Agreed
When I graduated college in 2010 it was very frustrating to get all fired up about going on an interview only to receive the call a few weeks later that I lacked experience. Then why waste my time (and theirs) by interviewing me in the first place? My limited experience was clearly listed on my resume...isn't that what they are typed up for? OH! I forgot....most HR are more interested in what font and paper you chose rather than the actual CONTENT of the resume....but I digress.
It was clear that my strategy of coming out of school and landing a decent job was not working; at least, not without experience on paper. Want to know the best way to gain some real world experience? Start your own company. I started a (very) small computer repair LLC out of my sisters house. (Google Technibble to get started, they are great!) I still had my regular job at the pharmacy, but I did side work for my business as well. After a year of doing this, my resume looked a whole lot better than it had before; AND I had something to talk about when the IT guys at a potential employer started asking about experience. What sounds better?
"So, what experience do you have in IT?"
"Well, I did some projects in school, and I have been working on computers since I was a fetus..."
OR
"So, what experience do you have in IT?"
"After college, I started an off-hours computer repair business to get my feet wet and learn a few more things. I manage my time well around my current job, and I really enjoy it."
Then ask if they would like to see your business card...never thought you could turn an interview into a sales pitch, eh? You'd be surprised how human (most) interviewers can be.
Bottom line is: GET SOME EXPERIENCE!! If you are serious about IT then you should WANT to get active and learn. Build a virtual network at your house, call around and see if any businesses in the area want free consultation on their current system, start a business....Get experience any way you can; even if it means being stuck at a "dead-end" IT job for a while - that is one more thing to add to your resume that HR will ignore, but IT personnel will analyze and question you about.
