Claudia Cohen, Director at La Fosse Academy, explains why experienced professionals are increasingly competing for entry-level tech roles.
Experienced professionals are no longer waiting until redundancy forces a career change. Instead, many are proactively returning to education, retraining, and applying for entry-level technology roles, according to Claudia Cohen, Director at La Fosse Academy.
The shift comes as technology and AI continue to reshape the skills employers expect, creating a more competitive hiring market for both graduates and career changers.
“People often assume entry-level jobs are filled almost exclusively by graduates, but that’s no longer the reality,” says Claudia.
“Around half of the people joining La Fosse Academy today are changing careers, rather than entering the workforce for the first time,” she says. “We’re seeing people more than a decade into their careers looking for a fresh start, professionals returning after career breaks, individuals who have recently moved to the UK, and people from industries where opportunities have become more limited.”
Claudia says most are in their 20s and 30s, but they’ve also supported people in their 50s and beyond who have successfully retrained into technology careers.
Experience alone is no longer enough
According to Claudia, the changing nature of modern work means many experienced professionals are recognising they need to develop new technical skills to remain competitive.
“The employment market has become significantly more challenging,” she says. “Technology is changing almost every role, AI is reshaping job requirements, and people recognise that relying on experience alone is no longer enough.
“Rather than waiting until they’re forced to make a change, many are proactively reskilling into sectors with stronger long-term demand, such as technology and data.”
Why employers are changing how they hire
As organisations become more selective, Claudia says employers increasingly expect candidates to demonstrate practical skills alongside their previous experience.
“Experienced professionals bring huge value through leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and commercial awareness. But employers also want evidence of current technical capability. Structured reskilling programmes help bridge that gap by combining existing professional experience with the practical skills organisations need today.”
She also believes businesses should recognise the wider benefits experienced career changers can bring.
“The most successful employers understand that age-diverse teams bring broader perspectives, stronger problem-solving and greater resilience,” she says.
What candidates should do next
For anyone considering a career change, Claudia believes there has never been a better time to explore alternative routes into employment.
“Don’t assume you’ve missed your opportunity. Your professional experience is still incredibly valuable, but pairing it with in-demand technical skills is what makes candidates stand out,” she says. “Apprenticeships and employer-led training programmes are no longer just for school leavers. They’re one of the most effective ways for adults to retrain while gaining practical experience.”
She adds that the same advice applies to graduates entering an increasingly competitive jobs market.
“The days of relying on a degree alone are gone. We’re seeing exceptional graduates struggle to secure their first role because competition has increased.”
“Continuous learning, practical experience and industry-led training have become essential for anyone looking to build a long-term career,” she concludes.
