Eager to be as creative, diverse and capable as the technology you love to work with? A penchant for computing and software development will open a massive range of doors in today’s world – there’s no limit to what a tech grad scheme can do for you, shaping a talent that’s much in demand.
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Whether you’ve emerged with a solid grade in an IT, programming or digital engineering course, or simply harbour a talent for code and mathematics, a graduate training scheme will launch your technical ambitions like no other. It’s an essential proving ground for dedicating yourself to the tools of tomorrow.
To aid your decision, we’re looking at the bare-faced realities of a tech grad scheme, and how employers pick the best candidates...
What does a typical technology graduate scheme look like?
Since ‘technology’, as a broad definition, can apply to any area of industry, there’ll be distinct variety in the grad scheme structures you’ll come across. What is certain, however, is your role in the design, testing and deployment of software that the organisation relies on.
You’ll be tasked with making digital solutions more efficient and reliable. This may strengthen a company’s financial processes, security framework, service delivery and web presence, or all of the above.
In any case, you’ll be learning on the job, finding where your talents are best served. See our latest grad scheme posts for what to expect, or read about the typical demands of a tech trainee.
Expected salary
A reasonable figure for your earning potential falls, on average, between £22,000 and £30,000 a year. It’ll be directed in large part by your choice of employers. SMEs, for instance, tend to lie at the lower end of the scale, whilst fatter pay grades collate around the finance and tech advisor sectors.
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Career progression
Tech grad schemes have great potential for advancement, as long as you demonstrate your specialism in the training period. Again, since small and large-scale employers have technical needs, its scope will mirror the organisation you’re aligned to.
Helpdesk technicians, for example, can grow into a network administrator role, or head a team of security specialists. Programmers may eventually manage projects from the ground up, liaising with clients and determining what’s feasible on budgets, timescales and resource limitations. Electrical engineers can reach senior status with academic backing, helping them become chartered in the industry. The list goes on...
Technology graduate schemes for SMEs are less structured, whilst the biggest brands have a firm model for your advancement.
Top firms
As you might expect, some of the most fertile graduate employers are household names. Giants such as Microsoft, Google and Facebook are at the front of the pack, closely followed by communications brands like Sky and Vodafone. We’ve managed to present an overview here, so read up on the leading lights for a technology career.
Departments you can dip into
There are enough roles in the tech pipeline to stimulate your sense of achievement, regardless of what you’re interested in. Retail, government defence, a major bank... Take a look at this testimony from a Technical Consultant, just to get a sense of what a specific sector can represent.
What an ideal candidate looks like
Although a decisive background in coding, maths and computer science isn’t essential, it’ll definitely put you higher on the recruitment ladder. Beyond that, there are a couple of key skills that are perfect for a technology graduate scheme.
First off, you have to demonstrate some kind of technical ability – digital systems will be your main toolbox, so if they don’t excite you, there’s little merit in pursuing a job that centres around them. You also have to be logical, yet still able to take creative approaches to a project, melding a macro-intensive view with your own stamp on how a solution can be pulled off. Relevant work experience, no doubt, will evidence such traits.
Contextual awareness, too, is a major plus point for a tech grad scheme. Plentiful research, and a willingness to stay on top of global tech trends, will be seen as an asset. Companies want someone who’s fearless about making their digital capabilities world-class.
Discover how to form a quality application >>
EY are proud sponsors of our Tech career path guides. To find out more about EY and to review their job listings, visit their profile.
To kick-start your career in technology, take a look at our latest list of technology IT and software development graduate opportunities.