How to Get Your First IT Job at 18 (No Experience, No Degree)

I talk to a lot of college students when I do university presentations. But some of my favorite conversations happen with high school seniors and recent grads who are trying to figure out if IT is actually possible without four years of college debt. The short answer is yes. Absolutely yes. I know people making six figures who started exactly where you are right now.

Look, Im 30. I remember being 18 and getting advice from people who seemed totally disconnected from reality. So Im going to skip the motivational poster stuff and give you the actual playbook. What to learn, where to look for jobs, and how to get hired when your resume is basically empty.

You dont need permission, a degree, or connections to start an IT career. You need a certification, a homelab, and the willingness to apply to more jobs than feels comfortable.

The Certification That Actually Gets You Hired

If youre 18 with no experience, your first certification should be CompTIA A+. Full stop. Its the universal entry ticket that tells employers you understand how computers actually work. Hardware, software, troubleshooting, basic networking. The stuff you need to know before anyone trusts you with their systems.

A+ opens doors to help desk and desktop support roles. These jobs arent glamorous but theyre where almost everyone starts. You learn how real companies actually operate, you get paid while learning, and you build the foundation for everything else. I meet people all the time who skipped A+ and went straight for something flashier. Most of them struggle to land interviews because employers see the gap in fundamentals.

After A+, you have options. If networking interests you, grab Network+. If security sounds exciting, look at Security+. But dont overthink this part yet. Get A+, get a job, then figure out which direction feels right while youre getting paid.

Where to Actually Find Entry Level IT Jobs

This is where most people mess up. They apply to three jobs on Indeed and wonder why nobodys calling. Heres reality: at entry level, youre competing with hundreds of other applicants. You need to cast a wide net and apply strategically across multiple platforms.

Dont forget about staffing agencies. Robert Half Technology, TEKsystems, and Insight Global all place entry level IT people constantly. They get paid when you get hired, so theyre motivated to help you. Walk into their offices, shake hands, be enthusiastic. Staffing agencies often have relationships with companies that dont post jobs publicly.

Your Resume When You Have Zero Experience

Heres the thing nobody tells you. Entry level hiring managers know youre entry level. Theyre not expecting five years of experience. Theyre looking for someone who shows initiative, can learn, and wont flake out after two weeks. Your resume needs to prove those things.

Put your certification at the top. Even if youre still studying for it, list it as “CompTIA A+ (In Progress, Expected [Month])”. This shows youre actively working toward the field. Next, build a homelab and document it. Set up a small network at home. Install Windows Server. Create a domain. Break things and fix them. Then write two sentences about what you built and what you learned. This goes on your resume under a “Projects” section.

Any customer service experience counts. Retail, food service, whatever. IT support is customer service with computers. If you can handle an angry customer at a restaurant, you can handle an angry employee whose email isnt working. Frame your experience around helping people solve problems.

What Entry Level IT Jobs Actually Pay

Lets talk real numbers because I hate when articles dance around this. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and salary data from sites like Glassdoor and Payscale, entry level help desk and desktop support roles typically pay between $35,000 and $50,000 in most markets. In expensive cities like San Francisco or New York, you might see $50,000 to $65,000. In smaller markets or rural areas, $30,000 to $40,000 is more common.

Is that life changing money? Probably not. But heres what matters: youre getting paid to learn skills that will double or triple your salary within five years. People who stick with IT and keep adding certifications regularly hit $70,000 to $90,000 within three to five years. Senior roles and specializations push well into six figures. Check the salary data if you want specifics on different paths.

The Degree Question

Do you need a college degree to work in IT? No. Plenty of successful IT professionals never finished college or never went at all. The data backs this up. Certifications and demonstrated skills matter more than degrees for most IT roles, especially at entry level.

That said, degrees can help with certain employers and certain roles. Some government positions require degrees. Some large corporations have degree requirements in their HR systems even if the hiring manager doesnt care. And if you ever want to move into management, a degree can make that transition smoother.

My honest advice: get into the field first. Start working and earning money. If you decide later that you want a degree, many employers offer tuition assistance. Youll also have a much better sense of what you actually want to study after working in IT for a couple years.

What to Do This Week

I could keep writing but you probably have enough information to get started. Information overload is actually a problem in IT because theres always more to learn and it can feel paralyzing. So heres your immediate action plan.

Today: Create a LinkedIn profile. It doesnt have to be perfect. Put “Aspiring IT Professional” or “Pursuing CompTIA A+” in your headline. Add a professional photo.

This week: Set up job alerts on Indeed, LinkedIn, and Dice for “help desk,” “IT support,” and “desktop support” in your area. Start looking at whats out there.

This month: Start studying for A+. Pick a study resource and commit to 30 minutes a day minimum. Professor Messer on YouTube is free and excellent. Practice tests are worth the investment.