Why Consider a Career in Tech after Results Day?
Results day can feel like a confusing crossroads. For anyone thinking about their next move, tech remains an industry where demonstrable skills, industry training, and certifications matter more than formal degrees. Someone starting from zero can realistically move into paid, stable employment within this industry in months rather than years with the relevant skills and foundational certifications.
If you’ve recently received your A Level or BTEC results, you might be unsure about your next steps. If you’re considering breaking into the tech industry, there are alternative pathways to university that don't rely on traditional degrees.
Many entry-level tech roles are designed for beginners who are eager to learn, and with the UK tech industry predicted to reach 1.44 million jobs by 2031 according to CompTIA. This is powered by 1.02% growth in 2026 alone, meaning there has never been a better time to start. While employers are looking for a foundation of technical knowledge rather than a blank slate, the right certifications and a clear roadmap can turn results day into the beginning of a career, not the end of a plan.
Written by
With four years at Learning People and a solid foundation in IT and Cybersecurity, Chris guides people through the fast-evolving tech landscape and into their dream jobs. He combines hands-on technical expertise with insider industry insights to help learners make informed career decisions.
What Actually Counts as an "Entry-Level" Tech Job?
An entry-level tech job is any technology-sector role built for candidates with little or no professional experience, where the employer expects to provide on-the-job training. These roles span the industry, from help desk and technical support through to junior software development, data analysis, and cybersecurity.
Two broad categories cover most entry-level tech routes:
- Support-focused roles: Examples include IT Help Desk Technician, Technical Support Analyst and Desktop Support Specialist. These reward communication and troubleshooting over deep programming knowledge.
- Junior technical roles: Examples include Entry-Level Software Engineer, Junior Data Analyst and Associate Cybersecurity Analyst. These need more specific skills, usually built through certifications or structured training, but they remain open to candidates without a computer science degree.
“Employers hiring into entry-level tech roles aren't expecting candidates to arrive fully formed. They're looking for foundational knowledge, a genuine willingness to learn, and the soft skills to integrate smoothly into a team. Employers don’t necessarily want to see a CV with a long list of previous relevant roles; they want to see evidence of potential and ambition in a candidate.”
The Best Entry-Level Tech Jobs You Can Get Without a Degree
Several tech roles now appear in job listings stating "no degree required" or "equivalent experience accepted". This makes them realistic targets for school leavers and career changers alike, especially those willing to invest a bit of time into foundational industry training.
- IT Support Specialist / Help Desk Technician: This is among the most accessible entry points into tech. A CompTIA A+ certification (or equivalent demonstrated knowledge) is often all that's asked for.
- Junior Software Developer: This role is open to anyone who can show coding ability through a project portfolio, regardless of whether that ability came from a degree, a bootcamp, or self-teaching.
- Data Analyst: Entry-Level Data Analyst roles typically call for spreadsheet proficiency, basic SQL, and an understanding of data visualisation. Many employers will train on their specific systems if the analytical thinking is there.
- Cybersecurity Analyst: Junior Cybersecurity Analyst roles involve monitoring for threats, responding to incidents, and maintaining documentation. This role is becoming increasingly available remotely and on-site to candidates with relevant certifications.
- Technical Writer: This role suits strong written communicators who can translate technical detail into clear documentation, meaning it’s often accessible to people from humanities backgrounds.
Across the tech sector, employers have shifted away from degree-based hiring and towards skills-based assessment and are seeking candidates who can demonstrate they have an existing understanding of the skills required within the tech industry.
Did You Know? Over half of UK firms are struggling to fill entry-level digital roles
According to a recent report from the London School of Economics, just as many businesses are willing to pay a premium for the right candidate. This clear gap between demand and available talent makes now the perfect time to start your career in the tech industry.
What Do Employers Actually Want From "No Experience" Candidates?
"No experience required" doesn't mean "no preparation required” - it means employers understand you won't have a professional work history and are willing to assess you on other evidence instead.
Four things that carry real weight in entry-level hiring decisions:
- Demonstrable technical foundations: This proves you have an understanding of how operating systems and common software work, or, for development roles, a GitHub portfolio of projects that shows you can write functional code and solve problems systematically.
- Soft skills: Communication, teamwork, and the ability to stay calm and ask good questions under pressure often separate successful candidates from those with stronger technical backgrounds but weaker interpersonal skills.
- Certifications: Credentials like CompTIA A+, IT Foundations, or vendor-specific qualifications give hiring managers confidence in your baseline knowledge when you don't yet have work history to point to.
- A visible willingness to learn: Contributing to open-source projects, keeping a technical blog, attending meetups, or completing structured courses all signal genuine interest rather than a job application of convenience.
How Long Does it Actually Take to Become Job-Ready?
If you decide to study towards self-paced, industry-recognised certifications, becoming job-ready typically takes three to twelve months of focused, consistent preparation as opposed to three to four years at university.
- Support-focused roles (e.g. Help Desk, IT Support Specialist): Realistically achievable in three to six months, with the support of a certification like CompTIA A+ and hands-on familiarity with common systems.
- Technical roles (e.g. Junior Developer, Cybersecurity Analyst): A structured certification pathway typically runs six to twelve months, covering the core skills for the target role, for example, a cloud pathway for cloud engineering or a security pathway for analyst roles.
How to Set the Foundations for Employability
For young people who have just received their results, now is an ideal time to break into the tech industry. A focused CompTIA A+ or Security+ programme can make you competitive for entry-level support and cybersecurity roles within three to six months, allowing you to enter the tech job market with verified, vendor-neutral, internationally recognised credentials while peers are still settling into their first year of university.
Learning People provides structured training pathways into tech careers through industry-recognised certifications. These pathways are built for people who want to become employable without spending several years at university and cover the certifications employers actually ask for: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Microsoft Azure, AWS, and data analytics qualifications, among others.
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