Doing computer science and my dad keeps telling me im not going to get a job

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KIAman

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2001
3,342
23
81
You've never had a crappy project manager? What fantasy-land IT company are you working for?

It really depends on the size of the project and team. Small projects typically don't require anything more than customer relations and schedule management. Large projects, however, require something much better. I'd say the PM makes or breaks large projects regardless of requirements or team resources. For small projects, each developer acts as their own mini-PM and mini-BA enough to allow minimally skilled PMs.
 

sao123

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
The world doesn't need more entry level medicore programmers... India is full of them!

That said, you'll do fine if you have some decent networking, server hardware, or project management skills as well.


dammit... all i ever wanted to do was be a code monkey.
 

Obsoleet

Platinum Member
Oct 2, 2007
2,181
1
0
I graduated from my university in 2007 (not in compsci but technology management) and have been working for the past 2 years with a decent salary as an international systems analyst... my opinion is to study what you ENJOY.

You can move into different areas of work (well besides something specialized like pharmacy), your degree doesn't lock you into anything. So personally, I'd go for something specialized.. any monkey can learn some PHP and join an IT startup, or become a systems analyst.. all depending on how passionate you are and what you have to sell yourself with. Demonstrating passion for the area you're interviewing for, and display work ethic means a lot. You can offset a lower GPA in more ways than 1.

Everythings gotten harder with the economy/job market so of course more talent = more jobs for you.

Study what you want. Just don't do something non-technical (IMO). Because it'll be tough convincing someone that you have something to offer if you're standing there with a marketing degree, or psychology or social work. :p
 

kitchiku

Senior member
Nov 6, 2009
277
1
81
just get your certifications after you graduate and you'll be fine. The good thing with a CS degree is you have many options to go to after graduation: web dev't, embedded systems, networks, dba, etc. The more important question should be what track after you graduate will you be going to.
 

mosco

Senior member
Sep 24, 2002
940
1
76
I never use math, and I work for a 550+ person software company (not all engineers obviously) that is pretty much the leader in our field. We work in J2EE, Flex, and some other stuff.

It just depends on what you do, but you can certainly get away not really using any advanced math.

In terms of getting a job, I feel like sometimes it has to do more with who you know than your skills. Obviously you can't be incompetent, but if you know people it's a lot easier to get a job. I work in the Boston area, which is pretty tech heavy, so maybe thats why.
 
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
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Here's my plan
-Finish school
-Get intership while in school
-Learn to play with iphone/android sdk while in school (school has a class for iphone apps)
Hopefully make some kind of respectable not the best thing in the world game for my resume
-Get some job

My questions
- how many classes if programing did you guys need before getting an internship? Im just in my first class of c+
-Anyone with a CS business option? we have 3 options at our school CS science CS programming and CS business . I'm doing Programming only difference between the 3 are 2 classes

You should get a summer internship ASAP. Even after freshman year. The perople that have the easiet time getting jobs are those that spent 3 summers working in a professional environemnt.

Playing with android or iPhoens is OK, but it is nothing compared to jsut one internship. Get the internship and impress the peopel there. Yo0 uwill either get an offer extended or you will have letters of recomendation and an actual resume.
 

tvdang7

Platinum Member
Jun 4, 2005
2,242
5
81
You should get a summer internship ASAP. Even after freshman year. The perople that have the easiet time getting jobs are those that spent 3 summers working in a professional environemnt.

Playing with android or iPhoens is OK, but it is nothing compared to jsut one internship. Get the internship and impress the peopel there. Yo0 uwill either get an offer extended or you will have letters of recomendation and an actual resume.

internships are usually full time correct? i plan on taking summer school so im not sure how that fits in.
 

Pr0d1gy

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2005
7,774
0
76
Wow how much everything has changed in the last 15 years....

When I went to college everyone's parents were telling them to get into computers and now the field is so flooded that parent are telling their kids not to do it...lol

If you want my advice, and you probably do, get a degree in nursing. Nurses make great money and don't have a ton of responsibility, plus there is job opportunities in every town and city in the country. After a few years you could write your ticket to just about anywhere...

Good luck and, whatever you do, make sure you finish a degree in something.
 

tvdang7

Platinum Member
Jun 4, 2005
2,242
5
81
Wow how much everything has changed in the last 15 years....

When I went to college everyone's parents were telling them to get into computers and now the field is so flooded that parent are telling their kids not to do it...lol

If you want my advice, and you probably do, get a degree in nursing. Nurses make great money and don't have a ton of responsibility, plus there is job opportunities in every town and city in the country. After a few years you could write your ticket to just about anywhere...

Good luck and, whatever you do, make sure you finish a degree in something.

yea but thats just not for me. unless i were to become a nurse practitioner.The lower nurse jobs i probably couldnt make my way through life doing.
 

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
Moderator
Sep 16, 2005
15,682
14
81
www.markbetz.net
Wow how much everything has changed in the last 15 years....

When I went to college everyone's parents were telling them to get into computers and now the field is so flooded that parent are telling their kids not to do it...lol

If you want my advice, and you probably do, get a degree in nursing. Nurses make great money and don't have a ton of responsibility, plus there is job opportunities in every town and city in the country. After a few years you could write your ticket to just about anywhere...

Good luck and, whatever you do, make sure you finish a degree in something.

Well, my wife is an R.N. who works in a cardiac care unit. I would put things a bit differently than you: they make decent money; they work their asses off for very long hours; and they have a ton of responsibility.
 

Kirby

Lifer
Apr 10, 2006
12,028
2
0
internships are usually full time correct? i plan on taking summer school so im not sure how that fits in.

you may luck up and get them to pay for school. i'm going to graduate about 5 semesters late, but since they pay well and pay for school i really don't care. :p
 

tvdang7

Platinum Member
Jun 4, 2005
2,242
5
81
you may luck up and get them to pay for school. i'm going to graduate about 5 semesters late, but since they pay well and pay for school i really don't care. :p

well im like in my 6th year of college some i would consider my self LATE as well.
 

jsedlak

Senior member
Mar 2, 2008
278
0
71
Start looking for internships or part time jobs now. The experience will help you later.

This.

Any experience is good experience. Even if it doesn't pay.

And you should ALWAYS have pet projects of your own.
 

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
Moderator
Sep 16, 2005
15,682
14
81
www.markbetz.net
Tell him to check out the top 10 starting salaries of 2010 on NBC's website:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2057183

I did a companion survey of pay rates 15 years into a career...

1. