Unsure how to get into IT

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For the past 8 months I have searched for a job. I haven't had much success except for one interview for a web marketing company. I thinking of trying to get into IT instead, but I'm confused. From forums I've gleaned that a certificate may be helpful to start off in help desk job for an IT company. The point is that I don't know if an A+ is worth it, or if should I chose CISCO's CCNET or CCNA's certificate, or if I need a certificate. Can someone help me understand how to get a job in IT?

Are you part of any non-for-profit social clubs or community groups like churches, local radio stations or the red cross ?

They always need people with computer skills to support their operations. You don't get paid but you can note down that you have computer experience in your CV.

From there, potential employers would look at you more highly

Thanks for the advice. I'll try to find an organization that needs valunteer computer work to be done. I'm in the US so I'm not sure about a CV. I was wondering if I should get an A+ certification to either get past HR or to work in a computer repair store. My other qualifications came from three years in college for computer science. I graded homework submitted for Microsoft products like Excel and Access. I'm not sure if anyone would care though. I been set to get a certification but when I learned the combined cost of the 801 and 802 were around $360 I was reluctant.

A CV is a resume in IT-speak. I'd recommend getting any kind of experience you can. Work at even something like a mom and pop computer shop, Best Buy or at an ISP can look good on a resume from what I've heard. If you do any projects on your own that aren't for work (for example, programming in Python for hobbies) list it too, it's good to show you are interested in IT not just for work but out of personal interest too. There are jobs in Linux in Texas now. An RHCSA is easy to pass if you want to go the Linux route.

You mentioned you're in Texas, so you might want to check out trueability dot com (it won't let me post a link because I don't have enough posts!). There is information here about what type of skills companies are looking for (True Ability is in San Antonio). There are also sometimes competitions and those who do well are recruited.

I have a degree and except for a thankless help desk position I've had no luck. I was let go for horrendous customer service. Hard to soar like an Eagle when surrounded by turkeys.

I have a degree and except for a thankless help desk position I've had no luck. I was let go for horrendous customer service. Hard to soar like an Eagle when surrounded by turkeys.

How to get into IT? Here's my advice: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT get into IT!! !

I got into it for the wrong reasons, I guess. Somehow, I thought I'd be more comfortable working with computers than with people. Well, each one of my IT jobs was worse than the one before. And in every company I worked at, IT was the most understaffed department of all! People will expect you to do the work of 3 people, and will laugh in your face about how swamped you are. My previous job had me working 20-hour shifts, and still threw me under the bus when something went wrong. My current job was so intense and demanding, that it once landed me in a hospital for high blood pressure (190/95, with my weight less than 200 lb) and acute anxiety (my anxiety got so bad, I couldn't even write checks or wash dishes without freezing up). I spent 24 hours in a hospital bed. Once I got out, I sued the company, won a small settlement, and got a manager and a director fired (everyone in the company except me was in love with them). I still had to take anti-anxiety medications for six months after getting out of the hospital. (The meds were actually pretty nice; they gave me that floaty, Vicodin-like feeling; the only catch is that I wasn't allowed to drive for 1 hour after taking it. And my friends liked how I acted when on them.) Ever since then, the work environment has been very stable, even boring at times, and all the management have been tip-toeing around me. But see how much I had to fight to get there.

Long story short, DO NOT get into IT. You WILL regret it. Like I regret it now.