Guest Blog Post: How hard is it to get into tech?

During our Easter work experience week, we asked our students to complete a blog post about their experiences. Here, Mamert tells us what he learned.

Nowadays, the IT and Tech industry has grown massively, and doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon with the rise of AI and new, more compact technologies. It will come to no surprise that more and more people will become fascinated with the rise of new technologies and will want to explore this as a career path. However, being such a rapidly growing job sector, people know less and less about how to get started, and we can all agree a new strange environment can be daunting and consequently discouraging. 

As a young person wanting to get into tech, I was privileged enough to be able to interview 4 people from Scott logic during my time with the Altitude Foundation, two senior developers, a senior tester and a principle delivery director, and was able to ask them all about their career path and ask for any advice.

Who are Scott Logic?

Scott logic is a consultancy software development company, focusing on meeting customers needs in the most effective and simple way through their bespoke software. They work with a variety of businesses in a variety of sectors, from Capital Markets to Energy to governments, having a keen vision on providing an agile and scalable yet cost effective solution to harness technologies and efficiency in every organisation. 

They work closely with a variety of different companies helping them use technology effectively, building completely new platforms, delivering technical audits and refreshing old designs to help harness the ever growing capabilities of technology and AI.

What did they say?

A common theme reoccurring from nearly everyone we interviewed, was that a career path in the IT industry was rarely planned, yet came about through interests and opportunities. Even for those not necessarily knowledgeable in technology, they found out that the IT sector isn’t just about software engineering or development, but also testing, data analysis, and the people side of tech. 

Tony, a Principle Delivery Manager, started his career with a degree in physics with no desire or interest in working with computers. However, while working alongside computers he realized that they seemed interesting, and so decided to become a software developer. He soon realized that the computer aspect of tech wasn’t for him, and found out he was better with organizing, working with clients and finding visions for his team. This eventually led him to become a delivery principle – who focuses on being a person in charge of his team, ensuring they are meeting the customers needs in the best and most efficient way possible, and keeping on track. Despite being in the tech industry, Tony’s job revolves more around communication, working with people, networking and meeting new people.

Tony’s career path and story highlights how you don’t need to have a specific plan for your career as long as you try to keep your options open, and you will have many opportunities without needing a clear vision. 

What does their work look like?

Despite its stereotypes, being in the Technology industry doesn’t mean you are always alone in a box working on a computer. What we saw from everyone we interviewed is that everyone worked in or as part of a team, regularly sharing ideas and adapting through teamwork. Everyone, no matter where they started or are now, said they had someone around them that was happy to help and aid them. 

I also asked more about the work that the senior developers do, and what programming languages they use. If software development interests you yet you don’t know which programming language out of the many out there to use, the best option is to learn the one best for you. Scott Logic as a company uses a variety of different programming languages depending on the clients best interests, as well as what works best for the developers. They use Java, Javascript, Angular and more. One of the senior developers, Matthew, mainly uses Javascript and Java, but one year went to work on a completely different project using Python, where he had mentors to help him learn the new language. He mentioned how everyone works on a variety of projects, so the work is never the same or monotonous.

What advice did they give?

During all 4 interviews, I got a lot of advice on many aspects of wanting to get a career in tech, but the main piece of advice was that you don’t know many jobs until you actually try them, and that getting experiences and practice is the best way to learn; but also to know whether or not something is for you or not. Also, being confident to speak up and ask questions is really important. I learnt a lot about things I never knew about or was completely wrong about by simply asking people. Skills like communication and teamwork will be useful in any workplace, and speaking to new people will open up new opportunities. Nearly everyone is more than happy to help and give advice which will help you achieve your goals.

How do you get into tech?

Knowing exactly what to do and where to go for your career can be stressful, especially when you’ve chosen something you now regret or dislike. However during my interviews, I found out that two of the people I interviewed had degrees in physics: Tony, Principle director and Elliot, Senior developer. There was also another person, Kyle, who studied a media arts degree but has now become a senior tester. None of the people mentioned above studied computer science or IT, and did not have interest in IT until after University or later on into their careers. Despite this, by taking opportunities and changing their careers based on their interests rather than their qualifications, they got into the tech industry without having any clear mindset, plan or specific qualifications. I further found out Scott Logic takes in lots of people with wider degrees, like maths, sciences and engineering, and through their Grad programme teach and offer experiences to new graduates with further support, as for many it is their first full time job. Through further training even people completely new to technology and software’s are able to get a new start in the IT industry and do a job they really like yet never planned.

What was my overall impression?

Throughout the whole time of me being with the Altitude foundation and Scott Logic (which albeit was only 3 days) I got to speak to a variety of people and get a lot of really helpful advice. Not only was I able to speak with HR about what good CV’s look like but I also got to experience what it was like working with a team and having team meetings, while still being able to have my own independent work time. It was overall a really good experience where I learnt a lot of new, useful information that can help me in my future career, which (hopefully) will be in tech.

Conclusion?

At the end of the day, your future is yours to shape and form, and it’s best to always remember to step back and realize no one job or option has to be the final one. Many people got here through opportunities they didn’t know they wanted in the first place yet ones that turned out to be worthwhile. The best piece of advice I got was to keep an open mind and speak with new people and learn new things, and opportunities will always come. No matter where you go, there will be new jobs with different skills to learn and to use, and with different work that they focus on.