Before you can start looking for jobs as an IT professional on your own or through recruiting services, you need to make sure that you're qualified. But what does that mean exactly when information technology takes in a whole host of programming and technical skills?

Honestly, it will depend on the position you're applying for and the company itself. But here are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind when rounding out your IT education.

A Bachelor's Degree

While you may not need a four-year degree to learn a variety of IT programs, you do need one to master the skills required to work in this field. Beyond the technical components, you also need to learn communication skills, both verbal and written, and business skills to ensure you're a competitive force. Not every person that works in the IT field has a computer science degree. Keep that in mind in terms of what companies may be looking for and how you can better market yourself to them.

Secondary Focus

Beyond the bachelor's degree, you may also wish to have a minor or a double major. A computer science degree is a solid choice for an IT professional, but this might not be enough to sell you to specific companies that aren't IT-focused. It's best that you choose a double major or minor that personally interests you and that involves information you wouldn't mind dealing with on a daily basis. For instance, if you're into film, a film minor or double major might prove useful if you want to work for a film institute or database. Just about every kind of company has IT needs, so let this choice be liberating.

Experience

You may be able to skip past some of the education hurdles to getting an IT job if you have relevant on-the-job experience. If you've worked as an IT professional in the past, this will speak volumes in terms of how you're received by a potential hiring company. You may also find that you can bolster your resume by going through certification programs. These programs show that you have received training and passed a test on a variety of different programming languages and software.

When pursing a career in information technology, you need to make sure you have all of your basic credentials in place. It's only then that you can be assured that you're putting your best face forward on your resume and in interviews.