qualifications you may need.

SpaceCowb0y

Not really the news i was hoping for ha! I get your point though! After 4 years of study and having gone back as a mature student the thoughts of any more study is depressing! I have applied for several graduate programs too but i have yet to hear back from them.

My aim would be ideally to wind up in a UX design position and there is a course in Human Computer Interaction in IADt i'm hoping to take part in that begins in October but realistically i need to start work as soon as my course ends in only a few weeks! Unlike many younger students still living a home etc i have bills that need to be paid.

CISCO certification is definitely something i've been looking into also! There is a free course for graduates starting in May so maybe i'll look into that but it would mean i would have to quit my current job as it's full time for 12 weeks. I'd be lost without the extra income, i literally don't think id be able to afford my rent.

red_bairn

SpaceCowb0y wrote: »

Not really the news i was hoping for ha! I get your point though! After 4 years of study and having gone back as a mature student the thoughts of any more study is depressing! I have applied for several graduate programs too but i have yet to hear back from them.

My aim would be ideally to wind up in a UX design position and there is a course in Human Computer Interaction in IADt i'm hoping to take part in that begins in October but realistically i need to start work as soon as my course ends in only a few weeks! Unlike many younger students still living a home etc i have bills that need to be paid.

CISCO certification is definitely something i've been looking into also! There is a free course for graduates starting in May so maybe i'll look into that but it would mean i would have to quit my current job as it's full time for 12 weeks. I'd be lost without the extra income, i literally don't think id be able to afford my rent.

When are you finished your course?
Cisco cert free:
http://www.ictirelandskillnet.org

You should also consider the MSc course that gets you to do an internship with Ericsson and if successful you will be employed by them.

SpaceCowb0y

red_bairn wrote: »

When are you finished your course?
Cisco cert free:
http://www.ictirelandskillnet.org

You should also consider the MSc course that gets you to do an internship with Ericsson and if successful you will be employed by them.

Ill be finished around the end of may, I already saw that Cisco course and it looks great but it means i would have to give up my current job and i would have zero income then so its just not feasible unfortunately. There is also no chance i'm going straight back in to do a Masters course. 4 years has been enough i need to get out and start making a living. I dont have the luxury of living at home in the family home while i study as my family all live abroad so i need to be able to pay my rent and bills. I will look at doing a masters in a year or so part time.

Mr. Loverman

There's loads of things you can do to give you an edge.

You have a home network? You play around with wireshark etc. on this network?

You have a full portfolio of your design work?

You are looking at freelancer.com to fill your CV with little jobs?

All these things can be done in your spare time and show you have a real interest and drive to succeed at IT.

red_bairn

SpaceCowb0y wrote: »

Ill be finished around the end of may, I already saw that Cisco course and it looks great but it means i would have to give up my current job and i would have zero income then so its just not feasible unfortunately. There is also no chance i'm going straight back in to do a Masters course. 4 years has been enough i need to get out and start making a living. I dont have the luxury of living at home in the family home while i study as my family all live abroad so i need to be able to pay my rent and bills. I will look at doing a masters in a year or so part time.

Yeah fair enough. You should consider the MSc in Computer Science (Negotiated Learning) at UCD. Some already techy folk were taking part in modules in that course that my colleagues and I could also do from our MSc (Conversion) in Computer Science.

Do what Mr. Loverman says:

• play around with Wireshark
• even attempt to build some networking programming if you haven't already
• make other projects with the languages you've learnt
• Then upload them all to GitHub
• Add the GitHub account name to your CV and any profiles online such as LinkedIn

delboy87

two quick questions . i've been thinking about finishing microsoft certificate (MCSA Windows 7) and my question is, is it any good in ireland?? am i going to have any use of it??...tnx

red_bairn

delboy87 wrote: »

two quick questions . i've been thinking about finishing microsoft certificate (MCSA Windows 7) and my question is, is it any good in ireland?? am i going to have any use of it??...tnx

Probably good for some Helpdesk IT Tech job.

delboy87

red_bairn wrote: »

Probably good for some Helpdesk IT Tech job.

I'll skip it then. Not interested in helldesk position. I have some knowledge in cloud computing so will probably finish some WMware course.

fret_wimp2

red_bairn wrote: »

Probably good for some Helpdesk IT Tech job.

Dont limit yourself. I agree that the narrow definition most people have of helpdesk, where you are sitting on the end of a phone talking someone through plugging in their pc is hell, but thats a very narrow view.

In many companies i have been in helpdesk consists of quite a few roles incuding but not limited to:

-hardware support, desktop and server.
-infastructure support, networking, SAN configuration etc
-server monitoring and maintenance, great if you have skills in linux and windows
-Virtual Server estate management ,spinning up new VM's, managing resources, perf tuning etc


I know one guy in particular who does hardware support on servers & desktops, but has learned a huge amount in VM Estate management, so much so that i would say he is worth a lot more than he was 6 months ago.

Helpdesk/support line work sucks, but if you can find a good company where you get exposure to lots of other areas via the helpdesk its some of the best experience you will ever get.