Changing careers? You might want to think about exploring entry-level tech jobs. After all, changing careers means going back to step one, retraining, and once again building your way up to more competitive positions over time.
If you’d prefer to avoid taking a financial hit during your career change, tech is one of the fastest-growing industries in 2022. And because many tech companies thrive on innovation and creativity, they’re also welcome places for career changers.
With tech operations predicted to grow by 13% by 2030, there’s no better time to break into the tech industry. In this article, we’re going to go over 5 entry-level tech jobs ideal for career changers, and give you tips on how to land a job in tech even if you’ve got no experience.
The 5 Best Entry-Level Tech Jobs
Software Consultant
One of the easiest ways to get started in the tech industry is to become a software consultant. If you don’t know what a software consultant is, think about all the new and innovative technology that companies are using to optimise their workflow – Slack, Notion, and various SEO tools being key examples. When offices or organisations implement new software, they often hire a consultant who will a) advise them on whether or not their chosen software is going to be useful for their business, and b) who will train them on how to use it effectively.
This means that you can self-train in popular software and offer your services in a freelance capacity for businesses, establishing your portfolio and making good money at the same time. Once you’ve developed a solid portfolio, you can leverage it to apply to software consultant roles in the business sector.
How much does it pay? The average salary for a software consultant is £55,000. However, software consultants often also work freelance, so you could be earning up to £50-200 an hour independently.
What experience do I need? You don’t need any experience to be a software consultant, just solid knowledge of the software programmes you’re offering your services for. Communication skills are also essential.
Social Media Manager
Ever dreamed of getting paid to run a company’s Twitter account? You don’t need to be part of the TikTok generation in order to fully understand how to optimise social media for a business or organisation. Basic fluency in using social media apps such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram is all you need to become a social media strategist or a content creator for businesses.
Social media managers handle online strategy, schedule content, compose social media posts and are responsible for creating online engagement with their business. Having solid writing skills and an eye for trends is helpful for this type of job.
How much does it pay? Social media managers can earn anything from £17,000 to £60,000 depending on their experience, with the average salary around £33,000.
What experience do I need? If you’re an active social media user, technically you already have a little bit of experience in creating web content. However, being a social media manager or strategist is another tech job that you can break into by first going freelance and developing a solid portfolio.
Web Developer and Designer
Another great entry-level job for a career-changer is a web developer or designer. This job is ideal for career changers as it combines the potential for high earnings with the possibility of self-teaching (or learning at home via online courses).
Web design is all about coding, so you’ll need to train in HTML and CSS, along with other various coding programmes. As a web developer, you’ll be responsible for everything from optimising web content and building websites from scratch, to working with SEO tools and graphic designers. You’ll need good communication skills and listening skills for this job, as you’ll typically be working to implement your organisation’s vision, rather than your own.
How much does it pay? A web developer can earn on average around £28,000, although this will increase the more experience you have. Web designers can also work on a freelance basis, earning up to £100-200 an hour for their services.
What experience do I need? You’ll need to train in coding and HTML, with many budget-friendly courses available online.
Graphic Designer
If you’re creative and wondering what to do with that Fine Art degree, graphic design is a great entry-level job in the tech industry. You don’t need a supplementary degree in computer science or technology, either – just solid skills in Adobe Creative Suite and an eye for design.
Being a graphic designer for businesses is a great way to use your creativity in a competitive environment while learning technical skills at the same time. As a graphic designer, you’ll be responsible for creating visual content either online or for printed items. You’ll be adhering to the organisation’s brand colours, logo and overall image.
How much does it pay? Graphic designers are paid on average around £24000, but many supplement this income by freelancing.
What experience do I need? You don’t need experience working in graphic design to become a graphic designer, nor do you need a degree. You’ll mostly need experience in Adobe Photoshop and a self-made portfolio of engaging work.
Customer Service Technician
Every business needs a team (or individual) responsible for taking care of its customer service needs. If you’ve got experience working on a customer service desk or phone, there’s no reason why you couldn’t transfer some of these skills to a tech environment and become an entry-level service technician.
Customer service technicians either assist customers via the phone, helping with troubleshooting or fixing faulty software. For this type of role, you’d need solid communication skills, a bit of technical ability and great interpersonal skills. A service technician is a great entry-level tech job for a graduate in the sciences or a career changer coming from engineering.
How much does it pay? Customer services technicians make around £24,000 on average, while the most experienced make around £32,000.
What experience do I need? You’ll need a bit of customer service experience for this role, or some experience working in a customer or client-facing role.
What Experience Do You Need for an Entry-Level Tech Job?
When it comes to working in tech, the level of work experience required will depend on what area of tech you’re interested in. The great thing about tech is that many of these jobs can be performed remotely. This gives you the opportunity to build a freelance portfolio before applying to salaried positions. Many entry-level tech jobs won’t require any experience, but some proof of a good work ethic and great adaptability skills.
Rather than looking for concrete work experience, many tech companies also look for dynamic individuals who share their company’s vision and are ready to put in 200% to see it succeed.
Here are some helpful skills for landing good-paying tech jobs:
- Creativity
- Communication skills
- Risk-taking
- Great teamwork skills
- Adaptability
What is the Easiest Job to Get in Tech?
No one’s CV or work portfolio is the same, so there’s no such thing as the “easiest job in tech.”
That being said, working in the customer service aspect of tech is probably one of the easiest technology sectors to break into. This is due to the fact that most of us have experience in delivering some kind of customer service.
If you have a background in retail and would love to break into the tech industry, going for customer service jobs would be a great way to get your foot in the door.
Apply for Entry-Level Tech Jobs Today
So, if you’re interested in changing careers and want to try something challenging, what better time than now to get started? Have a browse of our jobs board and see what tech jobs grab your eye. You’ll be on your way to your dream career in no time.
If you’re mid-career-change and in need of support or information managing the transition, we’ve also got plenty of career-change resources and guides to help things run smoothly.
FAQs
What are the highest-paying tech jobs?
There’s plenty of potential for high earnings and advancement within the tech sector, but some of the highest-paid tech jobs include web developer and software developer.
Can I work remotely in tech?
Yes! If you’re interested in remote working, many tech companies offer their employees the possibility to work from home full-time.
Can I work in tech with no experience?
Yes and no. While tech is a great industry for career changers, it’s highly competitive. You’ll need to prove your ability to work to a high standard and thrive in your chosen role. Being knowledgeable about the role and undertaking any necessary retraining is a great way to start.
