European sector overview: IT/telecoms

IT is an integral part of everyday life and opportunities span the globe.

Careers in IT are on the increase again as the market sees a return to health and an upturn in technology spending after five years of economic uncertainty. Most of the large, well known IT employers, such as IBM, have international offices offering a wide range of opportunities for enterprising graduates, while Microsoft employs more than 70,000 people worldwide and has offices in over 100 countries. But IT careers can be found in almost all commercial enterprises, so don’t restrict your search to IT companies alone.

Be aware that not all IT offices around the globe will offer the same types of jobs. Some divisions work purely in sales, marketing and highlevel IT services, so if you want to be involved in the more technical development side of IT work it is wise to investigate what is available in the country in which you would like to work. Broadly speaking IT employers operate in one of the following three areas:

Creating technology – developing hardware and devices, operating systems and software.
Harnessing technology – providing consultancy and services, systems integration, outsourcing, data supply or storage.
Using technology – nearly all commercial, government, educational and charitable organisations rely on technology and information systems for their operations and therefore have some form of information technology division that supports business and assesses technology requirements.

Developing markets

The telecommunications industry has increased its spread with many of the significant players, including
Vodafone and Alcatel, reaching across European borders. Even BT offers opportunities in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, as well as in the UK. They are not the only ones interested in international graduates, however. Technology organisations such as Nokia, Philips and Siemens are also regular graduate employers that attend careers fairs across Europe and advertise vacancies on their websites for students in a number of different countries.

The talented must have...

European employers usually expect graduates to have a degree relevant to the area in which they are applying to work, especially if they are applying for a technical role. Specific IT skills and technical knowledge are needed to enter some areas. Graduates without a technical degree background typically enter non-technical roles in areas such as sales, marketing and consultancy. However, some organisations will recruit non-technical graduates into business-related IT roles. Another option for graduates starting an international career is to try to gain employment in their home country, preferably in an international company that can offer them training in the necessary skills, the knowledge needed to progress and the chance to move abroad at a later stage.

It can be difficult to find out where jobs are advertised, but employer websites are a good place to start. Graduates should research IT opportunities in all business sectors, including government organisations, banks and other commercial organisations. Annual careers publications that offer country-specific information, advice and vacancies for graduates include TARGETjobs IT (UK), TARGET Carrières Techniques (France) and Staufenbiel IT (Germany).

Graduates should be prepared for online applications and assessment centre-based recruitment practices in larger pan-European organisations. These usually include competence-based interviews and group exercises to test teamwork skills. Applicants need to demonstrate a strong interest in IT and be able to explain how IT solutions can be applied in a business context. Work experience is a great stepping-stone into the industry, while language skills and the ability to adapt quickly to different working methods are great assets in the international graduate recruitment market and will be highly valued by employers.

To apply successfully you need to demonstrate to employers that you meet their needs. Research is essential – into the industry, the organisation and their competitors – so that you understand what issues affect an organisation and what specific skills an employer seeks.

The IT package - top skills

Communication skills are a necessity in the industry, both in terms of tailoring your communication to your audience and when communicating with internal colleagues.
Business awareness is also essential to the budding IT employee. You need to demonstrate knowledge of the sector including an awareness of your employer’s business and competitors and follow the trends in new technology.
Drive andmotivation are essential as the IT industry is a fast-moving industry that requires an enthusiastic and tenacious approach.
Flexibility and adaptability are vital. You have to be aware of and be able to adapt to the introduction of new technologies.

In the news

The European mobile phone industry is facing tough competition from global competitors. The average price of a mobile phone call in Europe is €0.13 a minute, compared with €0.006 in the USA.
Bluebook has been launched in the UK. This is a service provided by O2 that backs up users’ telephone numbers and automatically stores text messages free of charge.
The iPhone hit the UK in November 2007: although it missed Christmas sales targets 483,000 phones have been sold since the launch. Sales in France (where the handsets are transferable between networks) have been much stronger.

More European career sectors to consider

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