How to get an entry-level IT job, even with no experience
If you’re willing to work hard, you can land an entry-level job in IT… even without a technical background or degree.
A career in information technology (IT) can be both professionally and financially rewarding. Many computer enthusiasts — perhaps like you — dream of a job where they can pursue their technology interests while being well compensated for their time.
In 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. computer and IT workers earned a median annual wage 2.2 times greater than for all occupations. In addition to above-average pay, the long-term job outlook for IT roles is positive. Between 2023 and 2033, the BLS projects that the number of IT positions will grow 3 times faster than average for all occupations, for a net gain of more than half a million jobs.
“The growth of computer and mathematical occupations is expected to stem from demand for upgraded computer services, continued development of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, and an increasing amount of data available for analysis. In addition, the number and severity of cyberattacks and data breaches on U.S. businesses is expected to lead to greater demand for information security analysts.” — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
While pursuing a tech-related college degree (like computer science, information services, or cybersecurity) is a great way to gain much of the knowledge required to start an IT career, it’s far from the only path. If you’re determined to acquire the necessary skills to enter this ever-evolving field, you can gain employment in tech through other means.
Can you get a tech job without a degree or experience?
The good news for highly motivated IT job seekers is that hiring managers often value adaptability, social skills, and a willingness to learn over formal education. If you have the right attitude and work ethic, you can secure an entry-level job in user support, network support, or an IT help desk without a degree or even prior work history in tech.
How do we know? This article’s advice draws upon the real-world experiences of members of the Spiceworks Community, home to millions of working IT professionals who know what it takes to succeed in their field.
Many IT professionals landed in tech by accident
In a 2024 Spiceworks survey of working IT pros, only 43% said they intended to go into IT during their education. In other words, most IT professionals said they found their way into the field indirectly, without the benefit of a formal tech degree.
“I was always the person people went to for help with tech issues … I then took a part-time job at a non-profit, and boy, did they need an on-site IT person. But that is not what I was hired for … In a non-profit it’s all hands on deck, so you are embraced if you have other skills. Their outside (IT) consultant took me under his wing, and here we are … I have now been employed as a systems analyst full-time for 5 years … It’s NEVER too late.” — abbeyainscal, Systems Analyst
How easy is it to get an IT job with no experience?
While demand for IT positions is expected to grow over the long term, companies typically receive hundreds of applications in competitive job markets for a single open tech role. However, despite many potential IT job seekers to choose from, hiring managers can struggle to find qualified candidates. According to the 2025 Spiceworks State of IT report, 68% of hiring IT managers believe it is difficult to hire skilled IT talent.
So, how do you stand out from the crowd and become a candidate that IT managers can’t wait to hire?
According to members of the Spiceworks Community, IT professionals who have an easier time landing jobs employ a multi-pronged career strategy that emphasizes demonstrating practical and in-demand skills, hands-on tech knowledge, and a willingness to “always keep learning.”
Who do employers want to hire for entry-level IT jobs?
As someone who wants to start a career in IT, it’s essential to understand who potential employers want to hire. Over the years, many hiring decision-makers have offered their perspectives in Spiceworks on which IT candidates stand out.
1. Ideal IT job candidates possess technical and social skills
“Anyone looking to work in IT must be technically qualified for the job. Either have the education or the experience or both … even when looking for an entry-level position, they must have people skills. They have to be able to get along, communicate effectively, and have some level of empathy for the users.” — pchiodo, IT Manager
2. Education isn’t necessarily the most critical qualification
“Throughout the process of interviewing and hiring for an entry-level tech position, we rejected a LOT of applications that were academic-only … I can teach you the tech skills if you’re short in some areas, but I need some foundation to build on, and that often means having the experience of real-world work rather than the purely theoretical knowledge that comes from classrooms. — weirdfish, IT professional in K-12 Education
3. Soft skills are a pre-requisite for working in IT
“Skills can be taught; attitude and fit cannot be taught. I would rather have someone who has fewer skills and a great attitude than someone who has all the skills and a bad attitude.” — daveboring, IT Manager
4. IT Managers want new hires to deliver immediate impact
“Employment is a value-for-value exchange. If you want to get paid, bring something marketable to the table.” — Robert5205, IT Manager
As these hiring managers have mentioned, to be an excellent fit for an entry-level position, you’ll need to prove that you’re a well-rounded individual who knows the technology, understands how to communicate effectively, and works well within a team. Employers also want someone with a proven track record of success in similar situations.
