Starting a career in IT, help!

stakey

Hi folks,

I've finished college with a 2:1 Hons Degree in Comp Science. I have worked in IT for my local authority (County Council) for two summers in a row (3-4 months work each time).

Come August 31st I'll be out of the job.

So obviously I need to start up that all important IT career! I've been looking around some jobs sites but most look for 2-3 years experience in a given field.

After the course i would consider the following my strongest subjects/areas of interest/potential job material:

programming & databases: php/mysql
troubleshooting: Windows/Linux/General User Problems
hardware (building machines, wiring, networking etc)
networking: familiarity with networking concepts through studying for the CCNA, familiar with Novell networks, familiar with windows networks, backing up networks etc etc

I've had a look at a few jobs but as I said, most want 2-3 years experience. Any ideas? Anywhere anyone can recommend, good agencies, sites etc...

Have had a look at a few on www.jobs.ie, was going to apply for one, in their application page they ask the following question: What is your desired daily rate? Any idea what a good start would be?

damnyanks

Look for grad programs.

is_that_so

You can also just do the old fashioned CV on spec to HR depts. asking about graduate programmes. Create an email template , get a good CV together and away you go.
http://company.monster.ie/ has a list of companies.

As regards daily rates tbh you have very little experience in the eyes of employers and temping/contracts is probably not really recommended at this stage of your career. Get some experience. Good luck.

the_syco

As far as I know, IBM and HP both do grad programs.

AARRRGH

As I've said a few times before -

Go to http://www.scriptlance.com
Register as a programmer.
Do a few of the projects for free (PHP/MySQL/etc.) Most of them will be adding on a little bit of code, fixing some bugs, or installing a script.
Do as many as you can.
Put them on your CV, or at least in your cover letter (which, btw, is equally as important as your CV - especially if you apply for jobs via jobs.ie - they do not pass on "bad cover letter" applications to employers.)

Vokes

the_syco wrote:

As far as I know, IBM and HP both do grad programs.

Yeah, IBMs grad program is closing applications next week and it starts early September.

michaelanthony

SAP are looking for recent graduates with some experience.

leeroybrown

Have a look at www.gradireland.com they have a mailing list that sends out graduate specific jobs. They'll also have a listing of the upcoming graduate recruitment fairs and other events.

One thing to bear in mind is that you are probably slightly out of step with the graduate recruitment cycles of a lot of the major companies. They tend to run thieir milk round starting in Sept/Oct, interviewing around Christmas and offering provisional jobs to final years for the following summer.

stakey

Well i've thrown my hat in for a few jobs that came up and i also filled out the application form for the IBM grad program, looks fairly good.

I'll take up that idea of joining scriptlance too, need the experience.

Thanks for the replies thus far.