The benefits of working in information technology

IT professionals can work in any sector or industry. Beyond these sectors, the actual roles within IT are just as diverse.

Want a career in IT when you graduate or even just starting to think about it? Let us encourage you by outlining some of the main advantages of working in information technology in 2020.

The world needs IT professionals

There is a skills gap the world over when it comes to technology. Take, for example, the growing demand from businesses and governments seeking digital transformation and the need for cyber security experts as we become increasingly reliant on technology and data sharing. The IT skills shortage is typically in mid-level and higher positions rather than at graduate stage, but to plug the gap we need more people entering the profession and getting trained up.

• Search for graduate jobs in IT here.

You can work in tech without an IT degree

More and more technology employers are hiring graduates from any degree background because they recognise the benefit of filling their business with people trained to think in different ways, and because they can be trained up. This is most common for roles with more of a business slant, such as consultancy; however, an increasing number of employers, such as TPP and IBM, teach non-technical graduates to code.

• Find out more about IT careers without a technical degree.

You can work in any industry

Work for the NHS. Work for an investment bank. Work for a video games company, the government or a media company. Work for a small start-up or a multinational with 1,000+ people. Technology plays a crucial role in just about every industry going, so IT professionals are able to make in impact across all sorts of sectors. Beyond these sectors, the actual roles within IT are just as diverse.

• Ten typical jobs that graduates can do in IT.

IT salaries are generous

IT graduate jobs pay well compared to many other areas. If you work for an employer with a graduate scheme you could do very well for yourself – £25k–30k is not uncommon. Things look good with progression too. According to IT Jobs Watch, the median salary for a software developer is £45k; investment banking technology roles: £70k.

• Find out how much you could earn as an IT graduate here.

Perks and work/life balance are good

Free food, anyone? This and other perks and benefits are common at tech organisations, especially the larger ones, but perhaps more important is work/life balance. A report of the top 20 jobs for work/life balance* included several IT ones, with software developer in first place.

*Glassdoor