Searching for a new job is more challenging in 2020 than ever. The UK jobs market has been hit extremely hard by the Coronavirus crisis. As a result, many people who were in seemingly safe jobs now face career uncertainty. For anyone seeking entry level tech jobs, there are fewer choices available and increased competition.
That said where many industry sectors have struggled this year, the tech industry still thrives. So whether you’re a college leaver, or looking for a career change, we have compiled a list of entry level tech jobs that are easy to get into.
Why Choose a Career in Technology?
It is a common misconception that it is necessary to have a bachelors degree in Computer Science to get a career in tech. With tech professionals being in such extraordinarily high demand at present hiring managers are considering applicants who have come in via other routes. So with demand for tech professionals exceeding availability, there is no better time to break into the world of technology.
In the past, a degree may have been necessary to land your first entry level tech job. These days, hiring managers more commonly look for an eagerness to learn over a string of qualifications. At present, there are many beginner computer science jobs that you don’t need a degree for.
As well as tech careers being accessible, there is the potential to progress quickly into high paying jobs from an entry level role. So, in addition to sharing with you five entry level tech jobs that are easy to get into, we will also give examples of where your career might lead.
Five Entry Level Tech Jobs that are Easy to Get Into
1 – First Line Technical Support
Technical Support Specialists, or Tech Support Engineers, are one of those jobs in IT that is essential to every business that relies on technology to function. It is their job to provide computer support and assistance with information systems, usually over the phone but sometimes in person. They might serve employees within a business or third parties who may encounter problems with a company’s software or equipment.
When hiring Technical Support Specialists, companies look for people with:
- Good communication skills
- Confident when talking on the phone
- Keen problem solvers
You don’t need a great deal of technical knowledge to get into tech support, although it helps if you have an interest in computer systems. Delivering timely and efficient customer service is also a large part of Tech Support. So having previous experience in a customer-facing position will also help.
Entry level positions are often referred to as First-Line Support and usually offer salaries starting at £18,000. With a few year’s experience, you might expect to progress to 2nd or 3rd Line which pays an average salary of around £35,000 – £40,000.
Tech Support can offer exposure to many different aspects of the tech world. Therefore an entry level job in this field can open doors to many other career options. People who chose this path into IT may go on to pursue a career as a Systems Analyst, Project Manager or DevOps Engineer, to name a few.
Jobs in Website Creation/Maintenance
The recent health crisis has brought to the fore, how important it is for companies to have an online presence. Now more than ever, companies are crying out to fill any vacancies they have that involve creating and maintaining websites.
Web Designers and Web Developers are both in the game of building websites, but there are distinct differences between the two. Where Web Designers focus on the look and feel of a website, Web Developers concentrate more on its functionality. Web Developers will therefore need more knowledge of different coding languages, whereas a Web Designer’s skill set will include things like Photoshop and design.
2 – Junior Web Designer
If you want to get into Web Design, you will need to be able to demonstrate your interest and ability in this field. However, due to the abundance of web design courses available online now, this is child’s play. Most beginner courses guide you through creating a website, which you can do at your own pace and add to it as you learn new skills. Voila – there you have an online portfolio that will enable you to get a job!
Junior Web Designer salaries start at around £18,000 although, with a few year’s experience, a Senior Web Designer can expect to earn between £30,000 and £60,000.
3 – Trainee Web Developer
Web Developers need more technical coding knowledge to get started in their careers. For this reason, starting salaries for Junior Web Developers are slightly higher at around £25,000. However, Senior Web Developers earn roughly the same at around £30,000 – £60,000.
It is easy to gain experience as a Web Developer by following online courses or attending coding clubs. The latter will also enable you to expand your social circle within the dev community. Building a network in this way may help boost your career options in future – you never know who you might meet or what they will become!
4 – Junior Software Developer
To become a Software Developer, you will need a portfolio which demonstrates your achievements. Don’t let that put you off though. There is a multitude of online courses you can take that will enable you to build a portfolio.
When hiring Software Developers, employers expect to see evidence of the computer languages they know and what they can do with them. Hiring managers seeking Junior Software Developers might look for any combination of the following:
- Java
- Ruby
- Python
- C#
- JavaScript
Junior roles in Software Development start with salaries around £20,000, while the average Senior Developer earning £35,000 – £60,000.
The future career choices for anyone choosing a career in Software Development are incredibly varied. Within Software Development, there are many different avenues to pursue, such as Game Development, Mobile App Development, or if you wanted to get more involved in software functionality, you could become a Software Engineer.
There are myriad combinations of languages and skills developers choose to learn, depending on what outcome they want to achieve. Because of this, many developers are choosing the self-taught route over going to university. Employers also respect the determination of those who choose this path and often value this over qualifications.
5 – Trainee Cyber Security Analyst/Technician
Business websites are frequently under attack from criminals trying to obtain access to customer data or even their bank accounts. For this reason, Cyber Security experts are vital to businesses.
However, there are surprisingly few Cyber Security Experts within the jobs market. This means that there is very little competition for jobs and little to no unemployment. It also means that Cyber Security experts are exceptionally well paid! Starting salaries range from about £25,000 but can reach anything up to a whopping £100,000 with experience.
If you’re just embarking on your career in Cyber Security, the best route in might be an apprenticeship. To get a taste of what a fascinating career choice Cyber Security can be, seek out hackathon events in your area.
A Few Final Words on Entry Level Tech Jobs That Are Easy to Get Into
When we say ‘easy to get into’ of course we mean, you don’t need a degree to earn a reasonable salary. If you want to step into the world of tech, there will be a certain amount of work to do to achieve your goal. That said, the rewards are considerable. The salaries are handsome, and you get to spend the rest of your career working in a creative environment.
If you are more interested in any of the job roles mentioned above, why not check out our active jobs? Of course, looking at what is currently available will only highlight what employers are looking for right now. But it may give you some idea of what to aim for in future if you choose to pursue interested in a career in tech.
If you’re interested in finding out more about entry level job options, check out our other articles covering entry-level Digital jobs and entry-level Digital Marketing jobs.
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Thanks for this useful article. I’m starting the process of changing careers and trying to decide exactly what route to take.
Thanks for your great feedback, Thérèse. We are delighted to read that you found it helpful. All the best with your career move!
Looking for an entry level job – interest to go into cloud, with potential to build within a company but also relocate if necessary. It’s very hard to get that first job with no real IT work experience, any advice?
That’s an excellent question! However, for specific career advice in your area of interest, our recruitment consultants would be the best people to have a conversation with. You can speak to them via the chat function on our website or feel free to give them a call.
Very Informative, Kindly help a web developer with no experience, no job is too small, thank you
Hi Yvonne, I’m sure that if you contact our recruitment team and explain exactly what it is that you want help with, they would be happy to help you with any career advice they have to offer.
Thank you for this Very helpful
Thanks for your feedback Bee, I’m so glad you found it useful!
Excellent article. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comment Manoj, we’re so glad you found it useful!
Many thanks for this article. It was not only informative but more helpful for me as I would like to discover IT field and make a new career.
Thanks once more☺️
Hi Herman,
Thank you so much for your comment. We’re glad to be able to help! We wish you every success throughout your journey.