But how do you gain tech expertise without related prior work history? The following tips cover how to level-up your IT experience, even if starting from scratch.
How to gain hands-on tech experience
Employers often value real-world technology experience over degrees. Luckily, there are many ways to gain hands-on knowledge before landing your first real IT job.
1. Build a home lab to gain practical experience
You don’t need to be employed in IT to get familiar with modern computing infrastructure. Anyone can grow their knowledge by building a lab environment at home to practice server configuration, network setup, operating systems deployment and setup, and more.
Even if you only have a single home computer, you can create multiple virtual machines using a free hypervisor to simulate managing a larger environment. If you’re worried about cost, you can often find used servers and equipment cheaply on the second-hand market.
“I went from auto mechanic to Systems Administrator. Taught myself mostly with an in-house computer lab. Took a few computer courses at the local college and worked my way up the ladder. You don’t have to be the smartest guy, just the one with the most drive and willpower to accomplish your goal. Start with a home computer lab (i.e., server, client pc, and a switch). Build it, break it, and do it again. Expand to routers and other devices, then get some certs, and you will be on your way.” — kfberns, IT professional
2. Volunteer time to help small organizations with tech
Another way to get hands-on time with real-world computing infrastructure is to offer your IT skills to local organizations that lack onsite IT expertise (e.g., churches, schools, or non-profits). Even taking on a simple Wi-Fi deployment or an operating system upgrade can help build your portfolio of successful projects and give you a great story to share during a job interview. You can learn while giving back to your local community and developing connections that might help you in the future.
3. Co-op or intern to learn about IT
You can leverage your school’s career center to find temporary tech job opportunities if you’re currently enrolled in a college or university. Companies are often eager to employ students from local schools (it’s cheap labor, after all) for a summer internship or a longer-term co-op program spanning multiple semesters.
In addition to earning spending money, the primary benefits of interning or co-oping are the opportunity to graduate with a degree and valuable hands-on experience to back up your paper credentials. While juggling work and school might extend your time until graduation — at my university, co-op students went to school for five and a half years instead of four — it’s often significantly easier to land an internship or co-op position with no experience than a full-time position.
Co-ops and internships offer a low-risk way for students to try out a profession before committing to it fully. And while these temporary employment opportunities don’t necessarily pay well, they can often lead to long-term employment if you can impress your employer.
“If you are looking for a career in IT, find an educational institution that offers co-op. Then, when you get an interview for your ‘first job,’ you can tell the employer what you learned in school and give real-world examples from your co-op job/jobs. That is how I got my current job.” — High_taxes, IT professional
Note: Even if you aren’t in college, you can still seek internship opportunities on your own.
Grow your IT knowledge through certifications and training courses
Earning a tech-related degree can be highly beneficial for getting into a tech career. But college can take years to complete and cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. A college degree isn’t strictly necessary for entry-level roles for those just starting out, and a formal education isn’t the only way to acquire tech know-how. Certifications and training resources also have a proven track record of opening the door to a career in tech.
1. Get a basic tech certification
If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll likely find value in foundational IT certifications that can help demonstrate your knowledge in the field. For example, IT professionals frequently recommend CompTIA’s A+ credential as a good starting point in lieu of experience. While this certification goes quite broad but not deep, it’s useful for fulfilling minimum job requirements HR departments use to screen out candidates.
For me, my A+ got my foot in the door at my first IT job. Their requirements for tier 1 helpdesk was a 2 year degree in something computer-related or an A+. — Zed, IT professional
“I got my A+ cert in 2006. This low-level cert amazed me regarding how that small amount of training provided me with a good starting wage, as well as the doors it opened to new relationships. I’m a believer in certs!”— Justin, IT professional
2. Explore specialized certifications
Once you get beyond the fundamentals, you can pursue a wide range of more specialized certifications. For example, CompTIA’s Network+ and Security+ are vendor-neutral certifications that can demonstrate that you have a basic understanding of networking and cybersecurity concepts.
You can also pursue more advanced or brand-specific certifications in operating systems, cloud, coding, cybersecurity, and more. For example, the Cisco-specific CCNA certification focuses on the company’s networking technologies, Red Hat and Microsoft offer their own systems administration certifications, and various organizations offer a wide range of security certification options (look for acronyms like CISSP, CISM, CEH, and CISA).
While certifications cost much less than a college degree, they aren’t cheap. In 2025, it will cost approximately $500 to take the tests to obtain the A+ certification (more if you retake exams). Some certifications can cost thousands of dollars to obtain, and many require periodic recertification at an additional cost.
