How to Gain Your First Practical Experience in IT – A Guide for Beginners

You’ve chosen an IT specialization and started learning the basics.

The next step? Gaining practical experience!

For most beginners, the lack of hands-on work is a significant barrier to landing their first IT job.

In this article, we’ll explore proven methods to help you gain practical experience, even if you haven’t had formal employment in the field yet.

Best Ways to Gain Practical IT Experience

Join Internships and Trainee Programs

Many IT companies offer internship programs specifically tailored for beginners.

These are excellent opportunities to learn on the job and work in a professional environment.

• Platforms to find internships:

1. LinkedIn (filter by “Entry Level” or “Internship”).
2. Glassdoor, AngelList, or Internshala for startups.

Relevant statistic: According to LinkedIn, 75% of individuals who complete an IT internship secure permanent positions in the same company.

• Work on Personal Projects

1. Creating your own projects is one of the best ways to build a portfolio and showcase your skills.
2. Examples of beginner projects:
   • Building a personal or portfolio website.
   • Developing a simple app (e.g., a budget calculator or a task list).
   • Automating a repetitive task using Python or another programming language.
3. Publish your work on platforms like GitHub or other open-source platforms to attract potential employers.

• Participate in Hackathons or IT Contests

1. Hackathons give you the chance to collaborate with others to develop creative solutions within a short timeframe.
2. Benefits:
   • Networking with IT professionals.
   • Exposing your work to companies sponsoring the events.
3. Platforms to find hackathons: Devpost, Hackerearth, or TechGig.

• Start Freelancing to Gain Hands-On Experience

1. Even without formal experience, you can offer simple IT services to learn and earn money.
2. Services you can offer as a beginner:
   • Building websites using platforms like WordPress.
   • Performing manual software testing for bugs.
   • Cleaning and analyzing data using Excel or Python.
3. Recommended freelancing platforms:
   • Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal.

How to Secure Your First Opportunity

Build a Strong LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is the most powerful platform for IT networking and job searching.

What to include:

1. A professional photo.
2. A headline like “Entry-Level Frontend Developer” or your chosen specialization.
3. Details about your personal projects, certifications, and key skills (e.g., HTML, SQL, Python).

Create an Online Portfolio

1. An online portfolio demonstrates your skills and catches the attention of recruiters.
2. What to include:
   • Detailed descriptions of your projects and your role in them.
   • Links to your code repositories on GitHub.
   • Testimonials from freelance clients or mentors.

Write an Impressive Resume

1. Even without formal experience, a well-structured resume can make a huge difference.
2. Include:
   • Relevant education and IT courses completed.
   • Personal projects and certifications (e.g., Google IT Support, CompTIA A+).
   • Technical skills and tools you’ve mastered (e.g., Visual Studio Code, Jira).

Network with the IT Community

1. Join local events, Facebook groups, or Slack communities dedicated to IT.
2. Attend IT conferences or meetups to meet professionals and expand your network.
3. Examples of popular communities: Dev.to, Stack Overflow, Reddit (r/learnprogramming).

*******************

Gaining your first experience in IT might seem challenging, but opportunities are everywhere.

Whether you choose an internship, build personal projects, or start freelancing, small steps will help you build a strong resume and open doors to your dream job.

With effort, persistence, and a clear strategy, you can successfully launch your IT career.