Breaking into the IT sector (advice from FDM Group)

This week's careers blog post from our sister website LinkHIgher comes from International IT services provider FDM Group, who have given us their advice on how to get ahead as a postgraduate in the IT sector.

A career in Information Technology is extremely lucrative and one that provides excellent prospects and rapid career progression compared to other industries.

Almost all UK, and indeed international businesses, rely on IT in an assortment of specialist areas. Gone are the days when developers spent their working lives programming in back office rooms. IT Consultants are now required to adapt to new surroundings and work in high pressured environments, very much at the forefront of businesses.

However, despite the industry boom, sector skills council e-Skills recently reported that the demand for IT staff has overtaken the number of jobseekers.According to the report, the number of jobs advertised within the sector jumped to 101,000 in the third quarter of 2010, while the number of IT professionals seeking work fell to 100,000.This creates a huge window of opportunity for individuals looking to break into the industry and the rewards for embarking on a career in IT will not be disappointing. IT recruitment firm CV Screen recently reported that the average salary for a permanent IT role in the UK is now £38,946, a 5% increase on the same period last year.

Career progression throughout the IT sector is also accelerated and FDM Group Head of Learning and Development Phil West said, “The IT field is a fast moving environment. People with a head for change and flair for the business can quickly find themselves catapulted into leading positions within big organisations.�

Postgraduates who have gained the technical skills needed to work within the IT industry alongside an applied MSc are often successful. However postgraduates who have opted to study unrelated subjects at University and wish to break into the IT industry may find the struggle to gain employment a losing battle.

Blue-chip companies and investment banks often require their employees to be ‘work-ready’ from day one. The ability to hit the ground running when stepping into an IT role may entail the completion of industry recognised qualifications and further training, regardless of whether or not an applicant possesses an MSc.

The majority of these companies also require a minimum of two years commercial experience, which creates a further obstacle for postgraduates without solid work experience within the industry.

This is where UK employers such as FDM Group come in.

FDM aims to tackle the IT skills shortage by providing the essential combination of technical training and real commercial experience within some of the largest financial, media, retail and insurance companies in the world. A background in IT is not compulsory as FDM Group regularly accepts candidates from Finance, Engineering, Mathematics, Science and even Business, Economics and Law backgrounds.The most important quality FDM Group looks for in an individual is an enthusiastic and proactive approach towards pursuing a career in IT.

Naufal Mir graduated from the University of Sheffield with an MSc in Engineering in 2009 and is now a fully-fledged FDM IT Consultant. He said, “FDM appreciated that my masters had provided me with the problem solving skills required to excel in an IT role, despite the fact that I did not have a Computer Science degree. What is great about FDM is that they see past the subject you studied at University and recognise potential and a passion for the industry, opening doors for many graduates and postgraduates.�

FDM Group advises individuals interested in breaking into the industry to know their market and keep up with industry trends. Due to the ever-evolving nature of the field, IT enthusiasts need to adapt to new technologies on a regular basis.

A clear career path is also vital for all postgraduates. FDM Group’s Recruitment Operations Manager, Catherine Cheek explained, “As the IT sector is so incredibly vast, one of the most important things for job seekers to do, is to figure out where they want to go and how they’re going to get there. It is only through hard work driven by passion and clear direction that jobseekers will make it in this industry.�

Applicants who have been proactive in learning new skills and gaining work experience will also be the most successful. In fact one of the founding members of FDM lifted the company off the ground by teaching himself to use computer programmes such as Unix.
FDM Group also advises candidates interested in launching a career in IT to make a lasting impression through their CV and covering letter. A passionate and clear application can make all the difference.

As the 11th fastest growing company in Europe, FDM is employing 1,000 graduates this year alone. For information on how to apply within all branches please visit the website.

Tags: FDM, IT, Employability, Skills Training