Market for IT Grads...?

[emathias]

Originally Posted by envirocopy512

I graduated from Loyola about 2 years ago with an MIS degree, but have spent most of the time since then traveling in SE Asia and working a clerical job at a law firm in Hawaii. I haven't gotten any IT work experience since I graduated, which makes me a little intimidated/self-conscious about things.

I'm considering moving back to Chicago from Hawaii (yes, I'm crazy), so that's why I ask.

What kind of experience did you have prior to the MIS degree completion? I'm working on an MIS degree part-time right now, and I know this is too late for you and perhaps too snarky, but I wouldn't dream of just dropping out of the industry for the first two years after I graduate.

In exchange for that bit of snark, here's an actual lead, based on your possible tech background and your experience at a law firm. The CTO is a cool guy and it sounds like a fun place to work:
Total Attorneys

What it will really come down to is what you've done prior and what you're able to sell people on being able to do now.

As others have hinted at, both "MIS" and "IT" are WAY to vague to even start marketing yourself. You need specifics. Make a list of things related to your degree (assuming you want to try and use it), and rank them by how well you can speak about them. Then start looking at jobs that incorporate the items at the top of your ranked list. If there are industry groups relevant to those items, find out when they have meetings and start going or exchanging emails with them at least until you move here.

It won't be easy - that 2-year-gap is going to get you lumped in with all the other former tech workers who've been out of work the past two years. But it's possible. The tech field in general in Chicago is a lot better now than it was 18 months ago.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by emathias

What kind of experience did you have prior to the MIS degree completion? I'm working on an MIS degree part-time right now, and I know this is too late for you and perhaps too snarky, but I wouldn't dream of just dropping out of the industry for the first two years after I graduate.

In exchange for that bit of snark, here's an actual lead, based on your possible tech background and your experience at a law firm. The CTO is a cool guy and it sounds like a fun place to work:
Total Attorneys

What it will really come down to is what you've done prior and what you're able to sell people on being able to do now.

As others have hinted at, both "MIS" and "IT" are WAY to vague to even start marketing yourself. You need specifics. Make a list of things related to your degree (assuming you want to try and use it), and rank them by how well you can speak about them. Then start looking at jobs that incorporate the items at the top of your ranked list. If there are industry groups relevant to those items, find out when they have meetings and start going or exchanging emails with them at least until you move here.

It won't be easy - that 2-year-gap is going to get you lumped in with all the other former tech workers who've been out of work the past two years. But it's possible. The tech field in general in Chicago is a lot better now than it was 18 months ago.

lol good post, it took me about 4-5 years and 3 jobs to become completely disillusioned with IT, but yeah early on I was pretty gung ho. I am actually trying to get out and working on a diff degree in a diff field, but I keep getting pulled back in. OP it would be good to know your specific classes you took, to give us an idea of what you know...

[odannyboi]

Why not try recruiters? There are tons of IT jobs in the area (and all over the country for that matter). Kelly Services is a good one, SRI, Aerotek, etc..

[grapico]

Originally Posted by odannyboi

Why not try recruiters? There are tons of IT jobs in the area (and all over the country for that matter). Kelly Services is a good one, SRI, Aerotek, etc..

recruiters? give me the noose...

jk, i mean if the guy is desperate, that is definitely an avenue. I always liked going direct if possible, as recruiters get a cut of your pay.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by grapico

recruiters? give me the noose...

jk, i mean if the guy is desperate, that is definitely an avenue. I always liked going direct if possible, as recruiters get a cut of your pay.

As a former IT recruiter I obviously have to disagree to an extent. We don't take a cut of anyones pay. Clients give us a bill rate and we pay someone based on that. A client will pay us $75/hr for a developer, but they wont pay their internal developers that much. They will pay us $75/hr because 1) we find the people 2) there isn't much commitment and 3) They don't have to pay payroll taxes or liability insurances.

Beyond that most companies have head count caps per year, once those get filled they only way to hire someone is on contract from a groups direct budget.

