Career Zone
Career ZoneCareer Research and PlanningExploreEmployment SectorsIT, Data and TechIT Consultancy

IT Consultancy

In the UK, IT consultancy is a dynamic and integral part of the broader technology landscape, valued at over £50 billion.  Transferring across nearly all sectors, this area of work exists to support organisations with navigating digital transformation, enhancing their cybersecurity, and optimising IT infrastructure. Demand is being driven by rapid technological change, especially post-pandemic.  Cloud computing, AI, data analytics and automation are some of the areas in which IT consultancy is growing in demand. 

Major players in the UK include Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, and IBM, with these giants being complimented by specialist firms operating in niche fields.  Clients will expect Consultants to be very knowledgeable, delivering both strategic value and not just quick technical fixes.  With the broad and evolving technology landscape changing so rapidly and investments so costly, in the face of economic uncertainty, there is a lot at stake for organisations.   

In this area of work, you will need to enjoy continually learning and developing so that you can best advise clients.  Competition for talent is strong in this field of work, so building a strong reputation will be key to your success. 

The following role profiles on the Prospects website will help inform you of the day-to-day responsibilities in graduate level roles and will help inform the kinds of skills, experience and knowledge needed:

Here is another perspective from the Bright Network IT Consultant

You may be interested to watch this recording on Panopto of an University of Exeter alumni panel on ‘Careers in Data and AI’ recorded in January 2025 and this recording from February 2024

If you are interested in these roles, you might also be curious to read about detail in the earlier work areas pages.

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role requirements outlined in the person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for.

It will be expected that you have an understanding, if not a practical skill in the areas in which you will be consulting.  Therefore, the following overarching technical skills and knowledge would be helpful:

  • Adaptability and learning agility; you will need to be able to learn and grasp new tools and technologies quickly
  • Analysis and problem-solving; you will need to understand and break down complex business problems in a logical and structured way and then identify potential solutions
  • Awareness of software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum)
  • Basic programming knowledge (e.g., Python, Java, SQL)
  • Commercial awareness: you will need to demonstrate a good understanding of how businesses and organisations operate, the industry-specific challenges they face and the role that technology plays in supporting them to achieve their goals
  • Communication and interpersonal skills: active listening is key to understanding the challenges businesses face. These are client facing roles so you will need to have a collaborative approach and be able to clearly articulate complex technical scenarios and solutions for both technical an non-technical audiences
  • Cybersecurity fundamentals
  • Data analysis and visualisation (e.g., Excel, Power BI, or Tableau)
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure)
  • Flexibility: you will likely have a variety of clients and will need to flit between thinking about them and their diverse projects with ease
  • Understanding of systems architecture and databases

Suggested reading:

IBM  Careers - Entry Level Consultant: The Secrets to Becoming a Successful Candidate

Bright Network Graduate Careers Advice:  IT Consulting.

In order to develop these skills, remember Career Zone also offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications. 

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider involvement in-

 The Forage offers a wide range of remote, free work simulations in a number of areas with big brands to develop your skills and awareness of a sector and build your CV:

This page on Prospects.ac.uk lists an impressive series of organisations offering Tech related internships, including in IT Consultancy. 

Societies

You might want to consider joining these societies on the Exeter campuses:

These societies are not available on the Cornwall campuses, but you could create one!

Penryn campus

Commercial Awareness Society

University of Exeter Employability Schemes

Digital Candle - free advice service for charities; sign up as an advisor.

https://www.digitalcandle.org.uk/volunteer-your-time

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively.

Finding part time work –

You could also have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page. 

Graduate schemes and internships

Recruitment Consultants – there are a wide range of recruiters who advertise IT roles and they often advertise graduate and entry-level positions.  See Agency Central for a list of specialist recruitment agencies and search by sector e.g. IT and Tech. Ensure any recruiters you connect with are members of a professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development or the Recruitment & Employment Confederation. 

Graduate schemes and internships

Placements

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad. 

Further sources of support

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally.

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal.

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to build their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.

  • There are very few specific IT consultancy masters courses because this area of work develops along with expertise in particular fields. Here is a list of thousands of UK universities’ relevant Masters courses in computer science on Find a Masters.com.
  • If you prefer to stay at the University of Exeter, here is a list of computer science Masters courses, focused on different applications of Computer Science, including Computing and Networks
  • Explore IT training courses on Prospects.ac.uk
  • CompTIA offer a wide range of industry certified courses

Advice

If you are considering postgraduate or doctoral level study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.

Information and links from professional bodies

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.