Finally got a job offer
I keep seeing posts about how impossible it is to find a job in IT right now, so I wanted to share my experience.
After months of searching, I finally landed a new IT position that gave me almost a $20K raise.
When I first started looking, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I was blindly applying to jobs with the same resume, including jobs I was probably underqualified for.
Eventually I realized I needed to change my approach.
I got my MS-900, AZ-900 and Security+. Then I realized certifications weren't enough, so I started building Active Directory, Azure and Linux labs and learning PowerShell.
I also stopped using the same resume for every job. I made 3 different resumes based on the types of positions I wanted and started using AI more for ideas and tailoring instead of having it write everything for me.
I worked on my LinkedIn and Dice profiles and spent a lot of time preparing for interviews, even when I didn't have one scheduled.
For months, I probably spent 6-8 hours a day studying, applying, building labs, improving my resume or practicing for interviews.
Funny enough, the job I ended up getting wasn't even one I applied for. A recruiter found me through my Dice profile.
I'm not saying the IT job market is easy because it's not. But don't let all the negative posts convince you that it's impossible.
Keep applying, but keep improving yourself while you apply. Learn new skills, build projects, improve your resume and practice interviewing.
The biggest thing I learned is that sending more applications isn't always the answer. You also have to become a better candidate while you're applying.
You don't need every company to say yes. You just need one.