If you’re looking to start your graduate career in the technology sector, you’re in good company; it’s the second most popular sector for graduates in our database.
With graduate roles ranging from software development to web design, project management and data analysis, tech jobs & graduate schemes can be suited to a range of people, with very different skill sets, qualifications and interests.
To help you decide whether a career in technology is right for you, we’ve unpacked all the skills & qualifications you’ll need to succeed in tech; as well as a look at the different technology careers.
To start with, let’s look at the differences between tech graduate jobs and graduate schemes in tech:
Whether you’re better suited to a technology graduate job or a tech graduate scheme will depend largely on whether you have a set career in mind (i.e. Software Developer, Analyst or Project Manager), or if you are more inclined to get your foot in the door at an organisation and try your hat at a few different roles.
Graduate jobs exist at any organisation, ranging from tech startups to much bigger businesses. If you’ve been hired into a graduate job, you will be expected to perform that particular role; although it is worth noting that at graduate level, there is often plenty of scope to move into different roles within the business.
Tech graduate schemes will often work on a rotational basis, usually at large multinational corporations. As a graduate you will often get to move around teams, so it’s a good idea if you’re unsure exactly what aspect of tech you want to work in. Some tech graduate schemes will include a 3-month stint in each of IT support, consultancy, support and account management, for example.
Find out why graduate jobs can sometimes be better than graduate schemes.
Within the technology industry and in different tech companies, there will be a huge range of graduate technology jobs; some which require specific technical skills, and some which are more flexible when it comes to degree course and skill set. Some of the most common types of technology jobs include:
If you’re wondering how to get a tech job, a good place to start would be to focus on the qualifications needed for IT jobs.
For many graduate technology jobs, particularly those that require specific technical skills, employers will state that they require a relevant degree, such as Computer Science or Computer Systems. More often that not, though, for technical roles, employers are open to a wider range of BSc degrees, providing you can show you have the skills they require. For example, if you studied a Physics degree but have learned to code online, and have a Github to demonstrate your skills, you will likely be considered for these opportunities.
Some graduate technology jobs require more than a BSc degree, and also look for a Master’s in a STEM, scientific/IT-based subject. A MEng (Master of Engineering) degree for example, is a common requirement for some technology roles.
For many graduate tech jobs, especially those which don’t call for a very specific skill set (i.e. the ability to programme in Python), employers are open to meeting candidates with all different types of degree. They will be more interested in learning about the skills you can bring to the table, your interview technique, and the ways in which you can demonstrate your skills.
For graduate jobs such as a Developer or a Software Engineer, you will need a certain technical skill set. This will vary widely depending on whether the role is a graduate entry-level job, or more senior; as well as the type of company, the expectations for the role, and the training & development that the company offers. Common technical skills examples, which are required for IT jobs…
As well as techy “hard skills” necessary for particular technology jobs, there are a number of other IT jobs requirements and skills necessary if you want to work in the tech sector. Given the fast-paced, ever-evolving nature of technology, these “soft skills” will be valuable in every graduate technology job.
Whatever role you’re working in, good organisational skills are vital. Given that you’re likely to be working on a range of different tasks, the ability to organise your work and prioritise your time will be of real value to any graduate tech employer.
To work in the technology industry, motivation and drive will be key. It’s especially important to be able to self-motivate when you might be working autonomously on projects, rather than relying on a Manager or Team Lead to keep you focused.
Many people mistakenly think that jobs in tech involve solely hiding behind a computer screen and don't require communication skills. This is not true, however, you will need to communicate with other people in the business; who will often be a mix of technical and non-technical users. In order to excel in any graduate tech role, communication, interpersonal and teamworking skills are important.
Whether you’re working as a Graduate Software Developer or a Client Services Executive, attention to detail is vital when working to tight deadlines. Tech companies, especially tech startups, tend to be extremely fast paced, so employers require precision, pace and accuracy across every team in their business.
If your degree was a sandwich course and you completed a placement year during University, or if you had a part-time IT job or summer temp work within IT, then you’ll have a head start in the job hunt! But what happens if you’ve graduated from University with no experience in the industry? Here’s how to get an IT job with no experience…
We can’t stress enough the value and importance of technical skills today. Within the technology industry, there’s a wide range of graduate jobs on offer; meaning that there is scope for everyone to break into a career in tech.
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