3. Leverage self-learning IT resources
If you aren’t ready for or don’t want to pay for certifications, you can also acquire new IT knowledge from low or no-cost training resources. IT professionals using Spiceworks recommend the following learning resources:
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- YouTube is a valuable source of free IT learning video content such as channels like KevTech IT Support, Eli the Computer Guy, and Professor Messer
- Microsoft Learn is a website that offers free training content on a wide range of the company’s products
- Hands-on labs are like home labs, but conveniently preconfigured in cloud environments for you to experiment with (often for free) by major platform providers, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, and VMware.
- Online learning platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer a wide range of IT courses, often for under $100. Mike Meyer’s certification prep courses on Udemy come highly recommended.
- Spiceworks offers a career center with articles, how-tos, and other resources for leveling up your IT skills.
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“I think the Internet is your best friend. There are all kinds of tutorials and videos that will teach you what you want to know. Figure out what career path you want and try to get your foot in the door while educating yourself on the side.” — Randallmixon9844, IT Professional
Build professional relationships to increase job opportunities
Building connections is crucial for landing opportunities. Interpersonal relationships can often help job seekers, especially in a crowded job market when recruiters are inundated with similar-looking resumes. When dealing with many potential candidates, HR professionals and hiring managers are more likely to trust recommendations from peers. You know the saying: “Any friend of yours is a friend of mine!”
Even if you aren’t actively looking for a job, the more connections you build, the more job opportunities you’ll have access to. And the better people know you and your work, the more likely a role might fall into your lap, even if you aren’t actively seeking one.
1. Network with IT professionals
- Attend local IT group meetups or conferences. These groups often focus on specific technologies (e.g., Microsoft, Linux, VMware). You might also find general local tech meetups on platforms like Meetup.com.
- Participate in online IT Communities like Spiceworks and Microsoft TechNet or join conversations on specific hashtags on platforms such as Twitter/X or Threads.
- Check out articles and videos created by IT figures who cover topics you’re interested in (e.g., Windows deployment, systems management, DevOps, virtualization). Often, you can connect with authors and readers through comments, direct messages, or chat platforms such as Discourse.
- Create an online portfolio of your projects on a personal website or LinkedIn. You might be surprised how many people reach out to you based on what you post.
2. Work on soft skills, a great differentiator
Networking online is good, but promoting yourself effectively in person is even better. After all, you will likely need to navigate face-to-face time with interviewers, clients, and customers, even if your role is 100% remote. Don’t underestimate the importance of soft skills like communication, empathy, customer service, patience, and more. According to the 2025 Spiceworks State of IT report, two-thirds (67%) of all IT professionals believe that public speaking skills are important for a career in IT.
Additionally, because entry-level IT jobs are often customer—or end-user-facing, previous experience in retail or hospitality can be surprisingly beneficial.
Be prepared to work your way up slowly
Entry-level IT roles include titles such as user support, help desk, and network support technician. While these positions may not be glamorous or high-paying initially, they can help you gain invaluable experience and practical knowledge that will serve as a foundation on which to build your tech career.
These roles can expose you to various hardware and software platforms and help you understand common business technology challenges. Importantly, because IT departments depend on the interoperability of many overlapping technologies, you’ll learn how everything works together when you observe the interaction between servers, networking devices, internet service providers, operating systems, software and apps, virtual machines, cloud platforms, and more. As you gain more hands-on experience, you can deepen your expertise in specialized skills that best fit your strengths and interests.
In other words, don’t view starting at the bottom as a barrier to your success. Look at it as an opportunity to discover what aspects of IT suit you, so you may craft the career you want over time. After all, you need to crawl before you can walk, and career paths tend to follow a logical progression.
“Entry level means you are hiring someone without experience that you intend to develop. The requirements should be, bring a brain, a work ethic and a desire to learn. I have had people work for me who brought that without skills and they turned into incredibly talented IT people who have good careers now.”— PatrickFarrell, IT Manager
Don’t give up. Persistence is key!
Breaking into the IT field without experience can be challenging, but your early efforts can pave the way to a rewarding tech career. You will likely experience some setbacks, but remember that every skill learned, project completed, networking event attended, and job interview (successful or even unsuccessful) can help you get one step closer to where you want to be.
By combining the strategies outlined in this guide – gaining hands-on experience, developing practical knowledge, working on essential skills, and networking with tech professionals – you can increase your chances of successfully entering the IT field, even when starting with no tech degree or prior IT experience.
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