Tech: IT, data, machine learning, and AI

Roles within the tech sector are typically grouped into "technical" and "non-technical" roles, depending on how much programming and technical expertise is required. We've used this grouping below for the sake of clarity, but it's important to bear in mind that, in reality, there is a continuum rather than a sharp boundary, ranging from very technical roles, such as software engineering and data science, through less technical and more user-focused, such as product management and user experience, to generalist roles such as people and sales.

In broad terms, we can group tech roles into three main categories:

1. Technical roles in tech companies: In a technology-centric company, such as a software development firm or a tech startup, there are numerous technical roles, such as software engineers, data scientists, and IT specialists. These roles require deep technical expertise and are focused on creating and maintaining the company's tech products or infrastructure.
2. Non-technical role in tech companies: Tech companies also need non-technical and less-technical roles to operate effectively. Roles like product managers, business analysts, user experience (UX) researchers, sales, marketing, and HR are integral parts of tech companies, bridging the gap between the technical aspects of the product and its market fit, usability, and business viability.
3. Technical role in non-tech companies: Technical roles extend beyond the boundaries of tech companies. Many non-tech industries like finance, retail, healthcare and government also have a significant tech component. For example, in a government public health department, a data scientist may analyse and interpret large datasets to inform public health policies, respond to health crises, and enhance population well-being

Below we expand on the vast range of opportunities in the tech sector by looking at the kind of organisations involved and the variety of available roles. 

Employing Organisations

There is an enormous range of employers that hire graduates into technology-driven careers and an increasing variety of careers where some technical skill or knowledge is a genuine asset. There are three main categories:

• Technology creators: create hardware and software for end-users. These include household names such as Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Apple and IBM, as well as more specialist firms like Nominet (domain names) and Sophos (cyber-security). Other technology creators include gaming and digital entertainment companies as well as technology start-ups, from app developers to high-tech start-ups;
• Technology consultants and service providers: support client firms with their IT and technology challenges, advising on the development and implementation of systems and/or embedding consultants at client firms to implement solutions and support services;
• End-users: all organisations that use IT to support their core activities, many of which also develop their own tools and software in-house. These can be found in all sectors, including banking and fintech, engineering, government, healthcare, law, publishing, retail, science and pharma.

End-user organisations employ a large proportion of the IT workforce and often run highly developed graduate training programmes. Some of the larger technology creators have also established graduate recruitment programmes, whilst smaller start-up companies are keen to hire talented young people excited by the opportunity to work on new tools and concepts in a rapidly developing marketplace.

Technical roles

There is a very varied selection of roles and even more job titles. We recommend that you start by exploring some of the detailed job descriptions available at Prospects: job profiles or TargetJobs: job descriptions (with 29 different roles in IT & Technology).

The summaries below offer only a first look at some of the many roles available, and the links will take you to the full job profile on the Prospects.ac.uk graduate careers website:

• Applications developer: you will translate software requirements into workable programming code and maintain and develop programs for use in a business, usually working within a specific development field and using in-depth knowledge of at least one computer language.
• Business analyst: within your organisation, you help to manage change and plan for the future. You will need to combine an excellent understanding of the organisation and its sector and the application of information and software systems. You will work with internal and external stakeholders to develop functions, services and products to deliver project outcomes. The external equivalent is the role of IT Consultant, and alternative job titles include business architect, enterprise analyst, process analyst, requirements engineer, or systems analyst.
• Cyber-Security Analyst: you will work to protect an organisation by deploying a range of technologies and processes to prevent, detect and manage cyber threats. This can include the protection of computers, data, networks and programmes in the organisation you work for, or working as a consultant offering advisory services to clients. These roles may also be called Information Security Analyst/Consultant, Security Operations Centre (SOC) analyst and Cyber Intelligence Analyst. Closely related roles include Forensic Computer Analyst and Penetration Tester.
• Data scientist: you will extract, analyse and interpret large amounts of (unstructured) data, and use algorithmic, data mining, artificial intelligence, machine learning and statistical tools to find patterns, make predictions and help to solve problems and provide accessible insights to businesses. Read this Udacity blog post for a brief and accessible look at the main types of Data Science jobs.
• Games developer: working on the creation and production of games, your work may focus mainly on programming or, in smaller firms, the job may incorporate visual design or story development work alongside programming.
• Information systems manager: you will be responsible for the computer systems within a company. This can be a great fit for people who love a fast-paced, problem-solving IT role and managing networks. With experience in the sector, technical support or operations, the manager can expect to be in charge of technicians, programmers and database administrators.
• IT consultant: you will need to combine great communication and organisational skills with good knowledge and understanding of IT systems. You will work with and advise clients on how to use information technology to meet their business objectives or overcome problems. You can also expect to manage projects and provide guidance in all areas, from selection and procurement to user training.
• SEO Specialist: search engine optimisation (SEO) ties together technical and analytical skills with a knowledge and interest in marketing in order to transform a company's online presence. Also called online marketer or digital account executive, you can expect to identify and deploy strategies and tactics to boost website rankings in search results and increase website traffic and engagement.
• Software engineer: a wide variety of roles combine highly complex, technical work with computer science and mathematics. Software engineers create, maintain, audit and improve systems to meet particular needs within the organisation, working closely with others to design and test systems, diagnose and resolve system faults. The roles include programming and writing code for operating systems and software to ensure efficiency and making recommendations for improvements.
• Web Designer: you will be responsible for the design, creation and coding of web pages. The web designer role combines technical and non-technical skills to produce websites. The work involves looking after both the look of a website and how it works. Not to be confused with the Web Developer role, which is focused more on back-end development.

