Tech

 

The purpose of this guide is provide you with tools, resources and information to help you understand the Tech sector and career paths related to this sector. You'll explore the following:

  • Overview of top companies and their sub-sectors
  • Candidate profile characteristics and desirable skills
  • Common entry-level roles
  • Preparing your CV and application materials
  • Recruitment process and interview preparation

If after reading this document you need further support, please contact Claudia Da Silva Santos (claudia.dasilva@ie.edu).

What is the Tech Sector?

The tech sector is composed of companies focused on the research, development and distribution of technological products and services, both for final consumers and for businesses. This sector is responsible for producing many of the tools that make our lives easier such as digital platforms, smartphones, computers, software for online meetings and almost any kind of digital service. It is a huge sector which we can classify into four main sub-sectors:

  • Software and Digital Platforms
  • Technology Hardware and Equipment
  • IT Services
  • Telecommunications

Main Players

 
 
 
 

The tech sector is a highly concentrated sector. In fact, more than half of the sector’s value is held by just a few companies, including Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT). This sector makes up 27.9% of the S&P 500, the largest share.

Other large companies in the technology sector include:

  • Google (GOOGL, GOOG)
  • Meta (FB)
  • Amazon (AMZN)
  • Alibaba (BABA)
  • Adobe (ADBE)

Please review the TOP GLOBAL TECH COMPANIES. In the document you will find some high level information about each company and details about their hiring perspective (growth, roles distribution, etc.) along with the direct link to the Internship & Development Program of those companies.

 
 
 
 
 

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Tech?

DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

Companies look for candidates who share the same beliefs and values as the organization, but also look for diversity of thought and experience that will drive the company forward.

Below you can find profile as well as hard and soft skills that are desired in the ideal candidate:

Upskill: Additional Courses and Resources

Examples of some certifications desired by tech companies:

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If you wish to develop your technical skills and upskill in certain areas, there are a ton of free resources online to help you.

Make sure to also check out this playlist to stay updated on the latest technologies such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, and Big Data. Additonal free courses and resources:

  • Free Courses (by IBM) in Tech functions (Robotics, Java, Python, SQL, AI, etc.): cognitiveclass.ai
  • Free Coding Workshops for Women: shecodes.io
 
 
 
 
 

Roles & Opportunities

Main Roles in Tech

Working in Tech, offers opportunities across sectors to enter into both technical and non-technical roles. Nowadays, we see tech cross-over into other sectors such as Finance (Fintech), Consulting (Tech & Digital Consulting) and Education (Edtech), just to name a few.

Below you can find some of the main entry-level roles on demand in the Tech sector and information on specific skills relevant to each role and recommended companies to apply to.

Technical roles

The aforementioned roles, both general and tech, are in high demand in the Industry sector as well. If you would like to discover more job roles in this sector, please check TECH ROLES – FOCUS ON THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.

In the webinar Tech Functional Days, you can discover your fit and compare different functions in the Tech sector: Product Management - Data Science & Engineering - Tech Sales & Business Development - Tech Consulting & Digital Transformation.

Non-Technical roles

 
 
 
 
 

Practical Activity: Get to Know the Market

Now that you've gained a deeper understanding of the different career paths within the Tech sector, it's time to take action and put what you've learned into practice.

  1. Start by creating a list of your Top 10 dream companies. Consider this your first step in building a focused and intentional job search strategy. Remember, landing the right opportunity takes effort, persistence, and planning—treat it like a job in itself. The more intentional you are with your targets, the better positioned you'll be to identify roles, prepare for interviews and connect with professionals in the field.
  2. Check out the company website to get some insights into how their business works.
  3. Visit their LinkedIn page and start following them.
  4. Connect and speak with at least 3 Alumni working in your area(s) of interest via Linkedin. You can use IE Firsthand Platform, LinkedIn, or your personal network of people working in those companies.
  5. For all the companies on your list, identify the following: 1) The subsector they belong to, 2) Two potential roles you'd like to apply to, 3) One tech trend applied by the company and 4) Research interview and employee feedback on sites like Glassdoor and Wikijob.

The Job Search Process: Application & Interview

JOB SEARCH

Please see a list below of tips on how searching and applying to opportunities in the Tech sector:

WHERE TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES AND APPLY

  • Company websites: Create a “target list” of the companies you're interested in and bookmark their career web pages. Monitor their web pages for new opportunities and apply directly through their page.
  • Referral programs: Some tech companies have a referral program, which is a deliberate recruitment strategy rewarding staff for referring suitable and qualified candidates from their pool of contacts. T&C can help you to find the right career referral, but only when you haven't applied through the official webpage yet.
  • Network with IE Alumni: Connect with IE alumni via Linkedin who are currently working at your comapnies of interest. This is a step that you can take proactively even before you see a job opportunity posted. Reach out and ask if they'd be willing to shair their insights and advice on working at the company.
  • General Online Search Engines: Use search engines such as Linkedin, Indeed, Bewanted, etc.

