The Student Room Group

Struggling to find an IT Job

I graduated and left University 18 months ago with a degree in Digital Technology. I applied to over hundreds of Jobs in IT, Tweaking my CV whilst trying to connect and network on LinkedIn. I can’t even find places, agencies or workplaces that’ll offer work experience and when I apply to voluntary roles they hardly get back. I am having no luck in finding my graduate Job. It’s actually taking a toll on my mental health because the current Job I work in I have no motivation to work there no more everything about the place, people is toxic, dull and depressive. I want to become stabler because I want to settle down next year and my dream job is to become a IT Technician. I need some advice please. :frown:
Your first job is ALWAYS going to be the hardest for you to get, so don’t let it get you down.

I graduated in 2018 (BSc in Biomedical Science) and decided to go into teaching, which wasted two years as I absolutely hated it (I got experience but nothing outside of placement). Officially I didn’t start my first job in healthcare until Jan 2021 and worked in that trust for 3 years (2021-2023) before leaving to do my MSc (my first job was a Band 2 MLA role in the NHS (couldn’t get a lower paid job) but showed I could do the higher band jobs and was promoted to a Band 4 within 6 months).

I don’t know where you’ve applied for but consider applying for the entry level jobs (even if minimum wage) and go from there, you’ll get there eventually!

If you mind me asking, have you had any luck with interviews?
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Scienceisgood
Your first job is ALWAYS going to be the hardest for you to get, so don’t let it get you down.
I graduated in 2018 (BSc in Biomedical Science) and decided to go into teaching, which wasted two years (I got experience but nothing outside of placement). Officially I didn’t start my first job in healthcare until Jan 2021 and kept that job for 3 years (2021-2023) before leaving to do my MSc (my first job was a Band 2 MLA role in the NHS (couldn’t get a lower paid job) but showed I could do the higher band jobs and was promoted to a Band 4 within 6 months).
I don’t know where you’ve applied for but consider applying for the entry level jobs (even if minimum wage) and go from there, you’ll get there eventually!
If you mind me asking, have you had any luck with interviews?

What advice would you give especially to myself because I hope to settle down future wise. And hence why I need a stabler job to provide. So I have applied for various IT roles in various locations on Job boards such as Indeed. I cannot find entry level Jobs let alone don’t know the best platform to find any? Do you know by any chance?

In regards to Interview sometimes nerve and fear overcome just confidence and belief other times I interview well and fall short.
Original post by User_name001
What advice would you give especially to myself because I hope to settle down future wise. And hence why I need a stabler job to provide. So I have applied for various IT roles in various locations on Job boards such as Indeed. I cannot find entry level Jobs let alone don’t know the best platform to find any? Do you know by any chance?
In regards to Interview sometimes nerve and fear overcome just confidence and belief other times I interview well and fall short.

If you’ve gotten interviews, there are clearly some things noticed in your CV. I’m afraid I can’t offer anything specific to IT as that’s not anything even remotely similar to what I’m capable of offering help really.

With regards to confidence, I would look up relevant interview questions for any job offers you’ve been given (practice will typically build confidence) and don’t be afraid to take the minimum wage jobs if you can get them as any experience in your CV is better than nothing. I don’t know if this is an option but do you know anyone who you were mates with or know anyone who can tell you of any jobs you could go for when they start going. I just got lucky when I decided to go into healthcare the pandemic hit meaning they were taking anyone and everyone they could get, which gave me some experience (I also had a mate from uni who helped me with the interview questions for my promotion job), but with my entry job, I blagged the interview as not many people wanted to work with COVID at the beginning of the pandemic…

So take advantage of any contacts you have, however small, even for interview advice and help. Even if mock interviews!

I don’t know if your university offers graduates CV help or not but I do know some universities do, so if they do, try and send off a copy of your CV and ask for some advice on it.
Reply 4
Do you ask for feedback from your interviews? if you haven't make sure you ask. What stage of the process are you getting to before being turned down? what sort of places are you applying to and what is your experience? did you do a work placement or a summer internship or have you had a customer service role during your time at uni?
Original post by Makro
Do you ask for feedback from your interviews? if you haven't make sure you ask. What stage of the process are you getting to before being turned down? what sort of places are you applying to and what is your experience? did you do a work placement or a summer internship or have you had a customer service role during your time at uni?

I usually get feedback for Interviews. But I personally don’t tend to ask because it feels disheartening. I usually get turned down past the second stage of Interviews so the final round before recruitment I’m able to successfully pass the telephone interviews but. I’m applying to mobile phone shops/companies and IT companies such as schools just companies that has IT going on between them. My experience education wise I did ICT at a levels and then at degree level work experience wise nothing to write on my cv yet. Even work placement and summer internships have been hard to get I cannot find any let alone don’t know the best resource or sight to find it. I’ve done plenty of customer service work I don’t think I need that thankfully 😂😭😂😭
Reply 6
It seems your CV is lacking in work experience and this may be what is letting you down. It's annoying that you need experience to get experience but there's nothing you can do, you either lie down in defeat or you rise to the occasion. Perseverance always pays off. Have you tried doing online I.T internships? there are lots of those that you can register for and will to pad your CV a bit more with experience e.g Internships online. You mentioned you have customer service experience b ut I'm not sure what you meant by your comment 'I don't need that thankfully' like your rubbishing it. I can assure you communication skills are critical for the field you want to go into because its all about solving user requirements and is very 'User facing'. Anyone planning to have a career in IT must have strong interpersonal skills, so if you're rubbishing it here, perhaps you have played it down on your CV or not mentioned it at all? What about leadership skills? did you do anything at university that will point to experience in 'collaborating' or working as team? any societies you joined that you can talk about any projects outside of academia that you've participated in voluntarily? to show you can work as an effective team member? very few people in I.T work solo!
Original post by Makro
It seems your CV is lacking in work experience and this may be what is letting you down. It's annoying that you need experience to get experience but there's nothing you can do, you either lie down in defeat or you rise to the occasion. Perseverance always pays off. Have you tried doing online I.T internships? there are lots of those that you can register for and will to pad your CV a bit more with experience e.g Internships online. You mentioned you have customer service experience b ut I'm not sure what you meant by your comment 'I don't need that thankfully' like your rubbishing it. I can assure you communication skills are critical for the field you want to go into because its all about solving user requirements and is very 'User facing'. Anyone planning to have a career in IT must have strong interpersonal skills, so if you're rubbishing it here, perhaps you have played it down on your CV or not mentioned it at all? What about leadership skills? did you do anything at university that will point to experience in 'collaborating' or working as team? any societies you joined that you can talk about any projects outside of academia that you've participated in voluntarily? to show you can work as an effective team member? very few people in I.T work solo!

I did jobs within retail dealing with customers and providing customer service. Leadership skills I’ve had since school for example working in the school and year council, being a buddy and learning leader and teaching rep and then being student rep for my class at uni. I have no societies to put down as I applied for voluntary work and even then I am unable to gain feedback or responses.

Quick Reply