5 Things Tech Employers Actually Care About at Entry Level
There's a lot of noise about what tech employers want from entry-level candidates. Most of it isn't helpful. You'll read conflicting advice about degrees, certifications, and which programming languages to learn. Here's what actually matters based on what UK tech employers are hiring for in 2026.
1. Proof you can ship real work - not just coursework
Employers will increasingly care about proof of skills, not just job titles. Many companies now evaluate candidates based on their actual work - such as GitHub repositories, open-source contributions, and portfolio projects.
This is the single biggest shift in tech hiring. A CV that lists "HTML, CSS, JavaScript" doesn't tell an employer anything. A GitHub profile with 3–5 deployed projects does. Three to five complete projects are enough when they show clarity, depth, and consistent technical design. The projects don't need to be complicated - they need to be finished, live, and documented. A README explains purpose, setup, tools, and challenges, helping others understand the project quickly. Write a clear README for every project. Link to a live demo. Show that you can take something from idea to production, not just concept to code.
2. Specific technical skills that match the job posting - with proof you can use them
Cloud computing skills - particularly AWS and Azure - consistently appear in the highest number of IT job advertisements in the UK. Cybersecurity and AI/machine learning follow closely behind. But there's a more important point: Mirror the language of job postings. If a posting says "Kubernetes orchestration," don't write "container management." If it says "stakeholder communication," don't write "talks to people." Use the exact terminology employers use - it matters for both ATS scanning and human pattern-matching.
Don't try to learn every technology. Pick one tech stack and go deep. For early-career professionals, building a T-shaped skill set - broad knowledge across IT with deep expertise in one specialism - is the most effective strategy. A cloud engineer with strong security awareness and scripting skills will be more competitive than someone with narrow skills in just one area. Then make sure your portfolio projects use those technologies. An employer needs to see you've actually built something with Python, React, or whatever skill they're hiring for.
3. AI literacy - but not in the way you think
Not all, but AI literacy is increasingly relevant. Developers are expected to be familiar with AI-assisted coding tools. Many organisations are integrating AI into their products, making general awareness of AI technologies valuable across the tech sector. This doesn't mean you need to be an AI engineer. It means knowing how to use GitHub Copilot, Claude, or ChatGPT as a tool - and being able to explain what it's good for (and where it falls short). Ability to effectively prompt and integrate AI tools, not just use them casually. System thinking. Understanding how components fit together, not just individual features.
Mention in your portfolio or interviews how you've used AI tools to speed up development or solve a specific problem. But show your own thinking too. Employers want to see you can work with AI, not that AI works for you.
4. Communication skills - especially explaining technical stuff to non-technical people
While a software engineer needs coding expertise to perform their job, their ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders makes them truly valuable in team settings. Tech recruiters increasingly recognize that skills which can be taught (hard skills) can be developed over time, whereas finding someone who communicates effectively and works well with others brings immediate value.
This is where you can stand out against candidates who only code. Communication skills ranked as the most requested skill across nearly 2 million recent tech job postings. In your portfolio, write case studies for your projects that explain why you made each decision. Not "I built this with React" - "I chose React because the client needed fast re-renders. Here's how I measured the performance gain." In interviews, when you explain a technical problem, pause and ask if the interviewer wants you to go deeper. Show you're thinking about your audience.
5. Adaptability and the willingness to learn, backed by action
More than 80% of employers have plans to recruit tech staff over the next year, according to Hays, but to help tackle the shortage of skills, 75% have plans to recruit talent they can then train rather than continuing to hunt for elusive skilled workers who tick every box. Employers expect you to learn on the job. They don't expect you to know everything.
But you need to show you're actually willing to learn. Willingness to learn is going to be the key. That's not a generic statement - it means having a learning project you can point to. Maybe you learned Docker because a portfolio project needed it. Maybe you're taking the Google IT Support certificate because you want to move toward DevOps. In interviews and your CV, show specific examples of skills you've picked up recently, not just the ones from years ago. List 2–3 recent projects that show you're keeping pace with the industry.
Where to find entry-level tech jobs
If you're ready to apply for entry-level tech roles, Step Into Jobs aggregates thousands of vacancies from across its network, including hundreds of entry-level positions in IT and technology. Use your GitHub profile, clear portfolio, and the skills above to stand out.
The tech job market is competitive, but because of the shortage of skilled talent in tech, many employers are willing to hire and develop early-career professionals who show potential, even if they lack experience. You don't need a decade of experience to land your first role - you need proof that you can do the work and willingness to get better at it.
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