Information technology : Entry and progression

How do I find a job?

As IT opportunities are available within such a wide range of employers you should contact careers services for details of vacancy sources. Use specialist graduate publications, websites, industry journals and professional body websites to find out about opportunities. Attend campus careers fairs as well as industry-specific ones.

You can apply for jobs directly via advertised graduate training schemes or on a speculative basis to smaller medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) where networking is a particularly effective approach. Apply early for graduate schemes but be flexible about applying to other organisations who may also offer good training opportunities.

For details of directories, websites and professional associations, see contacts and resources.

What skills do I need?

As there are such a wide range of opportunities in both technical and non-technical roles it is not essential to have an IT-related degree. Employers are happy to recruit graduates with non-IT degrees into consultancy and business analysis roles where they can apply a broad technical knowledge to commercial environments.

However, more technical roles such as network engineer, software developer and programmer do require graduates with relevant degrees such as computer science, information systems and software engineering. Also required are programming languages, operations systems knowledge, network and infrastructure understanding and development skills.

It is equally important to have a range of soft skills, including:

• communication - written and verbal and interpersonal skills;
• teamwork;
• organisation and planning;
• problem-solving;
• commercial awareness and customer focus;
• enthusiasm and motivation;
• adaptability and flexibility;
• willingness and an ability to learn new skills quickly.

Where can I find work experience?

While academic qualifications and technical skills are important, IT employers want graduates who are highly motivated and can work in customer-focused environments. You can find two month to year-long placements either as part of your degree or during the summer vacation with a number of graduate employers.

Many employers use the placement as the first stage in the recruitment process and around 70% lead to job offers with the same company. Work experience and work shadowing opportunities can also be found with smaller companies who you can approach directly.

If you are unable to find IT-related experience look out for opportunities where you can develop the softer but all important skills of teamwork, commercial awareness and customer service. Also, part-time jobs can show further evidence of these transferable skills.

Is postgraduate study useful?

Postgraduate study is not essential though could give you an edge in an increasingly competitive job marketplace.

IT is a highly dynamic industry and it is crucial that you continue training to keep your skills up to date with new technology. The IT industry is very committed to continuous personal development - indeed according to e-skills UK - The Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology , half of all ICT companies and almost one third of all companies provide IT training for all employees.

The industry’s professional body, the BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) , has comprehensive information on its accredited degree courses. Also Microsoft (for Windows), Novell (for Networking) and Oracle (for databases) run industry-relevant certification courses

How can my career develop?

Career prospects in the IT industry are changing. Opportunities are diversifying as the IT and telecoms industries are increasingly merging together to form one industry. This is due to new technologies in the telecoms industry which use broadband data networks that carry high amounts of multimedia traffic. This industry therefore very much needs the digital skills of IT professionals.

Traditional career paths do still exist, for example moving from programmer to analyst to project manager, although progression routes are breaking down. In the last ten years, the IT industry has re-invented itself and it not just about programming work. It now encompasses highly skilled work with advanced technological developments. Furthermore, graduate not only need these high level technology skills but also have to be business aware.

It may be necessary to change jobs frequently using networking skills in order to keep progressing in your career. Those who have the combination of high-level technical skills and the required soft skills are likely to be more successful in advancing their careers in this industry.