One of the biggest obstacles I’ve come across during my first few years at University is that there are no clear jumping off points if you want to break out of the theory behind it all and get in to the practical aspects of computers.  Finding these jumping off points can be difficult and will vary depending on what it is you’d like to do. Check out some great suggestions after the jump!

  1. Find someone in the industry and follow them

    There’s no better way to learn about something than by listening to someone who wants you to learn about it.  I’ve found a lot of great resources that have helped me redefine the way I look at things, and people in the industry tend to have excellent resources.  One of my favorite blogs to follow is Jimmy “Network Sheriff” Purser over at Cisco.  He’s been one of the bigger influences in helping me define what it is I want to do with my life.

  2. Find a good book and READ IT!

    A lot of people out there want you to know this stuff!  Honestly!  They even write books about it because the more people that know, the easier their job becomes.  I’ve found a lot of great books, some of them have been recommended to me, others I just picked off the shelf at Chapters.

  3. Network, network, network!

    Another great way to learn something (and develop a healthy amount of credibility) is to actually get out there and do it! Unfortunately a lot of times when you’re starting out you’ll run in to something of a Catch-22 where nobody will hire you because of your lack of experience.  Finding local groups of professionals in your field and firing off an email or two explaining your predicament and qualifications can land you more leads than you could possibly know what to do with, and more opportunities than you even knew were available.  Websites like LinkedIn can be a great starting point.

  4. Get a certification

    I realize that this is a controversial topic in many areas, especially for those starting out.  Some people believe that having your A+ is proof of nothing more than your ability to cram, and truth be told it’s probably not going to make you overqualified for anything other than working at the service depot at your local BestBuy, but it does lend to your credibility to some extent.  A lot of people figure that because they managed to install Linux on their old computer with a LiveCD (even though they never could get their network driver working) that they’re qualified to get a job as a junior anything.  Do some research, ask around (remember those people in the industry I told you about?), and find out what the entry level qualifications are for the job you want.

  5. Never stop learning!

    Knowing enough to get you a job is not enough.  Being able to learn not only from the job, but on your own as well is the best way to make sure you don’t get stuck in a rut.  Pick up a book, read a blog, or do some independent research.  Find something that interests you and do it, whether it’s setting up a network at home, doing penetration testing on your own website, or writing your own program to test out a new feature you discovered.

Remember, it may seem like a daunting task, but building up your connections and making sure you have the knowledge to back you up is, in the long run, worth it.

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.” ~Isaac Asimov