Recruitment for junior IT positions

Natalia Cendrowska – an experienced IT recruiter with nearly one and a half years of experience, specializing in sourcing and selecting talents in the dynamic technology industry, particularly in roles related to cybersecurity. She emphasizes professionalism, empathy, and effective matching of candidates to the unique needs of clients. In the field of IT recruitment, she is dedicated to building lasting relationships and supporting the success of teams.

The search for a junior role in the IT industry is not just a matter of picking and choosing from a list of job vacancies. It’s a journey of discovering your skills, the need to keep learning and adapting to a rapidly changing technology environment. It pays to be well prepared. So how do you go about it?

Junior roles – where to start?

Experts at Just Join IT have analysed over 85,000 IT jobs advertised from January to June 2023. According to their analysis, the total number of ads fell by 1.75% during this period and the monthly number of active ads was, on average, 8.36% lower than in the second half of 2022. 

The number of ads for junior IT roles has seen the biggest decline. In the first half of 2023, there were exactly 26.76% fewer ads of this type than in the second half of 2022. In spite of this, the average salary for a junior position has increased by almost 15%.

Employers are still interested in hiring junior staff and are also looking for interns, apprentices, junior specialists and assistants. This could be a great entry point for people who are considering a career in IT and want to see if this type of work is right for them.

The Path to the Digital Decade: The world in 2030 – what do you need to know?

It’s important to understand that the Path to the Digital Decade programme, with its specific goals and targets for 2030, defines the roadmap for Europe’s digital transformation. 

What exactly does it address? Digital skills, digital business transformation, secure and sustainable digital infrastructure and the digitalisation of public services. What does it mean in practice?

• The digital transformation of businesses requires, among other things, the use of new technologies: up to 75% of EU businesses should be using the cloud, AI or big data. 
• Developing scale-ups and improving access to finance to double the number of so-called ‘unicorns’ in the EU or address the delay in adopting new technologies. 
• More than 90% of SMEs should reach at least a basic level of use of digital technologies. 
• As regards to the ICT workforce, the target is to have 20 million professionals and a better gender balance. 
• At least 80% of the population should have a basic level of digital literacy.

To measure progress towards each of the 2030 targets, a structured, transparent and shared monitoring system was developed, based on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI).

The transformation and its goals mean that digital skills and their development are highly desirable. Simply put, IT is the industry of the future.

Preparing for your first job in a junior role

With the dynamic use of AI and the growth of not yet fully appreciated solutions such as blockchain, IoT, as well as other in-demand areas such as DevOps, big data and cybersecurity, there are many interesting challenges ahead for anyone who wants to work in IT.

Use the next few years to explore your interests and areas of focus in IT. But be sure not to neglect other skills: according to a World Economic Forum report, analytical thinking, creativity, communication and advanced technical skills will be in high demand. 

How should you prepare for a job interview?

Recruitment for junior positions is particularly important because there are a lot of people on the job market who want to try their luck in the industry. In fact, there may be dozens or hundreds of candidates for each vacancy. 

Recruiters place particular emphasis on interview preparation, education, soft skills, industry knowledge or additional aptitudes. When preparing to apply for a junior position, consider the following:

1) Prepare a strong portfolio and CV:

Create a portfolio to showcase the projects you have worked on. This can range from work done as part of a university course to personal projects. Focus on your skills and experience in technologies relevant to the junior role. Tailor your CV to the requirements of the specific position, highlighting skills and achievements that are relevant to the employer.

2) Prepare for an interview with a specific employer 

What should be important to you here is the company you have chosen to work for, its projects, its organisational culture, as well as the challenges and tasks you will be facing. The IT industry pays well at the moment, but unless you have a basic passion and interest in the field, you are unlikely to feel fulfilled.

3) Create a plan and vision for your development

A junior position is just the beginning. Working in this sector means continuous development, training and often the need for certifications. These are valued and respected by employers because they confirm the extent of your knowledge in a specific field. Some employers support their employees along this path by organising various training courses. But you will need to invest in some certifications yourself.

4) Find a mentor and your own space in the industry

Remember, you don’t always have to learn and find information on your own. It’s a good idea to have a mentor at the beginning and along your career path to help you find your direction. Asking questions, having conversations, analysing your own situation or the industry in which you work will certainly make things more transparent and easier for you.

Also, consider attending meetings, workshops, courses or hackathons. Make space for yourself both online and offline. This will enrich your life and will allow you to become a part of the community for a long time to come. It will also make it easier for you to find interesting IT jobs and projects.

5) Build a professional online presence 

LinkedIn is currently one of the biggest portals for professionals looking for new career opportunities. So it is definitely worth setting up an account. You can create your online business card, a blog or an interesting project to showcase your skills. Show what is important to you, what interests you and what ideas you care about. 

Your development is important – never waste time or lose motivation

What else can you do to make a good impression at your first IT interview? Here are some essential steps:

• Review a list of the most common interview questions in IT. 
• Test your skills and map your own resources. 
• Prepare to talk about your own working style, communication, troubleshooting approach or role in a group. 
• Practice the interview beforehand, preferably with someone who is familiar with the industry.
• Read industry reports and make sure you are always prepared for the work ahead. 
• Never waste time – if you can fill any training gaps in your chosen field, do so straight away. 
• Use the feedback you get after each interview as valuable tips for further development. 

Once you find your dream job that offers you growth and satisfaction, you will see that it was all worth the effort. At ITDS, we do everything we can to help our clients find the right professionals as part of our IT Outsourcing Engineers services. Who knows – maybe one of them will soon be you. Good luck on your IT career path!