Rebecca Franks
Chief Learning Officer and co-founder, Flip Computing
Rebecca has more than 20 years experience in computing education. She is also the Chair of Trustees for Technology Books for Children, and co-author of The tech career coach for teens. Flip Computing is the creator of the free 3D creation tool, Flock XR.
Practical, classroom-ready tips and advice
When we talk to teens about careers in tech, the conversation often jumps straight to job titles like coder, software engineer, or data scientist. For many young people, those feel quite abstract and intimidating. For adults and teachers, it can be hard to know where to begin.
The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to have tech career conversations with young people. One of the most effective places to start is with what they already enjoy.
Below are practical, classroom-ready ways to help teens discover how tech fits into their world, and how they might move into tech.
Start with what they already enjoy
Every young person has strengths, such as creativity, design sense, organisation, problem solving, and collaboration. We often just need to help them recognise that these skills already belong in tech.
Simple questions work best, such as What do you enjoy? or What do you find yourself doing when no one tells you to?
From there, explore where tech shows up:
- a teen who volunteers already has the values suited to tech-for-good roles
- a passion for fashion links to wearables, digital textiles, and AI-supported design tools
- a love of gaming can lead to UX design, game development, storytelling, or esports production
It’s not about pushing them towards a specific job. It’s about showing that tech is woven through the things they care about.
Share real stories, not stereotypes
Young people are more likely to explore a career when they can picture themselves in it. Relatable stories help break down barriers far better than a job description.
I once spoke to a young person who loved musical theatre. They enjoyed performing but also liked the costumes, set design and lighting. They were convinced that tech had nothing to do with their world. I talked about the digital tools that are behind lighting, costume design and stage effects, and they became interested. I explained that they might want to create their own musical one day, and having an understanding of the tech in the industry can help them with that.
Stories like this help undo the myths that tech is only for maths geniuses and coders working on their own. They show tech careers as diverse, relevant, creative, and exciting.
Explore through small, low-pressure projects
Teens don’t discover their interests by choosing from a list. They discover them by trying things out.
Encourage quick, playful projects to spark an interest:
- design a simple game
- create a digital poster or short video
- use AI tools to create an app
- build something in a 3D world
- code with the micro:bit to solve a problem
- create a data visualisation to convey a message
These activities don’t need marking or polishing, they just need to spark an interest. When teens get hands-on they notice connections with tech through exploration. They start to see what motivates them. It might be storytelling, logic, design, engineering, creativity, or teamwork.
Highlight the many routes into tech
One of the biggest misconceptions is that tech careers require a university degree. Teens may also think that it has to be computer science. In reality, there are multiple routes into tech:
-
T Levels in digital production, digital support and digital business services
- apprenticeships in fields like cybersecurity, software development, and digital infrastructure
- college based technical qualifications
- bootcamps and industry certifications
- university degrees for those who prefer that path
- later-life or self-directed learning for young people who discover it later on
When teens understand that there isn’t one right route, tech feels more approachable.
Talk about values, impact and the bigger picture
Young people care deeply about issues like mental health, justice and community. When we frame tech careers around impact, they see that tech isn’t just about tools.
Roles range from designing accessible apps to creating health-tech solutions, developing ethical AI, supporting humanitarian work, or building platforms that connect people.
Linking tech to values helps young people imagine themselves contributing something meaningful to the world. This can help a tech career start to feel real.
A simple action to get started
If you’re a teacher, educator or parent who wants a quick way into these conversations, here’s a 3 step approach:
- Start small: Ask one teen (or your teen) this week what they enjoy. Explore where tech already appears in their world.
- Try a project: Pick a short, low-pressure activity that aligns with their interests. Even a few minutes of exploration can lead to something.
- Discuss pathways: When the curiosity appears, share 1 or 2 routes into tech that fit their style. It might be a creative online course, A levels, T Levels, a bootcamp or some work experience.
Small steps like this help to build confidence. With the right conversations, you can help a young person see that tech is already part of their world, and they can be the future creators who make it better!
Young people are more likely to explore a career when they can picture themselves in it. Relatable stories help break down barriers far better than a job description.
— Rebecca Franks, Chief Learning Officer and co-founder, Flip Computing
