You could start by doing an IT apprenticeship. You could work for an IT company or for an organisation that uses IT.
Some administration, clerical and marketing jobs may offer you the chance to develop IT knowledge and skills. In smaller companies, roles can be more mixed and you will often use IT skills along with other duties.
Example jobs
Helpdesk technician
Logs calls from users, answers queries and passes on more complex problems to technicians.
Network support
Tests hardware and software, sets up networks.
Web content assistant
Maintains websites, adds content, optimises websites for search engines.
Things you need to know
Typical working conditions
- You will be based in an office or helpdesk call centre.
- You may travel to other offices or sites within your organisation.
- You may work regular hours or in a shift pattern.
Qualifications needed
- You will need good GCSEs, including English, maths and IT. Even for an IT apprenticeship, employers will expect an IT qualification (such as a GCSE or a BTEC, and some will even want an A level) and a strong interest in IT.
- You can show your interest and ability to employers by building your own PC, designing websites or fixing friends’ computers.
Career path
- Your employer may offer promotion as your skills develop.
- You could progress to helpdesk supervisor, senior analyst or team leader. Your employer may also send you on training courses in the systems that they use.
- You could also study part-time for specialist qualifications or a general IT qualification, such as CompTIA®, CISCO or Microsoft®.
Useful links
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Apprenticeships in ICT
See what types of apprenticeships you can apply for in information and communication technology