TLDR: Graduated with B.S. in IT 2019 and have 6 months total in help desk experience between my internship and first job. First job was cut due to COVID-19. I considered doing Web dev throughout my degree and have decided I want to pursue it. I had already built simple websites with html and css and dabbled in JS. I’m 3/4 done with TOP web dev 101. I have no interest in Helpdesk, Networking or System Admin. I dont know if there is a point to pursue entry level IT roles anymore. Thinking maybe I should just get something to pay the bills and focus on Web Dev. I didnt like help desk and dont see the point of focusing on it. Advice?
More details… (can skim/skip if too long, I mainly want advice on whether entry level IT is really worth my time if I want to pursue web dev)
I moved to Raleigh for a help desk specialist position and got cut two months into my contract due to COVID-19 . Competition has skyrocketed and I can’t find work in IT. Filed for unemployment and I have enough saved for 3-4 months plus I am getting unemployment.
Before I went for my degree I was already interested in Web dev. I learned some HTML and CSS and created some very simple websites. Then I decided to get the degree in IT. I took two classes in web development that covered html and css and some JavaScript in my first two years. Since then I have been consumed with my classes and other areas in IT. I graduated and moved to Raleigh for the help desk job thinking I was going to pursue something in IT. I honestly have not enjoyed my help desk role and have no interest in Networking or System Admin.
After working in IT for a little bit I couldnt stop thinking about webdev. Well being let go from work has given me a lot of time to think about things. I really want to get back into it. I really want to pursue this as a career.
So…
I am expecting it to be at least 6 months before I can start applying to web dev jobs. I want to build a portfolio an get a good grasp on html, css, and javascript.
Raleigh is a great place to look for work. However, I am concerned about the economy. The virus is going to make an impact for a long time. Competition for jobs are up and I know even before that its always high for entry web dev jobs. So I am concerned that I may struggle to find work in what looks to be a recession.
I have no job currently and my experience points to me trying to find a new help desk job. But I want to change my career focus and I am not sure that I should be focused on that if I want to do web dev? I dont want to divide my attention. So maybe its ok if I choose alternative work while I work on getting a web dev job?
So I really want to make the move to Web Dev and I see it taking me at least 6 months to get a decent portfolio. Not sure If I should just get any job in the meantime or focus on getting an entry level IT job. The problem is that If I wanted to pursue IT still I should be getting certs and working on a home lab. Instead I’m learning how to code.
I am thinking about applying for Starbucks (I worked there before in college), Target, etc and just sitting on that until I land an Web dev position. I could work part-time to have extra time to spend on learning, but that will only last for so long until I’ll need full-time.
The other options is to just keep looking for entry level IT jobs. The pro would be more money the con would be my attention divided. Because I have money saved I am inclined to work a job like Starbucks for 6 months to a year until I land a web dev job. The con of that is the possibility that I struggle to find work for over a year and get really tired of earning a low wage.
Thoughts? would more help desk benefit me at all? Another thought is that it would be harder to do interviews in a Monday-Friday help desk job.