I know recruiters can suck sometimes, and honestly most of them do, but by avoiding them you're also avoiding a ton of jobs. Something to think about anyway.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by Jandur

As a former IT recruiter I obviously have to disagree to an extent. We don't take a cut of anyones pay. Clients give us a bill rate and we pay someone based on that. A client will pay us $75/hr for a developer, but they wont pay their internal developers that much. They will pay us $75/hr because 1) we find the people 2) there isn't much commitment and 3) They don't have to pay payroll taxes or liability insurances.

Beyond that most companies have head count caps per year, once those get filled they only way to hire someone is on contract from a groups direct budget.

I know recruiters can suck sometimes, and honestly most of them do, but by avoiding them you're also avoiding a ton of jobs. Something to think about anyway.

All good points, but how much will that developer get out of that 75? At some point, you are a middle man and if one could, it might be better for a direct hire. Also, if they were to hire you, wouldn't you collect a hiring fee? If you don't have any leads though, by all means use a recruiter. Also great for finding contract gigs. I have gotten all my contract gigs (5) through recruiters. I think in the OP's wants, it might be the 2nd avenue though. The only ones I have problems with are the ones who a) call too much even though I told them I am not looking, or b) are inefficient at describing the job requirements. Similar sounding technologies can mean much different things, I have wasted a few interviews because of this. I would try to avoid the "staffing" companies that happen to place IT jobs, and stick to the tech ONLY recruiters.

[odannyboi]

Originally Posted by grapico

recruiters? give me the noose...

jk, i mean if the guy is desperate, that is definitely an avenue. I always liked going direct if possible, as recruiters get a cut of your pay.

Recruiters don't only hire for contract jobs. They also do direct placement or contract to hire.

Recruiters are an awesome way to get your foot in the door to a city you want to relocate to. When I was entertaining California, I had a couple respond for perm and contract to hire positions. There is nothing wrong with working through recruiters... alot of big companies use them.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by grapico

All good points, but how much will that developer get out of that 75? At some point, you are a middle man and if one could, it might be better for a direct hire. Also, if they were to hire you, wouldn't you collect a hiring fee? If you don't have any leads though, by all means use a recruiter. Also great for finding contract gigs. I have gotten all my contract gigs (5) through recruiters. I think in the OP's wants, it might be the 2nd avenue though. The only ones I have problems with are the ones who a) call too much even though I told them I am not looking, or b) are inefficient at describing the job requirements. Similar sounding technologies can mean much different things, I have wasted a few interviews because of this. I would try to avoid the "staffing" companies that happen to place IT jobs, and stick to the tech ONLY recruiters.

I agree with sticking to companies that focus on technical recruiting as oppposed to general staffing. As far as hiring in a contractor goes, that really depends on the agreement you have with each client. Typically if someone has been billing for 3-6months the client can hire you on with no fee.

As far as markups go they also vary and I'll be the first to admit some recruiters will try to fudge the rates which I think it's shady. On a $75/hr bill rate I would try to pay someone $60/hr. We put $15/hr in our pockets but after liability insurance, payroll taxes etc it ends up being probably $12/hr that we make. Again it all depends though.

Recruiters are sort of a necessary evil at times though, from a candidate perspective. Its a weird business.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by Jandur

I agree with sticking to companies that focus on technical recruiting as oppposed to general staffing. As far as hiring in a contractor goes, that really depends on the agreement you have with each client. Typically if someone has been billing for 3-6months the client can hire you on with no fee.

As far as markups go they also vary and I'll be the first to admit some recruiters will try to fudge the rates which I think it's shady. On a $75/hr bill rate I would try to pay someone $60/hr. We put $15/hr in our pockets but after liability insurance, payroll taxes etc it ends up being probably $12/hr that we make. Again it all depends though.

Recruiters are sort of a necessary evil at times though, from a candidate perspective. Its a weird business.

good insight, I would say that is pretty fair especially at that payscale.

[bellhead]

It's all in your skill set for IT work these days. Client systems is a low paying job because its easy to get into. Running servers and the like pays about mid 50's these days with about 5 years experience. The problem is getting the 5 years experience is almost impossible these days outside of the military or working for bargain wages. Database programming is still paying good but they want experience. Programming is a crap shoot as the skill set changes on an almost annual front, if you get pigeon holed into a select field and build experience.

The field i work in is network transport and once again its extremely hard to get experience. Did you coop in college and have any contacts from there?