Why you need real world IT experience—and how to get it

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Critical thinking and the ability to pick up skills fast can be useful in nearly any field.

But in the world of IT, hands-on experience can be particularly vital. When things go haywire with a server or a software glitch halts business across an enterprise, how you’ve solved problems in the past is often the best predictor of your ability to solve the current issue.

A combination of IT education and experience can represent an important asset as you explore career paths and opportunities.

So how do you get the experience that will help you stand out in the field? “It starts with the right setup,” says Capella IT faculty member David Teneyuca. To land the kind of experience you need and want, consider these tips.

Communication is key

Communication skills can be essential for personal and professional development. They’re crucial for building strong relationships, resolving conflicts and achieving goals efficiently.

Communication skills can take the form of spoken, non-spoken, written or digital language. Clear messages that address a topic in a way that engages your audience can help create authentic connections and foster understanding.

If you can master conveying ideas in words, it can help you build relationships and drive collaboration.

Showcase your soft skills

Technology changes rapidly, so learning the latest programming language or following the hottest development trend may indeed give you a short-term edge. In the long term, though, your success could hinge on your ability to lead a team, hire top talent and communicate clearly with busy executives.

This is where soft skills come into play.

“If you want to present yourself well, you have to show that you’re more than just a zeros and ones, bits and bytes kind of person,” Teneyuca says. “You need to show that you have a grasp of the company’s work as a whole. You need to be able to explain IT problems and priorities to coworkers who don’t necessarily know much about IT.”

Look for opportunities everywhere

“There’s no substitute for hands-on experience,” according to Teneyuca. He suggests finding IT work and internship opportunities by joining associations and organizations that are respected in your industry. Spread the word that you’re looking to participate in real-world IT projects and follow up on any leads you get, no matter how tenuous. If the current opportunity isn’t a good fit, maybe the next one will be.

“Keep your ears and eyes open,” Teneyuca notes. “Some people get jobs not because they found them online but because of word of mouth.”

Locate school-related opportunities

You may not have to look very far to find IT experience – your school or university may have opportunities for professional development. Ask questions about the organization and what they need: Who runs the IT department? Are there special projects for students to work on within individual departments? Is someone on leave, resulting in a need for more hands on deck?

“While you’re a student, investigate opportunities within school itself,” Teneyuca explains. If you find something that interests you, lobby to get the job. “You’ve got to put your marketing hat on and sell yourself,” he adds.

Find a mentor or a sponsor

Finding a mentor can take some time. But cultivating connections in the ranks above your station could increase your odds of landing a solid gig that can help you build up your experience. Find someone at a high level in management who can help promote you.

“Your sponsor can go to bat for you when you need something,” Teneyuca says. “They may also have relationships across the organization that could help you cross over into another department and find opportunities.”

Beyond looking for ways to broaden your experience, it’s also important to make sure you’re staying up to date on innovations and hearing from professionals in the field. Check out our posts on 5 books every IT professional should read and 6 blogs for IT professionals.

Learn more about Capella’s online information technology programs.