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It's estimated that the IT sector generates more than over half of the
UK's total economic output and is responsible for around 5% of all
jobs in the UK - around 1.5 million employees.
With over 20 million British workers using some form of IT every day
as part of their job, it comes as no surprise that the IT sector is one
of the fastest growing and most in-demand industries in the UK with
more than 150,000 new entrants needed each year to satisfy
demand.
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New entrants into the IT sector are lured by an industry that provides
a good work-life balance. Most roles are performed during normal
working hours with little work to take home, however, the cyclical
nature of the industry often requires longer hours when project
deadline day approaches.
The most common route of entry into the IT sector is via the Trainee
Software Development or Analyst Programmer avenue. Trainee
Developers and Analysts can also referred to as Web Designers,
Database Analysts or Technical Support – the role is often very
similar, but different sectors will choose a title that reflects their
specific field of expertise.
Further Reading
- How can I choose the right company?
- What are my transferrable skills?
- Should I work part-time, temporary or permanent?
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On the less technical side, areas such as IT sales and marketing are
more business-orientated and place less emphasis on specialist
know-how and more on commercial acumen.
It’s not just your knowledge and skills that will help your career to
develop, your personal attributes will be a great asset too. The
importance of interpersonal communication, business insight,
leadership skills, and an understanding of how IT is integral to the
strategic decisions, profitability and overall functionality of an
organisation cannot be underestimated.
Job Searches
Database Development Desktop Support
IT Consulting IT Project Management
Network Administration Network Security
Software Implementation System Architecture
Web Development Web Design
Think about your course tutors, most of whom will have spent a
number of years working within the sector, as well as any companies
where you worked in placement schemes. They will have sampled
your work and will be able to help you identify your core skills and
open doors with their contact network to help find you a job.
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Stay up to date with the latest news from the IT and Technology
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Research the types of companies that you would like to work for to
gain an understanding of what opportunities may exist and what
different companies expect of their staff. Don’t be afraid to pick up
the phone or email the IT manager of an organisation to ask if they
would be able to spare some time giving you an insight into what it is
like to work in a variety of different roles.
If you take the university route, there are plenty of degree courses
across the UK that meet both broad and niche areas of interest,
such as:
If you have chosen not to go for an IT specific course, most will have
an element of IT built into their content and you can always opt to
take additional IT-specific modules as part of your undergraduate
course. Science, economics, statistics, mathematics and business
related courses will naturally improve your job opportunities due to
their emphasis on numeracy and problem solving – key attributes for
all IT professionals.
Find IT Courses
- UCAS
- The Open University
- Home Learning College
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Once you are up and running in your new career, you will need to
take ownership of your continuing professional development in order
to progress. Many choose one of the professional qualifications
offered by the Information Systems Examinations Board (ISEB).
If you have never worked within the sector before you need to
explore the various avenues open to you to help you gain the
invaluable experience that will boost your chances of securing the
job that you want.
You should approach some local firms to ask if they offer work
experience placements or ask your current employer if you can
spend time shadowing one of their analysts or programmers. This
will help you to appreciate how the IT function works within a
company that you are already know.
In an environment where there are more jobs than there are suitable
candidates, career opportunities are rife for those who can
demonstrate that they have the right skill set.
Above all, employers want to see that you are well-rounded, have an
understanding of the IT industry and its place in the world, and you
have the drive and ambition for a career in IT.
Further Reading
- What are my transferrable skills?
Find out as much as you can about the job and the company to
make sure you can match your abilities to their requirements. Look
at the company website, call the company directly or speak to
someone you know who has worked there previously.
Think about what you have to offer and ensure that your skills,
experiences and career aspirations are in sync with the employer’s
requirements and their company values. If they are a company that
believes in creativity, try to demonstrate how you have been
innovative throughout your career.
Most IT roles are reliant on technical ability so it's important that you
can demonstrate that you know the theory behind various skills, as
well as how to put them into practice.
Further Reading
- How can I tailor my CV to an audience?
- What are my unique selling points?
- What are the classic CV mistakes to avoid?
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The key to creating a CV that really catches the eye is showing how
you've used these skills to achieve results in a professional
environment. Be specific to the job you're applying for and use
examples of projects you have worked on which made a difference.
You may have designed a new intranet for your employer which
helped improve staff communication, or you may have developed a
new piece of software that helped your company increase profits by
£500k. These achievements tell the reader that you're aware of how
your actions contribute to wider company goals and will earn you
invaluable Brownie points.
Only include information that is relevant to the job that you are
applying for and remember that your application is designed to do
just one thing – get you to an interview where you can go into more
detail on the projects you have worked on.
It's worth remembering that the person who initially evaluates your
CV may be a junior in the HR department who may not be fully
versed in technical IT language.
You want to make sure your CV shows you have the knowledge, but
isn't so full of jargon that it alienates the reader.
Free CV Templates
Database Administrator Network Manager
Project Manager Web Designer
Web Developer
It's easy for you to put on your CV that you're an expert in HTML, but
don't be offended if you're asked to prove this by taking a test as part
of the interview process.
Technical ability is often the one aspect that sets one candidate
apart from the others. Before you attend your interview, find out if
there will be any tests and revise so a simple mistake doesn't ruin
your chances.
Employers will also look to find out about why you wanted to get into
IT and what you know about the industry as a whole.
As well as preparing for the general "What are your strengths and
weaknesses?" questions, you should do some research into the
latest technological developments in the industry and also think
about where you might like to be in five years time. A Senior Project
Manager? An IT consultant? They will want to know what it is about
the job that makes you passionate and what your future goals are.
Any job offer is a deal between a buyer (the employer) and a seller
(you) – it's important to make sure what is being offered meets with
your own expectations:
Further Reading
- How do I make a good first impression?
- What should I wear to my job interview?
- How can I calm my job interview nerves?
Early on in your career, you will need to consider whether you want
to specialise in a certain area, or become an all rounder. Those with
very specialist skills will always be in demand and IT consultants and
freelancers are amongst the highest paid workers in the UK.
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One of the beauties of the IT industry is that there are quite literally
hundred’s of different roles to choose from but the opportunities
aren't just limited to within the sector.
The skills that you develop and the knowledge you acquire make it
possible for you to make the switch to other roles offering the kind of
working conditions that you really want. If you feel that you're not
getting the people interaction you crave then a job as an IT Teacher
may be right for you, or if you reel you're not getting enough creative
input, Digital Marketing might be more suitable.
What Next?
If you’re still looking for advice on finding the right job, creating a
great CV or tips on job interview, career-advice.monster.co.uk
contains everything you ever wanted to know, and more!
They say that the grass isn’t greener on the other side, but
often it is. Our series of eBooks brings together expert advice
to help you secure the job you want and build a successful
career.