Introduction
One of the biggest myths about IT is you need a degree to land a job. If not having a degree has held you back from pursuing a career in technology, you should know that most IT positions simply require proof that you can do the job, through certifications and prior experience. Hiring managers don’t weed out potential job candidates because they don’t have undergraduate degrees if your resume can still show you’ve got the skills they are looking for. Let’s explore the best entry level IT jobs without a degree and what to expect while on the job.
Help Desk
Working the IT help desk can be a great entry-level job. As a help desk professional, your main responsibilities are to provide technical help and support. That could mean setting up and repairing computers or responding to a customer’s question about how to use their computer. It could also mean performing routine maintenance of a company’s computer networks and internet systems or teaching staff how to use new technologies.
A help desk technician must have knowledge and experience of computer networks and systems, programs, and mobile devices, but this is not the only requirement. Although desk technicians possess a good understanding of information technology, it is equally important to have soft skills, such as communication skills and recognition of the importance of customer service..
As far as entry level jobs go, the help desk is a perfect place to launch your career in IT. You will be thrown into the thick of things. Be ready to learn as much as possible and grow your skills.
IT Technician
General IT Technician positions are similar to help desk but are more centered around being out in the field resolving issues with end users. You can feel confident in applying to this IT job without a degree. Most help desk support is performed via phone or remote methods. If an issue requires onsite support, an IT Technician will be dispatched.
This is another excellent job to get started with in IT. You will get exposure to a lot of different issues ranging from hardware, software, and network troubleshooting. In addition to technical skills, learning to work with end users and senior staff members to resolve more difficult issues is great experience.
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NOC Technician
A Network Operations Center Technician is an entry level position focused more on assisting and troubleshooting issues within a large network or data center. Not every company has a dedicated NOC. Therefore, you can expect to work for one of the following:
- A large enterprise that manages its own IT systems
- A Managed Service Provider
- A Third-Party NOC Service Provider
- An ISP, satellite communications provider, or other telco
- A mission-critical government or military department
As you can see from the list above, for the most part, a NOC job is great for folks who have a strong interest in networking.
A NOC tech’s job is to monitor an assigned endpoint for health, security, and/or capacity. When a problem is detected, you will often have the capability to resolve it yourself. If not, you will create a ticket to escalate the issue to a higher tier or to notify an external department. In either case, careful documentation of all incidents and work activities is expected. All NOC techs, engineers, and supervisors are usually expected to consult and maintain a knowledge base as issues arise and are resolved.
SOC Analyst
A Security Operations Center Analyst is an entry level position that is part of a team to monitor and fight threats to an organization’s IT infrastructure, and to assess security systems and measures for weaknesses and possible improvements. Typically, the SOC consists of multiple analysts and other security professionals. Often, you work together in a single physical location. A SOC may be an internal team serving a single enterprise or an outsourced service providing security for one or more external clients.
SOC analyst is a job title held by infosec beginners and more experienced pros alike. The job can be a great stepping stone into a cybersecurity career, but it’s also demanding. Cybersecurity is a growing field and if you are interested in this path, A SOC analyst position is an amazing place to start.
Conclusion
IT jobs aren’t reserved for folks with a 4 year degree.. The stereotype you might have in your head about who’s well-suited for a technology job couldn’t be farther from the truth in most cases.
The skills you already have could help you get into IT. For example, communication, creativity, problem-solving and attention-to-detail -all skills you may already have can give you an edge if you are looking to get into IT without a degree.
You just need a growth mindset and the willingness to learn new things to help yourself and other people better harness the power of technology.
In regards the the entry level jobs discussed in this article, keep in mind-Job titles are subjective to the company and position. Bigger companies might have more specific titles to job duties while small companies might be more generic. Therefore, getting hired at smaller companies will likely mean a wider range of job duties and experience is several areas whereas a big company will be able to keep you more focused in one or few areas and not spread so thin. You may find benefits to both opportunities or find which works best for you. 
After learning about these jobs, do you want to launch your career without spending the next 4 years earning a bachelors and building up student loan debt? Get trained in less than a year
and work on real-world projects that you can even use on your resume. It’s these hands on skills that propel you into the IT field.
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