Five tips for tech career success

Looking for some technology careers advice? You’re in the right place.

We’ve put together our top five technology career tips for students. Follow them and you’ll get ahead of the competition. Whether you’re trying to snap up your desired internship in AI or get that starting role with an up-and-coming gaming company, our tips will help you get there.

Learn how to:

1. Prove your enthusiasm
2. Sharpen your skills
3. Become a master communicator
4. Find the right fit for you
5. Keep your finger on the pulse

It’s vital to show hard evidence of your interest in tech. Simply saying you’re interested in something isn’t enough proof for employers. They want to know about the times you’ve put your passions into practice. So, when you’re applying for a job, give employers examples of your enthusiasm.

When you’re writing your CV and cover letter, draw attention to the things you do in your free time that are relevant to the job. For example, perhaps you’re in a computing club, have built a website or played around with app development. It’s all good stuff to mention in applications and discuss during interviews.

Even if you’ve got a technology degree (like Computer Science) that proves your interest, you should still call out your extracurricular interests. It shows that you’re a well-rounded candidate who’s already taken technology outside of academia.

Not sure you’ve got evidence to show your enthusiasm? We know it can be hard to keep up with your hobbies at university but try and find the time if you can. Look out for societies that offer fun activities that fit around your course commitments.

Enthusiasm is a great start, but you also need certain skills to propel your career forward.

To show potential employers that you’re serious about a tech career, consider learning coding. Programming languages like C++ and Java are sought after. You can learn via formal or informal courses online or in person. If you do pick up coding, always list it in the skills section of your CV.

You could also sign up for a generalised IT course or bootcamp. The Department for Education (DfE) funds flexible Skills Bootcamps including in digital areas like data engineering and software development. Providing you meet the eligibility criteria, you can expand your skills for free. Read about Skills Bootcamps on the DfE’s website to find out more and browse available courses.

Looking for something informal? You’ll naturally sharpen your skills through your tech-related hobbies. When you apply for a job, make that clear to employers. If you build websites for fun, put knowledge of WordPress (or another content management system) in the skills section of your CV.

Being a strong communicator is always handy during the job hunt, whatever sector you want to work in. You use written communication to sell yourself in your CV and cover letter, while the words you use (and your body language) determine how you come across in interviews. And it doesn’t end there. Once you’ve got your dream job, you’ll use your communication skills to collaborate with colleagues, interrogate other people’s tech problems and explain your solutions. Being a good communicator is always valuable.

Concerned your communication skills aren’t up to scratch? Don’t worry. One great way to boost them is through teamwork. Use your time at uni to gain experience working in teams, whether that’s playing sports, performing theatre or joining the debating society. You’ll learn valuable transferable skills and could make amazing friends too. A wonderful bonus!

Work experience and internships are also great ways to push yourself out of your communication comfort zones. If you can deal with a tricky customer complaint at your Saturday job, you can handle future work conversations.

Once again, remember to display your communication skills on your CV. While an employer will judge your written communication from your application (beware of typos!), they won’t know you’re a great verbal communicator unless you tell them. So, find space to mention how you chair society meetings, for example.

Part of having a thriving technology career is finding the right fit for you and your skillset. You might thrive searching for cybersecurity flaws or work best troubleshooting tech issues with customers. Different roles will suit different people. Figuring out which will suit you best will set you on the path to success.

Completing internships is a fantastic way to learn firsthand where you fit in. It’s as much about discovering what you don't like as it is about finding what you love. So, don’t fret if you don’t enjoy a placement. If you’ve learned something, it’s still a good thing.

It’s also important to find the right working environment. For example, if you value structure and a clear progression path, you might be more likely to find what you’re looking for at a large firm. However, if you want individual recognition (rather than relative anonymity), you might prefer a small business as your employer. You should also consider whether you’d like to work remotely, on-site or a mixture of the two. There’s no right or wrong path for a successful career. You just have to find the environment that’s best for you.

Technology is always changing. If you’re reading our tips at the start of your degree, there’s a chance that you’ll get a graduate tech role that doesn’t even exist yet. You never know!

To have a successful career in technology, you need to be willing to adapt to change. And to get ahead, you should stay on top of industry updates. If you notice an emerging tech trend, getting in there early and upskilling yourself will make you desirable to employers.

In such a fast-changing industry, it’s impossible to keep track of every update in every specialism. However, it’s still worth knowing what’s new in the areas you’re interested in. If you don’t have time for extra reading at uni, why not put on a tech news podcast while you’re on the bus?

At a top level, many tips for tech career success are the same as they are for many sectors. To get the role you want, you need to show an employer that you’re enthusiastic and have the right skills (including communication abilities). To prove you’ve got what they’re looking for, you’ll need to gain experience to evidence your passion and skills. You can build it up through your hobbies, university societies, courses and part-time work.

Another piece of technology careers advice is that it’s important to remember the value of finding the right employer and role. There are many different roles in technology. Plus, every workplace has its own culture. You won’t always find the right match the first time round, but that’s OK. Part of carving out a successful tech career involves figuring out what you want and where your skills best lie. If you keep up to date with industry goings-on and the latest tech developments, you’ll get a better idea of the paths you could follow.

Whatever type of technology position you’re looking for, we hope that our technology career tips for students have helped you get an idea of what you can do to boost your job prospects. If you use your time at uni to expand your technology knowledge, gain transferable skills and explore potential working environments, you’ll get your career off to a flying start.

For lots more handy tips and tricks, check out our technology career advice and resources.