Young adults fear tech industry jobs are ‘unachievable’ as industry is ‘ruthless’
A POLL has revealed young adults fear tech industry jobs are "unachievable" as the industry is "ruthless".
A quarter think they won't land a job because of their social class, age, gender, or race, a Samsung study shows.
The aged 16 to 25 found 54 per cent would like to work in the sector - while 27 per cent of those believe it is not a realistic proposition.
And 76 per cent believe the industry is missing out on a hotbed of talent.
Samsung spokesperson James Kitto said: “The next generation are going to be tomorrow’s problem-solvers.
“They’re the thinkers that will come up with the ideas and innovations that will address some of the world’s biggest challenges.
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“But to be successful in this mission, they will need to be armed with the skills, contacts, and knowledge to unleash their full problem-solving potential.”
Some believe the industry is "ruthless" with 36 thinking they will need good school grades to land a role in tech.
Experts said this resulted in only 21 per cent of young adults applying for roles in the field - despite 69 per cent agreeing young adults are keen for jobs within it.
The OnePoll study also looked at the top requirements young adults have when considering a job role.
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More than half of young Brits would look at the salary before deciding to go ahead with a job offer.
But others said they will look at the working hours and a 49 per cent would choose a role based on the location.
However, 20 per cent think their potential employer’s approach to equal opportunities is important to them.
Another study, by Startup Sherpas, of 500 young Brits aged 13 to 18 years, found 14 per cent wouldn’t apply for a job if they didn’t know anyone who worked in that industry.
Others have different priorities and wouldn't step a foot into an office that didn't have Wi-Fi access.
While 24 per cent admitted they would struggle in a role with no mobile data.
When it comes to self-confidence, almost half of young adults think they can make make a positive difference to the tech industry if they had the right support.
In partnership with InnovateHer, Samsung has now re-launched an innovation competition for 11-to-25-year-olds in the UK and Ireland, called ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ with a £10K prize, mentorship and access to workshops on offer.
Spokesperson Lauren Forbes said: “Our partnership aims to break down barriers, inspire confidence and pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.
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“The benefits are not just for these girls alone, but for society, as we empower them to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and changemakers, and we cannot wait to start the work.
“As such we believe it should set the benchmark for welcoming different ways of thinking – conventional and unconventional alike.”
