IT and AI Jobs

What areas of IT can I work in?

According to Tech Nation’s UK tech in 2020 review, just under three million people were employed in the UK’s digital tech economy – an increase of 11% within two years.

In addition, at the end of 2020, the UK Tech Ecosystem update – a Tech Nation report supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and the Digital Economy Council – revealed that a tenth of all UK job vacancies are tech roles.

So, if you possess the relevant knowledge and technical skills, you could work in:

• applications development
• computer forensics
• content management
• cyber security and risk management
• data analysis and analytics
• game development
• geographical information systems (GIS)
• hardware engineering
• information management
• IT consultancy (business and technical)
• IT sales
• multimedia programming
• software engineering (designing, building, developing and testing)
• systems/network management
• technical support
• telecommunications
• web design/development.

For instance, your job may involve creating applications or systems, solving problems with technology or supporting those who use it. Employers in the IT industry also require graduates to work in their business, marketing, human resources (HR) and finance functions.

Many IT professionals also choose to work outside the sector, such as in the IT departments of retail, finance, manufacturing and public sector organisations.

As the sector is fast-moving and dynamic, there are many smaller businesses and tech start-ups that are worth seeking out for entry-level job opportunities. For example, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the IT industry provide a range of specialist services and typically offer consultancy and technical roles.

IT professionals are also employed to work in many other job sectors, including:

• Financial services – recruiters such as Banks and Accounting Firms are looking for IT graduates to work with the latest technologies. These include jobs with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), cloud services, virtual reality software development, robotics process automation, user experience (UX) or analytics.
• Manufacturing – multinational engineering companies in the oil, pharmaceuticals, automotive and energy industries need IT specialists to work on the processes and technologies that underpin their operations. For instance, aerospace and defence innovator MBDA requires software engineers with programming language skills.
• Public sector – local authorities, central government and the National Health Service (NHS) all recruit IT professionals to keep their systems running smoothly, deliver projects and analyse data efficiently so it can be used to make major decisions.
• Retail – major online and high street retailers such as Amazon, Tesco, TJX Europe and John Lewis look to technology graduates to develop new systems and apps, while rolling out technological solutions that satisfy their customers’ needs.

Where can I find IT jobs?

Most employers expect you to have gained some technical knowledge of IT, although any relevant work experience or internship would be beneficial as you seek to land your first role.

We will do all the hard working in finding a job and securing interviews.

How do I apply for IT roles?

An IT CV, also known as a technical CV, can be used to apply for roles such as web developer, IT consultant, software tester or applications developer.

Include an introductory paragraph that mentions your technical expertise and experience and incorporate a ‘key skills’ heading that allows for more detail when discussing technical competencies.

While you might be tempted to showcase all your technical abilities at once, ensure that you highlight relevant skills first and foremost. You should also bear in mind that the document will need to be understood by non-technical people such as HR managers.

Use this CV template to focus on your:

• ability to maintain existing software applications and develop new ones
• experience of applying technical standards, theories and techniques
• problem-solving capabilities
• communication skills.

What about technology graduate schemes?

Many major companies run graduate schemes focusing on IT and technology. These are structured training programmes for new and recent graduates, usually lasting between one and two years.

What’s it like working in IT?

Graduates entering the IT industry in the UK can expect:

• An average starting salary – according to High Fliers’ report, starting salaries for technology jobs with organisations featuring in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers are the same as the recently increased national median of £32,000.
• Long working hours – employers tend to emphasise completing a task or project over maintaining standard 9am-5pm office hours.
• Opportunities to work abroad – many large IT companies have branches or subsidiaries in other countries.
• The chance to be self-employed – it’s not unusual for graduates to go freelance, work as a contractor or even start their own companies.
• A constantly changing industry – as new technologies and software are developed, it’s important to keep your skills up to date to remain at the top of your profession.