Less technical and non-technical roles

• Product Manager: you will oversee the development of tech products (e.g. an app, video game) from conception to market, ensuring that the final product meets users' needs while aligning with business goals.
• Project management: you will orchestrate the planning, execution, and monitoring of tech projects, including defining scope, creating schedules, allocating resources and coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure the projects are completed on time and within budget.
• User Interface (UI) Designer you will create accessible, aesthetically appealing and meaningful interfaces that allow users to easily understand and use complex technical products.
• User Experience (UX) Researcher: you will gather insights from users to improve tech products and deliver the best possible experience for the users of a tech product (e.g. website). This may involve conducting surveys, interviews, and usability tests to understand users' behaviours and preferences.
• Technical Writer: you will communicate complex technical concepts in a clear and understandable manner, by creating clear documentation, manuals and guides that help users and colleagues understand and use technology effectively. 

Just as in any other industry, the tech sector hires staff into roles outside their technical IT teams. For example, Apple, Google, IBM and LinkedIn offer graduate scheme routes. These non-IT roles can include:

• General Management and Leadership programmes
• Finance and accountancy
• HR and Personnel
• Project management
• Engineering
• Market research
• Sales and account management
• Buying and procurement
• Planning and partnership roles
• Business development roles
• Marketing and PR

Choosing an organisation

When trying to decide on the type of organisation you would like to work in, take some time to understand how different firms are organised and resourced, and try to think about what environment suits you best.

Smaller organisations often offer a less ‘corporate’ working environment, in terms of location or the office set-up (e.g. table football and bean bags in the office). They are also often more orientated around the individual and may offer better working hours, or greater flexibility. Other small-firm benefits may include more direct contact with senior managers or a greater opportunity to make an individual impact. However, the training and support you receive may be less structured than in a big firm.

Larger organisations may offer a greater range of opportunities and funding for training and development internally, not just in technical areas but also in your wider personal development. As with graduate schemes in other sectors, you may work on a number of ‘rotations’, gaining knowledge about different core business areas (e.g. sales; marketing; HR; operations; product development; financial management). Also, the scale of the projects you work on at a large organisation tends to be larger - and may be high profile – although the teams can be bigger, and you may be only one of many working on a project.

Skills needed

Technical skills

Requested technical skills vary widely by the specific role and its function. For example, Python and SQL are especially relevant for data and AI roles, while JavaScript/TypeScript are important for web and product engineering. Check live job adverts and tools such as IT Jobs Watch to track changes.

For people with coding skills, it is a good idea to share and showcase your personal projects. Recruiters will be interested in seeing your work on GitHub and will typically put candidates through coding exercises as part of the recruitment process. 

For those looking to learn and improve their skills, there are plenty of taught courses available at Oxford University, ranging from short programmes on the IT Services training courses Intranet page (usually free of charge or priced lower for Oxford students) right up to postgraduate-level courses. Check the offerings from Oxford Lifelong Learning for options in a range of digital skills.

If you are interested in working in a technical role but don’t have any coding skills yet, the University’s Computer Science Society and Code First: Girls offer free coding courses during term time if you want to learn alongside others. Alternatively, you can start by taking one of the many ‘learn to code’ self-taught programmes, either with Oxford IT Services or another online platform (e.g. Codecademy).

Oxford also has other student societies that are focused around the use and application of technologies and IT careers. In addition to the Oxford Computer Science Society, consider seeking out Oxford Women in Computer Science (OxWoCS); the Oxford AI Society; or the Oxford Blockchain Society. You can also sign-up for hackathons (e.g. Oxford Hack, Varsity Hack), run projects or take on some of the competitions and challenges on Kaggle or those run by companies as part of their graduate recruitment.  Explore EnSpire Oxford for hackathons, startup support and networks.

