For many recent graduates, getting a job in tech feels confusing, competitive, and overwhelming. You might have a degree, motivation, and a genuine interest in a career in tech, yet still find yourself unsure where to start or why applications are not leading to interviews.
Most advice about how to get a job in tech sounds deceptively simple. Learn the right skills, build a portfolio, apply for roles. While none of this is wrong, it misses a crucial part of the picture. The reality is that getting a job in tech is not just about what you know. It is about how ready you are to work in a professional environment.
Here are the things few people explain to graduates trying to break into the tech industry.
> Learning technical skills is not the same as being job ready
One of the biggest misconceptions about getting a job in tech is that technical knowledge alone is enough. Many graduates focus heavily on courses, certifications, and tutorials, assuming that once they have learned enough tools, everything else will fall into place.
In practice, employers are not only assessing what you know. They are looking at how you apply that knowledge in real situations. This includes how you approach problems, how you communicate your thinking, and how you respond when you do not immediately know the answer.
Being job ready means you can explain your reasoning clearly, work with incomplete information, and adapt when requirements change. These are skills that are rarely taught in university courses but are essential in real tech roles. Without practising them, many capable graduates struggle to convert interviews into job offers.
> Entry level roles still come with expectations
Another reality that surprises many graduates is that entry level does not mean expectation free. While employers do not expect junior candidates to know everything, they do expect a baseline level of professionalism and awareness.
This includes communicating clearly, managing time effectively, and understanding that technology exists to solve business problems, not just technical ones. Employers want to see that you can take responsibility, ask sensible questions, and learn quickly on the job.
When thinking about how to get a job in tech, it helps to shift your mindset. Instead of trying to prove how much you know, focus on demonstrating how you think, how you learn, and how you work with others.
> Most rejections are not about intelligence (and they’re not personal!)
Rejection is one of the hardest parts of getting a job in tech, especially for graduates who are used to academic success. It is easy to assume that not getting through an interview means you are not smart enough or not suited to the industry.
In reality, most early career candidates are rejected for reasons unrelated to intelligence. Common issues include unclear explanations, lack of structure when answering questions, or difficulty articulating decision making. Some candidates freeze under pressure or try to give perfect answers instead of showing their thought process.
These are not fixed traits. They are skills that can be learned and improved with the right guidance and practice. Unfortunately, many graduates never receive direct feedback, which makes it harder to understand what needs to change.
> Interviews are simulations, not exams
One of the most helpful mindset shifts when learning how to get a job in tech is understanding what interviews are really for. Tech interviews are not designed to trick you or test how much you can memorise. They are closer to simulations of how you would work in a real role.
Interviewers want to see how you approach unfamiliar problems, how you communicate under pressure, and how you collaborate. Thinking out loud, asking clarifying questions, and acknowledging uncertainty are often seen as strengths, not weaknesses.
Graduates often struggle because they treat interviews like exams. They try to perform instead of engage. When you approach interviews as conversations and problem solving exercises, you give interviewers a much clearer picture of how you would perform on the job.
> Why many graduates get stuck, despite doing the right things
It is common to meet graduates who feel they are doing everything they are supposed to do. They are learning relevant skills, applying consistently, and preparing for interviews, yet progress feels slow.
Often, the issue is not effort but isolation. Learning alone makes it difficult to know what good actually looks like in a professional setting. Without structured feedback, it is easy to practise the wrong things or focus on areas that matter less to employers.
Progress tends to accelerate when expectations are clear, practice is realistic, and support is available. Graduates benefit from environments that mirror real work, where they can make mistakes safely and learn how the industry actually operates.
> The gap between learning and working in tech
One of the least discussed aspects of getting a job in tech is the gap between learning technical concepts and applying them in a professional role. University courses and online resources are valuable, but they rarely replicate the pace, ambiguity, and collaboration of real tech teams.
Employers are aware of this gap, which is why many are cautious when hiring graduates with no commercial experience. Understanding this dynamic can help you focus on bridging that gap, rather than simply accumulating more knowledge.
This is also where structured training and development programmes can make a meaningful difference.
> How mthree helps graduates break into the tech industry
mthree is designed to help graduates bridge the gap between learning and working in technology. Instead of focusing solely on technical training, we prepare candidates for real roles in real organisations.
Graduates accepted into our programmes receive structured training in in demand tech skills, alongside professional development that covers communication, problem solving, and working in client environments. This combination helps candidates become job ready, not just technically capable.
We also provide access to paid placements with leading global employers, offering graduates the opportunity to gain commercial experience early in their careers. Throughout the process, candidates are supported by trainers, mentors, and a community of peers, reducing the isolation many graduates experience when trying to break into the industry alone.
For graduates unsure about how to get a job in tech, we offer a clear pathway from graduation to employment, with guidance at each stage of the journey.
> A more realistic way to approach getting a job in tech
Getting a job in tech is rarely about working harder or learning more tools than everyone else. It is about understanding what employers value and preparing accordingly.
When you focus on becoming job ready, improving how you communicate, and gaining exposure to real world scenarios, the process becomes clearer. Progress may still take time, but it becomes more consistent and less frustrating.
For recent graduates, the most important thing to remember is that confusion and uncertainty are normal. They are signs that you are at the beginning of a learning curve, not the end of your potential.
Breaking into tech is not about perfection. It is about preparation, support, and steady growth.
Ready to bridge the gap with mthree? Discover our current opportunities today.
