Entering the IT industry: The challenges we face

As of 5th Jan 2024, there has been over 2,300 vacancies posted online for IT professionals. A great market with great choice - But have a guess how many were suitable for Graduates? 30%..... 20%.....? No, only 6.3% of roles were eligible for a graduate.

As a recruiter, I'm constantly coming across graduates and trainees that are eager to join one of the fastest growing industries in the UK. It's a highly sought-after career and more and more people are entering this field. But people really struggle to enter this industry because there is so much competition and so many barriers.

Like all industries, it has it's challenges and can be scary for people that are eager to develop. I wanted to talk about the 6 points that come up the most. Things I see every day - Things that are holding back some amazing and talented people.

Businesses do struggle when deciding if they want to introduce graduate-level roles to their workforce.

At the end of the day, it is an investment and not all businesses have the resources that are needed when coaching, guiding and mentoring entry-level professionals. Sometimes it's a big decision for a company to make which is why there is a decrease in Graduate roles however, this is to give a little insight into how tricky it can be and maybe give motivation to companies that are pondering the possibility of bringing in their next Graduate.

Investment in Training:

One of the biggest issues facing newly qualified IT professionals is the reluctance of companies to invest in their training and development.

In an increasingly competitive job market, many employers seek candidates who come equipped with a specific skill set, often leaving recent graduates feeling overlooked and undervalued.

With the difficulties companies are having constantly (funding, availability, decreases in management) this is becoming a big barrier.

Experience Requirements for Entry-Level Roles:

Right, this is one I could go on about for weeks....

A common frustration among graduates (and recruiters!) is the frequency of job postings that are "Entry-Level" but somehow feel it is right to require 2+ years experience.....

This requirement creates a classic catch-22 situation where individuals need experience to get a job but can't gain experience without a job. I feel like this needs to be addressed.

**For companies that tend to do this. Here is the official definition of Entry-Level:

"Beginner or first-time user"

"At the lowest level in the employment hierarchy" (excluding professionals with experience)

Even 1+ years' experience can be seen to be merging into the mid-level criteria - Something to consider when posting jobs out there.

To address this issue, companies should look at their focus from rigid experience requirements to assessing candidates based on their potential, aptitude, and willingness to learn. By doing so, they can tap into a pool of talented individuals eager to contribute and grow.

Decrease in Entry-Level Opportunities:

Over the past few years, there has been a decline in the number of entry-level job openings within the IT sector.

This trend is linked to various factors, including UK economics, tech advancements requiring more and more experience, and shifting job requirements.

As a result, competition for available positions has massively increased with the number of applicants for Graduate-Level roles increasing to almost 300+ people per vacancy. To counteract this trend, companies must work together to stimulate job demand, creating more opportunities for aspiring IT grads to kickstart their careers.

Financial Burden of Education:

Now It's not all about the companies and the financial environment for businesses - Going for a degree in Computer Science (or similar) is essentially a full-time commitment and doing a degree that will take you away from employment is not something that's always possible. There is a lack of apprentice jobs.

For many aspiring IT professionals, the costs of obtaining a degree can be overwhelming, Some have families that require income. Additionally, the expectation of acquiring additional certifications or specialised training further compounds this financial challenge. Yet another hurdle to come across.

We then come across the troubles that a business has when they have decided to hire a graduate:

Remote working expectations

Over the past 3 years, remote work has become increasingly prevalent. (post COVID) and for some reason, IT is advertised as the "Remote working standard"

However, for many companies, particularly those in the IT sector, balancing the benefits of remote work with the necessity for on-site training poses a significant challenge.

While remote work offers flexibility and cost savings, it can sometimes hinder effective training and collaboration, especially for newly qualified IT professionals who require hands-on guidance and mentorship.

If graduates are looking for a role that will give them both experience, training and a career - Blindly refusing to take a role that is either hybrid or on-site is not how you do this.

Whilst remote positions are available, don't limit yourself by assuming you're entitled to remote working.

Salary expectations

Now, I'm not really going to go to much into this but please understand -

When you are a graduate and entering this industry with little-to-no experience, asking for a ￡35k salary can be bit unrealistic.

Now I'm never saying don't aim high! But you will massively limit your opportunities (and push potential companies away) if you have expectations that don't match your experience.

There are many websites to visit that will give you average salaries in the UK for your specific speciality. I would highly recommend doing some research on this :)

The difficulties are obvious from both sides. Companies can't change their structure overnight and there will always be an overwhelming amount of entry-level applicants just due to the demand and the appeal of this industry. I think it's important to push companies to think about the benefits of junior & entry-level employees. It's a bit cliché but when you take on a Graduate, it genuinely is an investment to your company.

For a conclusion, whilst some companies are heavily investing in employing graduates, there is still a lack of understanding with (some) businesses when it comes to just how much of an investment it can be to take on graduates.

It is predicted that there will be an increase of over 15% with the number of people who are doing additional IT qualifications or Degrees this year, so lets see what we can do...........