Non-technical skills

Many organisations will recruit graduates from a wide range of degree disciplines - even for technical roles - if they demonstrate enthusiasm for the industry and the potential to learn to code quickly. Transferable skills - such as being able to work collaboratively, communicate clearly, and work with both data and clients - may be highly predictive of future success, and are likely to be given considerable weight in recruitment processes. See our suite of advice on Developing your Employability Skills for ideas and inspiration for how to enhance your transferable skills. 

Getting experience

Experience is not essential to get a job in IT, but makes you far more competitive and demonstrates to a potential employer that you have an understanding of - and interest in - the sector.

A very large number of organisations will run structured internship programmes, some of which require no technical skills and focus more on training and personal development of coding skills. You can meet representatives of many firms that target recruitment at Oxford in Michaelmas term through the University of Oxford career fairs - consider especially attending our Science, Engineering and Technology Fair; Careers in Computing fair; and Jobs for Mathematicians fairs.  However, there are many other opportunities available (see live jobs on CareerConnect), and if you are interested in a company that doesn’t offer a structured internship programme, speculative applications can be a great way to generate opportunities.

Internships

Internships and work experience places are offered year-round on CareerConnect. At the beginning of every Oxford term, look for short-term work experience projects advertised as Micro-internships from the Careers Internship Office - you will need to apply in the first 10 days of term, and the placements take place in 9th week of the same term. There are also some fantastic opportunities exclusively opened to Oxford students – all over the world, in the UK and even within the university itself – every year in the Summer Internship programme (the programme opens for applications in January each year).

Smaller companies may not have a planned programme, and will either advertise ad hoc as positions or projects come up, or they may respond to speculative approaches. Contact companies directly to learn whether or not they might offer work experience, shadowing, internships or similar. Use the employer directory on CareerConnect to search firms that have been in contact with the Careers team in the past.

Technical internships without computer science skills

Organisations which might well consider an application for a technical role from a graduate without programming skills may not be able to offer the same degree of flexibility when it comes to their internships. This is because, in a placement which lasts a few weeks or months, there may not be enough time to train you so that you can contribute to the work. If you’re aiming for technical roles without a computer science background, it might be worth initially combining a non-technical internship with a separate opportunity to learn some programming skills (see ‘Skills Needed’ above).

Will I get paid?

Internships and summer jobs are governed in the UK by National Minimum Wage law, which means that if you are carrying out activities that class you as a “worker” by the employer, then you should be paid. Full details of Employment Rights and Pay for Interns are published by the government.

If you are undertaking a learning and development opportunity such as a micro-internship, or volunteering for a charity or statutory body, or shadowing or observing, then you may not be eligible for the National Minimum Wage. The organisation may reimburse you for your travel and/or lunch expenses, but they aren’t obliged to do so.

Boot camps for Data Science

Short intensive technology training boot camps are also a viable option to learn new skills quickly to add to your CV. With the growing skills gap in these areas, more boot camp-style courses are popping up to help you get up to speed on the latest tech skills. These typically last between 5 to 10 weeks.

In particular, boot camps can offer the chance for students to gain experience in working on business-related projects. The better programmes tend to work closely with commercial companies which can provide datasets and expertise to support teaching. Participants will sometimes undertake analyses and make recommendations on live projects for the commercial partner organisations - which may also be looking to recruit directly from the boot camp!  

Most boot camps carry a cost for participants, and we are reluctant to suggest fee-based programmes. However, in the field of data science, some boot camps run exclusive programmes for final-year and newly graduated PhDs and STEM Masters students with fellowships or significantly reduced costs.

These boot camps can be an excellent springboard to transition from an academic track into a more commercial field. Students considering investing time (and money) in one of these programmes should undertake their own research and due diligence to check whether the programme is a good fit for them. Make a start with Switchup.org's research and reviews online, but we recommend that you also connect with current or recent participants to clarify:

• the programme content, the quality of teaching and the learning experience,
• the extent to which the boot camp supports participants' employability, and
• alumni's success in transitioning into paid work at their 'target companies' and into 'target roles'. 

Expect to make applications up to 3 or 4 months before a programme starts, so follow social media feeds and register for updates and newsletters from providers for any programme to which you might apply. Some programmes that we have noticed include:

• The Data Incubator: award-winning US-based programme that offers a free Data Science Fellowship (you pay accommodation and living costs) alongside its paid programmes.
• Data Science for All / Women: Correlation One’s Data Science for All: An online programme devised and delivered by US-based Correlation One, which also runs a high-profile datathon recruitment competition for a leading finance firm.

Many boot camps now run online or hybrid formats, so check delivery mode, time commitment, cost, contract terms and employer links carefully.

As a finalist or recent graduate, there is an enormous range of dedicated graduate programmes at large firms or entry-level positions within smaller organisations. IT is also a growing sector within the start-up world for graduates interested in entrepreneurial endeavours. In addition to the vacancies posted on Oxford's CareerConnect platform, you will find vacancies on the many graduate career websites (see External Resources below), the career pages of individual firms, and on social media, including LinkedIn which is now used extensively by tech recruiters. 

