New Year’s Revolutions: Job Searching
You’re searching for jobs wrong: Our expert guide to getting a tech job in 2025
We’re fast approaching 2025 (if you can believe it!) and it’s the perfect time to reflect on your career goals and make plans for what you want to achieve in the coming year.
At iMeta, we specialise in facilitating complete career changes to tech, helping people get the right qualifications and make top-tier job applications that recruiters just can’t ignore.
Since launching last year, we have helped hundreds of people in the West Midlands make that change… but be warned. Simply completing your training for a new career then applying for as many jobs as possible until you strike it lucky is not going to get you to where you want to be.
Mastering the art of the job search is key to finding that breakthrough opportunity as quickly as possible, and there’s a lot more to it than you think!
The tech sector in the UK is full of exciting opportunities in cyber security, data analysis, and IT project management, and has become a target for people seeking rewarding, future-proof careers. In the past 10 years alone, applications for tech jobs in the UK have increased by 57%, with 19% more over-35s applying for tech jobs since the pandemic. It’s becoming increasingly competitive, which means you need to level up your CVs and know how to find the best opportunities available before they’re snapped up.
Whether you’re switching careers, returning to work, or starting fresh, my guide will equip you with actionable advice to get the most out of your job search and land your dream role in tech.
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1: Identify your target role and work backwards
2: Upskill with specific courses and qualifications
3: Be specific with your CV and Cover Letter
4: Build your network and search smarter, not harder
Why Are More People in the UK Applying for Tech Jobs?
The tech industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK, offering stability, competitive salaries, and opportunities for progression. The biggest shift towards tech happened in 2020, which saw the necessary implementation of expanded networking and cloud capabilities for thousands of businesses, so we could all work from home and stay connected. The increased supply created an increased demand for professionals who could manage and build these systems.
According to recent job market reports, roles in cyber security and data analysis are boasting salaries starting at £30,000 and reaching £80,000 or more with experience. IT project management is also a thriving area, with professionals earning upwards of £45,000 after 2-3 years of experience. It’s no wonder so many people want in on the action.
If you’re ready to make the leap, here’s how to get started.
Step 1: Identify your target role, then work backwards
Before diving into job applications, you need to spend time researching the roles you’re interested in and learn as much as you can about what professional requirements you need to meet to be considered. From there, you can reverse-engineer a sensible roadmap to become the person that recruiters are looking for. Key questions to ask yourself include:
What skills and qualifications are required?
For example, cyber security professionals often need certifications like CompTIA Security+ or Pentest+. Data analysts benefit from proficiency Python, SQL, and Power BI, while IT project managers should consider PRINCE2 or Agile qualifications.
Consider the length of time and cost required to acquire these qualifications. (Hint: we offer a few of these for free…).
What does the day-to-day work involve?
Use job descriptions on sites like LinkedIn or Indeed to get a sense of typical responsibilities and required experience across different companies. Are there any transferrable skills in there that you can already offer? Maybe you’re already a whiz on Microsoft Excel or have experience managing a team. Just because it’s not experience gained in a tech job doesn’t mean it’s not valuable!
Glassdoor is a company review site, built on the input of employees past and present. It can give you first-hand accounts of the culture and experience of working in the role.
Are there any terms or keywords that you see crop up across different job descriptions and company reviews? Search up the ones you don’t understand on the internet and learn what they refer to. All of this is helpful for your application, as it demonstrates genuine interest in the industry.
What is the salary and career progression like?
Many job descriptions will post salary brackets for the role and can be filtered through based on experience level. However, recruiters aren’t always the best at volunteering this information upfront (anyone else fed up with reading ‘competitive salary’?). Try online forums dedicated to your target role to get a realistic picture of what you can expect – I find Reddit to be a great resource for this.
Mapping out these details will help you set realistic goals over the next year and beyond and focus your job search on roles that align with your aspirations and current attainment level.
Step 2: Upskill with Specific Courses and Qualifications
These days, you don’t necessarily require a degree to excel in a specific field. The industry is seeing a rise in the uptake of ‘micro-credentials’ – short courses designed to teach specific skills that can fast-track learners getting into particular roles. There are many different online platforms and bootcamps that offer courses for tech. Even universities are starting to offer degree modules as individual short courses!
For those who find course costs to be too big a barrier, Government-funded adult learning providers like us offer many of these short-term courses for free, designed specifically for people seeking employment in target sectors. These courses are ideal for gaining industry-recognised qualifications like:
- CompTIA Pentest+ and Network+ will fast-track for cyber security roles.
- CompTIA Data+ or Microsoft Power BI certifications for data analysis.
- PRINCE2 Foundation for IT project management.
These programmes are tailored for individuals with diverse backgrounds, making them a great starting point if you don’t have prior tech experience. Plus, they often include job interview preparation and employment support. Make sure you are pursuing the right qualifications for your target job and include their titles in your job search. Employers will often ask for them in the job descriptions.
