Technology is one of the most accessible sectors for career changers and school leavers. Entry routes include traditional computer science degrees, degree apprenticeships, bootcamps, self-taught portfolios, and corporate graduate schemes. This page explains the landscape and how to navigate it.
University vs apprenticeship vs self-taught
A computer science degree provides strong theoretical foundations and is the traditional route into software engineering, AI, and research roles. Degree apprenticeships let you work and earn while studying, and are now available at companies including BT, IBM, Accenture, and Sky. Bootcamps are intensive short courses that focus on practical web development skills — they are not equivalent to degrees but can be a fast route into junior roles. Self-taught routes work if you can build a strong portfolio of real projects.
What employers look for
Most technology employers value demonstrable skills over qualifications. A portfolio of real projects — websites, apps, data analysis, contributions to open-source software — is often more compelling than grades alone. Communication skills matter increasingly as technology roles become more cross-functional. Interests in product thinking, user experience, or data are valued in addition to core coding.
Entry-level opportunities
Look for internships, placements, and graduate schemes from major technology employers. Many offer summer coding challenges or hackathons as entry points. Virtual experience programmes are widely available from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Accenture, and others. Apply in your penultimate year for internships. Apply in your final year for graduate schemes.
Checklist
- Build and maintain a portfolio of real projects
- Apply for virtual experience programmes
- Practise for online coding challenges or tests if applying to engineering roles
- Explore degree apprenticeships as an alternative or supplement to university
- Join relevant online communities or hackathons
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for technology roles without any portfolio or projects
- Only targeting large employers and ignoring startups and smaller firms
- Not practising for online coding tests before receiving an invitation