The significant under-representation of women in directly relevant degrees (e.g. computer science, mathematics, physics and engineering) translates into a similar imbalance in the proportion of women working in technical disciplines at most firms. This has created a particularly strong interest across the tech'/IT recruitment spectrum in attracting applications from female students and researchers.

All new recruits should have high expectations for the training and support they receive once in post, whether learning is classroom based or you are learning on the job. You should also expect to be paid for all the time that you spend employed, including any full-time training element.

Understand the contract

Whether you are a new graduate or a job-changer, it is essential to make sure that you fully understand any contract that you are asked to sign. We note this here because there are a number of technology firms and technology consultancies which use an employment model that links a period of 'free training' to a minimum contracted period where you work for them as a consultant. This employment ‘tie’ is usually a full 2 years' work following completion of the training. As highlighted in the Financial Times’s article When employment contracts come with exit fees, employees wishing to leave before the end of their contracted two years may be asked to repay very large sums (up to £20,000) for the 'free training'.

Do your research into the firm’s practices and press them for clear answers about what you can expect. This ‘Recruit; Train; Deploy’ pattern of employment will work perfectly well for some individuals, and some recruits stay with their companies beyond the 2 years contracted period, but it is best to be aware of the possible risks and pitfalls. In addition to the headline risk of the possible exit fees, there are other issues where you should seek clarity before signing a contract:

• the quality of initial training, which can last 6 to 14 weeks
• whether or not you will be paid during training - some companies do not pay trainees
• will the company add other costs onto the cost of initial training that you may be asked to repay – e.g. for accommodation and/or food provided during training?
• once trained, are you paid even if you have not been assigned to a client as a consultant?
• are you able to decline a position, for example, if the work requires relocation or a long commute from where you live?
• if you leave your contract early (for example, after 12 months, 15 months or 18 months), how much of the initial training debt will have been worked off?
• when working as a consultant, does either the company or the client make any commitment to your continued learning and development?

If you are unsure about anything, seek advice from a Careers Adviser in good time. Also, consider seeking legal advice before signing a contract that might end up being difficult and/or expensive to withdraw from.

Starting salaries

Salaries will depend largely on the type of role, and can vary greatly between organisations. The average starting salary in the sector remains around £33,000 (Graduate Market in 2024 by High Fliers), and most recent graduates can expect to earn between £28,000 - £37,000. However, a few firms offer starting salaries well in excess of £40,000. The highest salaries are mainly for software engineering roles in the financial, chemical, oil and manufacturing sectors. Graduate positions for non-technical roles within the technology sector should have starting salaries typically in the range of £25,000 – £33,000.

Prospects Job Profiles can also be a valuable resource for investigating salary ranges in early, mid, and senior career roles (see their Information Technology sector overview of 28 roles).

To understand variations in salaries in more detail, begin downloading job descriptions for roles of interest. If salaries are not advertised transparently, search for job titles and employers within platforms such as Glassdoor and Indeed which have data on salary ranges.

Advertised vacancies and occupational information

Technology firms will recruit throughout the year but Michaelmas term will bring a large number of companies to Oxford for our Careers Fairs. There are three fairs in the early weeks of Michaelmas term where you can meet companies targeting recruitment to technology-led careers: the Science, Engineering and Technology Fair, Careers in Computing and Jobs for Mathematicians. Alongside these, many firms will run a company presentation and other events in Oxford: check our events calendar on CareerConnect for details.

Graduate vacancies are advertised regularly on CareerConnect where you will be able to search all jobs, both current and archived (for your information) and set up relevant emails. Also, look further afield using the many websites and channels listed in ‘External Resources’ below.

Using recruitment agencies

For graduates and researchers who have more experience, it might be worth looking for opportunities advertised by recruitment agencies. Firms will often use an agency for a role that might prove hard to recruit, more commonly for those that require experience.

The agencies earn their fee from the employer once they have found a candidate who is awarded the job. Once you are signed up with an agency, do maintain your own active job search and keep your agency informed when you get a job or are no longer looking for a role.

Keep the following points in mind:

• Research agencies before signing up. You can use LinkedIn to find the relevant experts for your specialist field of interest in a specific agency
• Some agencies will put forward jobseekers they hold on their books for roles they see advertised, so if you are applying directly to a firm, make sure that your agent does not submit an application as well because the additional cost of the agency fee will disadvantage your application
• Most specialist agencies offer an advantage through their industry knowledge and contacts, and it works in their favour to help you improve your CV and application materials
• It’s fine to sign up with more than one agency (although more than 3 can prove hard to manage!).