| > | | | | All you need is to know more than 90% of the |
| If there was ever an industry to get into, Information | | | | population, which is quite easy when most have poor |
| Technology must be it. The opportunities abound for | | | | to mediocre computer literacy. In addition, if you have |
| earning a lucrative living and now is the time to get on | | | | good skills in a specialist area, you are likely to know |
| board. | | | | more than 99% of the population. |
| But how? If you have computer skill but no experience | | | | There is one factor working in your favour here: fear |
| (or qualifications), the employment agencies will tell you | | | | of computers. This illogical phobia will open doors for |
| the same old line, "You need experience before | | | | you because what is perceived to be extremely |
| anyone will look at you." | | | | complicated may be a walk in the park for you. |
| It's just plain old Catch-22. You need the work to get | | | | While I'm talking about starting up on your own, this |
| the experience but you can't get that first job to give | | | | need not mean you will always work for yourself. You |
| you a track record and therefore verifiable experience. | | | | can do, but you don't have to. The primary aim here is |
| With this logic, it amazes me that anyone actually gets | | | | to get a track record, first and foremost. Then you |
| into IT! | | | | can decide what to do. |
| Qualifications help but even that is no guarantee | | | | Starting up as an IT consultant is a sizeable topic in |
| nowadays of getting an IT job. And what do you do | | | | itself, but that doesn't mean to say it is not easy. You |
| when you don't have qualifications but you want to | | | | just need the right information. |
| start now? I mean right now, not 3 months later after | | | | The important thing to remember is this: don't listen to |
| you've paid a fortune for certification and given up | | | | anyone (and I mean anyone) who says: you need |
| your job to have enough study time. | | | | qualifications; experience; capital; contacts or any of |
| All is not lost. You have two alternatives. | | | | that rubbish. It's simply not true. Sure, all these things |
| #1. Offer your services free of charge | | | | help but they are not pre-requisites for you to make a |
| For a company to take on - as an employee - | | | | blazing success starting on your own. I started my |
| someone with no experience is a risky proposition. But | | | | own consultancy from scratch and I had no money, no |
| all companies need IT help. Therefore, do the | | | | contacts, no computer consultancy experience, and |
| following:a) Make a list of 10 local small businesses with | | | | worse of all, I was heavily in debt. |
| approximately 5 to 10 employees. This size of | | | | Nowadays - after 5 years experience - I have |
| business is too small to have a permanent in-house IT | | | | contracts that pay me over $200 per hour. This is a |
| manager yet big enough to have need for IT support.b) | | | | far cry from the pitiful wage I used to earn before I |
| Call each with the following script: | | | | got into IT. |
| "I'm calling about the possibility of working for your | | | | What does it take to get into IT by starting up on your |
| company free of charge in exchange for work | | | | own? |
| experience. So, I'd like to speak to the owner about this | | | | Two things: Knowledge and Action. |
| please. Could you see if they are available?" | | | | Action |
| This will get the attention of whoever answers the | | | | Action is the easy part. You just do it! Of course, you |
| phone as they'll realise it's not just another sales call. | | | | need the motivation to get going, to overcome your |
| You'll have a high chance of getting through to the | | | | inertia. But once you start seeing the results, you get |
| boss.c) If you get through to the boss, say
| | | | pulled along by it all. Your results give you the |
| "I'm approaching you because I want to work for your | | | | motivation to take action and the action brings more |
| company free of charge in exchange for work | | | | results. You get caught in an upward spiral. |
| experience and a good reference. My area of | | | | Knowledge |
| expertise is in IT. I'm an expert on computer systems | | | | Knowledge is more difficult. The reason is simple: |
| and feel sure I can provide some valuable input to your | | | | everyone is full of good sounding advice and it's |
| company. And it won't cost you anything. Can we set | | | | difficult to know who to listen to. After all, if you |
| up a meeting to explore this possibility?" | | | | listened to most people they would put you off starting |
| Get straight to the point as business owners are very | | | | in the first place. That is self-defeating. |
| busy creatures indeed. Go for a meeting where you | | | | My recommendation is to only listen to those who |
| have the opportunity to explain in detail how you can | | | | have been where you want to go. Talking with |
| help them out. When you explain over the phone, it is | | | | someone who runs their own business will give you |
| much easier for them to terminate the call without | | | | great insight into what it is really like. Talking with |
| hearing your full story.d) If you fail to get through to the | | | | someone who has never run their own business will |
| boss, say
| | | | teach you nothing. |
| "Can I leave my number so he can call me if | | | | Best of all, speak to someone who is in the industry |
| interested? The number is 123 456-7899. I am | | | | you want to get into. The information will be 100% |
| contacting a number of other companies today so the | | | | relevant and therefore quite likely to be effective. Don't |
| earlier he can contact me the better. Thanks." | | | | take everything they say as the gospel truth. They |
| Put the pressure on them to respond quickly or | | | | may want to help you out but will not divulge their |
| forever loose the chance of using you free of | | | | closest kept competitive secrets for fear of losing |
| charge.e) When you arrive for your interview, you | | | | business to you. This particularly applies if you are local |
| would have already prepared your resume so the | | | | to each other and may therefore cannibalise each |
| boss can see at a glance what your background is. In | | | | others area. |
| addition to that, outline your IT skills and where you | | | | How do you get this information? Again, there are |
| think these skills would benefit a company. For | | | | many methods, some easier than others. You could |
| example, if you were good at website design and | | | | phone up a small business (1 to 5 employees) outside |
| promotion, say
| | | | of your locality and ask if you can take the boss out |
| "I could improve the number of visitors to your website | | | | for lunch. Be up front that you want to get into the |
| and get them to leave their email for you." | | | | same industry and would like some advice. I had one |
| This may then lead into specifics on how you can help | | | | guy ask if I would help him a few years back. I was |
| that company.f) If you end up doing some work for | | | | happy to and took great pleasure in it. Now, he is |
| that company, keep it to 2 to 4 weeks. You don't | | | | earning a very healthy living doing what he enjoys. |
| want a zero wage forever! After your no-charge stint, | | | | The alternative is to buy related books and materials |
| offer to provide future support at a reasonably | | | | where you can get in-depth information "How to do it" |
| competitive rate. They may be very pleased with | | | | style. |
| what you did for them and there would be good will | | | | Conclusion |
| established because you did it all for free. When they | | | | It does not matter whether you have experience or |
| need future IT support the chances of them choosing | | | | not. If you have some reasonable computer skills and |
| you are very high indeed. There you go, your first fee | | | | you want to get into IT, you just have to decide to do |
| paying customer. | | | | it. There is so much opportunity in this rapidly changing |
| #2: Start up on your own | | | | industry that your chances of success are very high |
| Yes, you heard me. Start your own computer | | | | indeed. |
| consultancy - it's not as difficult as you might suspect. | | | | Take those vital first steps now! |