Computer science/IT : Career areas

Research shows that in 2011, six months after graduation, around 65% of computing/IT graduates were in full-time employment in the UK or overseas, with a further 5% combining study and work. Of those graduates in work, around 47% were working as IT professionals.

Typical initial jobs for computing/IT graduates include graduate trainee and entry-level positions as programmers, web developers, help-desk support and consultants. First roles are often as junior members of project teams, with progression depending on individual circumstances.

As well as careers in technical fields, computing graduates are also found in professions that require a combination of technical and other skills and qualities. In 2011, for example, around 8% of IT graduates had gone on to work as managers in the public, commercial and industrial sectors, with a further 4% working as business and financial professionals.

Where are the jobs?

Many graduate entry-level positions can be found within the IT industry itself, and common employers are IT consultancies and IT service providers.

The IT departments of major organisations in the following sectors also employ IT graduates:

• telecommunications;
• aerospace and defence;
• financial services (including investment banking and e-commerce);
• retail;
• public (including national and local government and higher education institutions);
• third sector (including charities and voluntary organisations).

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also have a wide range of opportunities.

For an insight into employment areas see:

• information technology - covers those working in the IT industry and IT professionals working in other areas;
• banking, investment and insurance - includes investment banks, commercial banks and building societies, broking firms, independent financial advisers, insurance and reinsurance companies;
• engineering - includes aerospace, engineering and defence, telecommunications, the rail and automobile industry, energy, and consultancy opportunities.

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?