Jobs: Technology

Opportunities to further your career within the Technology industry

The large amount of job opportunities and the limited supply of talent creates skill shortages across most technology sectors, which is difficult to bridge.

With the increasing importance of technology in our everyday lives, all industries need technology experts and larger companies usually have their own in-house department. More and more technology roles are being integrated into individual business units rather than sitting in a separate department as businesses move to modernise operating models. Besides technology companies, the retail, financial and public sector also offer multiple job opportunities.

Salary information and career progression

The technology industry encompasses many disciplines, so average salaries can vary significantly. However, the below data gives you a good ballpark figure based upon the level of experience:

Recent Changes for Technology Jobs

Since there have been some drastic changes in technology over the last couple of years, it is not surprising that the employment market has also been constantly changing. One of these changes is the exponential growth in the number of specialisms within technology. Some of the most popular areas include Cloud Computing, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Internet Of Things, Technical Product Management, DevOps, Cyber Security and Agile practices. 

Future Prospects

The working conditions for technical professionals are expected to stay as attractive as they currently are. This means that they will continue to have great on-site facilities, work with the latest technologies and in most cases have flexible working policies. Due to the fact that constant innovation is central to this industry, it is likely that technical jobs will offer plenty of opportunities for learning new skills and professional development. 

Salt’s advice for getting a job in the technology industry

• Employers’ Requirements

  The employers’ requirements for technology specialists strongly depend on the area in which you are specialised. If your job is business-focused, employers will want to see that you are commercially astute and able to apply your technical knowledge to solve business problems. If you have a very specific technical job e.g. software engineering or programming, it is crucial to show employers the depth of your development skills and your ability to pick up new technologies and concepts. Despite the differences, there are some key competencies which are expected from all technology professionals, including communication, analytical ability and problem-solving.

• CV Requirements

  Similar to the employers’ requirements, the CV requirements for technology jobs vary strongly between the various specialist sectors. Some core elements that all CVs should contain are technical knowledge and soft skills. CVs should be focussed on outcomes and achievements rather than purely responsibilities. Technology professionals should show that they keep themselves up to date with the latest technologies and principles in their field.

• Technology Job Interview Preparation

  There are two main objectives of the interview. Firstly, is to determine how you would fit into the team and how you align with the company values. Secondly, is to find out if your knowledge and experience corresponds to the requirements of a particular job. Depending on the role, different test formats can be used. One of the formats is verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning which test general ability. Another is testing specific skills such as coding and syntax. An increasingly popular format is being presented with a real world problem and being asked to find a solution using technology and then talk through your reasoning. The best way to prepare for a technical interview is to refresh your knowledge about the fundamentals in a specific technical field. Most interviews will include behavioural and situational questions, which will require you to provide examples from your past experiences to evidence the answer. To prepare for this, firstly, research behavioural and competency questions. Then look at the position description to see what behaviours and competencies it requires. Lastly, think back to some of your past achievements and experiences that illustrate these, so they are easier to recall in the interview.

• Educational Requirements

  Some companies require their future employees to have a bachelor’s degree in IT, ideally in fields like computer science or information systems, although increasingly there is less emphasis on this, and companies will look for vocational experience and training instead. Some employers expect their employees to also have a postgraduate degree for highly specialised roles such as Data Science. Certain roles have industry qualifications and accreditations as a requirement e.g. Scrum Master, Agile Coach, Information Security Specialist.