Damia Group’s Tash Fletcher offers advice for graduates who want to work in the tech industry
Graduates fresh from university are facing a difficult time in the job market. Employer recruitment has dropped by 35% over the last year (2024-2025), putting enormous pressure on new entrants. Advertised graduate vacancies in August stood at just 14,162, a third lower than the same time last year.
It’s clear that graduates are facing the toughest job market in years with many employers pausing hiring and reviewing their workforce strategies. But it’s not all doom and gloom. For those aiming at working in the tech sector, this can be a moment of opportunity.
Why tech is still a strong bet
Demand for tech skills remains resilient even in tricky markets. One recent report shows that tech job vacancies in the UK rose 21% year-on-year, driven largely by AI roles. In 2025, AI, cybersecurity and cloud were among the fastest growing recruitment areas.
While some sectors shrink or freeze recruitment, tech often leads innovation and investment. Employers report that roles needing specialised tech skills are harder to fill, which means a well-targeted, motivated candidate is highly valued.
So, while it’s a tough market overall, tech is less exposed to some of the downturns hitting other sectors.
Here are some of the latest trends and practical tips to help you stand out and secure a role in the ever-evolving tech industry:
Get hands-on experience
Don’t just count on your academic credentials. Build a portfolio through side projects, open source contributions, labs or freelance work. Demonstrable work can often outweigh academic credentials, especially for entry roles.
Start building direction
You do not need to specialise immediately, but you should begin to develop a sense of direction. Explore different areas early in your career, then start leaning into the work that plays to your strengths and interests.
Employers respond well to graduates who show focus and intent, even if they are still developing depth.
Learn complementary skills
Knowing how your code or system fits into product, operations, security or user experience gives you an edge. The ability to communicate with other teams is hugely valuable.
Stay current with emerging tech
AI, machine learning, cloud orchestration, containerisation, observability, secure design and infrastructure as code are more than buzzwords. Being conversant and ideally hands-on in at least one emerging area signals ambition and learning agility.
Get networking
Attend tech webinars and online communities. Seek out professionals for informational chats or mentoring. Follow LinkedIn and other social media influencers. Remember, sometimes roles are filled via networks rather than published job ads.
Show you’re all about solutions
When interviewing or applying for roles, frame everything around value: what you built, how you solved a problem, what trade-offs you made and what you learned from it. Employers don’t want a rehash of your job description; they want to know what you’ve learnt or delivered. It’s all about outcomes.
Invest in credentials
Certificates and short courses can help if they’re well regarded and relevant. Use them to complement your experience. Many are available online for free!
Be patient but persistent
Rejection will happen. Use each experience to adapt and improve. Every setback will make you more resilient and better prepared. The Institute of Student Employers revealed that a recent graduate in the UK needs to submit 150 to 200 or more applications to receive a single job offer. Resilience is key.
Tailor every application
Even small tweaks in wording or keywords can shift whether your CV gets chosen for the next stage. A covering letter is a good vehicle to personalise an application too.
Keep your focus
It’s tempting to chase every tech job you see, but focus gives you momentum. Don’t compare yourself to others. Use your experiences to learn, not to be discouraged.
And finally…..let us help you
The market is undeniably hard for graduates at the moment. But tech offers more opportunity than many fields. Graduates who succeed tend to show their work, stay curious and focus their energy in one direction.
At Damia Group, we believe in being human in a tech industry, which means recognising that everyone’s path is different. If you’re a graduate targeting tech, we’re interested in your potential. Contact us to get the conversation started.