Step 3: Be Specific with Your CV and Cover Letter
Recruiters in the tech industry receive hundreds of applications for each role, so your CV and cover letter must stand out. Here’s three of the most common mistakes I notice when reviewing our learners’ CVs:
- Not highlighting transferable skills: As mentioned in Step 1 of this guide, many skills from non-tech roles are highly valued in tech. Good level of mathematical ability, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and managerial experience are excellent skills to highlight when trying to get a tech job – if you’ve got it, put it in the CV.
- Putting too much of your past experience on the CV: I work regularly with people who have been in the working world for 20+ years. In these cases, it’s best to focus on the past 5 years of your career, as these jobs will demonstrate your skills at their most updated.
- Not using the personal statement and cover letter enough: Customising your personal statement and cover letter for each application goes a long way with getting noticed. The first thing they’ll see is your personal statement, so you need to sell yourself as the person they want. Use keywords from the job description to show that you’ve carefully read the role’s requirements.
Tip: If you’re unsure about CV formatting, keep it simple, structured and easy to read! Don’t be tempted to use flowery templates, as beautiful as they are.
Badly formatted CVs that don’t mention the right key terms or relevant skills are often bypassed when uploaded to jobs boards. This could mean you get recommended jobs that you’re not interested in or don’t match your expectations. Make sure you get it right, and get personal.
Step 4: Build Your Network and Search Smarter, Not Harder
Networking is an invaluable tool for landing a role in tech, even if you’re brand new to the industry. It’s often not about what you know; it’s who you know, and there are many ideal roles for you that you won’t find on jobs boards because they’re not advertised. Here’s how to start building your network:
- LinkedIn: This is the place to connect with professionals in your desired field. Join tech-related groups, participate in discussions, and follow companies you’re interested in. The more you participate, the more you’ll be recommended.
- Job boards: While general sites like Indeed and Glassdoor are helpful, also explore tech-specific platforms like CWJobs and Technojobs.
- Attend tech meetups and virtual events: These provide opportunities to meet potential employers, learn about job openings, and learn more about the industry to develop your know-how. Research local meet-ups and seminars, and participate in tech-specific events like hackathons.
- Apprenticeship and training schemes: Many employers collaborate with training providers to offer roles to people completing tech qualifications. We have many partnerships with local employers for this reason. If there’s a local business you’d like to talk to, there’s a high chance we can help.
Step 5: Use the Interview
If you follow the first four steps, you should be in a position to get at least one interview. The interview process is also an important step to improving your job search abilities as your progress.
In the tech industry, interviews often include both technical assessments and interviews. To prepare:
- Study common questions: For example, data analyst candidates might be asked to explain SQL queries, while cyber security roles may involve scenario-based questions about mitigating threats.
- Showcase your problem-solving abilities: Even if you’re not asked technical questions, employers want to see how you approach challenges.
- Prepare examples: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and demonstrate relevant experience.
Tip: I have helped many learners practise for interviews, but I also recommend asking friends to roleplay or using resources like InterviewBit to build confidence.
If you have an unsuccessful interview, use the experience to improve your job search. It gives you an opportunity to ask experts what they’re looking for so you can further optimise your CV, as well as potentially lead you to another opportunity if you make a good impression.
What would I say to professionals who already have a mid-level position in another industry that want to work in tech?
You likely have several years of professional experience, which is a huge asset. Focus on demonstrating how your existing skills transfer to tech roles. For example, if you’ve worked in finance, your data analysis experience could transition seamlessly into a data analyst role.
What would I say to a parent or carer returning to the working world after a long time away who wants to work in tech?
Re-entering the workforce can be daunting, but tech offers flexible and remote working options that cater to work-life balance. Highlight soft skills like organisation and multitasking, which I’m sure you’ve sharpened due to your parenting or caring responsibilities.
What would I say to people who struggle with unemployment that want to work in tech?
Tech provides very clear pathways for upskilling and entering stable, well-paid careers. We offer our courses for free for a reason – to give you the option to gain valuable skills and knowledge if you need it. Our courses can even be done alongside part time or temporary work due to our schedules. There are a lot of excellent free resources you can access to build your foundational knowledge, even on popular sites like YouTube.
What would I say to a young adult with little to no work experience who wants to work in tech?
If you’ve decided formal further education isn’t for you, you’re not alone, and tech is an industry that embraces alternative routes. Apprenticeships and Government-funded courses allow you to earn qualifications without incurring student debt, setting you up for success in a rapidly evolving industry.
Final Thoughts
Switching to a tech career is an achievable goal for anyone willing to learn and adapt. By upskilling through targeted courses, tailoring your applications, and leveraging networking opportunities, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for roles in cyber security, data analysis, or IT project management. Take advantage of the new year’s momentum to kickstart your journey—your dream job in tech could be closer than you think!