RESOURCES FROM TALENT & CAREERS

  • IE Organized Recruitment Events: Attend the Careers Forum and other recruiting events organized virtually or on-campus.
  • Talent & Careers Weekly Newsletter: E-mail sent by Talent & Careers every week (events, competitions, internship opportunities, graduate programs etc.).
  • Career Portal: This is our T&C job platform where you upload your CV and apply to opportunities.
  • CV Books: Compilation of CVs specifically prepared for a company / position. For this, be sure that your CV is approved on the Career Portal.

OTHER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO EXPLORE

  • Graduate Programs: These programs last 1 or 2 years and are designed for high-potential candidates that can join companies in different areas. They are an amazing option if you are about to graduate, and many companies have options in several countries. Some of them are rotational, meaning you can spend 4 to 6 months in each department. Others can be more focused on one particular area such as sales, marketing or finance, for example. Previous experience is not mandatory but having an internship in the industry/area is highly valued. Keep in mind that Graduate Programs are very competitive and have a longer and more selective hiring process as they are considered a “Fast-track” option to middle management positions. Most programs start between summer and September after graduation, but you need to apply almost 1 year before. Applications vary depending on the company, but you should start looking into applications in the 3rd or 4th quarter of the year before it starts. Find more info on the companies offering Graduate Programs here.

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RECRUITMENT PROCESS

GENERAL APPLICATION PROCESS

Your application process will typically start with submitting your application materials through the company's website or via an external job search engine such as Linkedin. Application materials will most likely include your current CV and a cover letter. If you have a referral, be sure check with your Career Advisor before submitting your application to confirm next steps.

If the company is interested in your profile, they will reach out to you to organize an interview. Depending on the role and company, the number of interviews and style of interviews may vary. In addition, you may be asked to complete online assessments. Check out this video on How Recruitment Works in the Tech Industry and see more tips below.

PREPARING YOUR CV

  • Customize your CV to the specific internship/job position you're applying to. Make sure to incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your professional summary.
  • Prepare your CV using the IE CV template and sign-up on Vmock using your IEU student e-mail address. Work on the automatic feedback provided by the platform until you reach a 75% score aprox.
  • Once ready, contact your Career Advisor for further feedback.
  • Remember that your CV should be 1-page in length.

ONLINE APTITUDE TESTS AND TECHNICAL ASSESSMENTS

Companies may ask you to complete an online aptitude test or technical assessment (for more technical roles). These will vary depending on the company and job role. Aptitude tests may be psychometric, numerical and/or reasoning focused.

For practice, use JobTestPrep. To find the right test, you can search by company, test provider, or type of test. You can find more information below in the Section "Additional Resources".

VIDEO INTERVIEWS

Video interviews are becoming a common part of the recruitment process. Some companies choose to analyze videos using Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI analyzes and scores verbal and non-verbal content (i.e. what you say and how you say it). It uses speech and facial recognition technology to track and assess your choice of words (i.e. use of powerful and desirable key words), along with your eye and facial movements, your body language, your tone and your intonation, and will check for inconsistencies. For more tips check out: Video Interview AI algorithms: how to get a YES from the robot (Hilt).

INTERVIEWS

  • You may be asked to meet with HR (in person or via phone), and/or then with a member of the business area that you'd be joining.
  • Prepare for interviews by practicing both fit/motivation and behavioral/competency type questions.
  • Remember to practice and structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation+Task+Action+Result). You can find Interview Preparation Guidance.
  • Practice via a mock interview with a professional working in your field. Ask your Career Advisor for more details.
 
 
 
 
 

Company Recruitment Information

Below you can find the information BY COMPANY with more details on how to apply, recruitment process, tips for interview preparation:

AMAZON | GOOGLE | LINKEDIN | META | SALESFORCE | MULESOFT | MICROSOFT | TIKTOK | SHOPIFY | SNOWFLAKE | INFOSYS | GLOVO/GLOVO| CELONIS

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Additional Resources

  • Vault/Firsthand (formerly Evisors.com): Provides an up-to-date library of resources and sector specific webinars hosted by industry thought leaders. They explain career paths, how to get the job, and how to thrive professionally. To access webinars, click here. Once you find the webinar you want to view, be sure to please sign in with your school @student.ie.edu email address. For more information on Firsthand, check out their webpage.
  • JobTestPrep: Online Test & Assessment Centre Preparation
    • Click here to access
    • Accept the privacy terms and enter code: IEMADRID2026-1F477756
    • Register with your IE email XXX@ie.edu.
      JobTestPrep provides company-specific online test and assessment center preparation practice. To find the right test, you can search by company, test provider, or type of test.
    • *A premium subscription for IE students allows unlimited free access for one year, starting from the first login.
  • Case Study Practice: For the case study preparation, please use Case Coach. This is an IE-sponsored platform to train you on Case-Cracking, which is what you’ll face in all rounds of interviews. To claim your free access to CaseCoach’s Interview Prep Course:
 
 
 
 
 

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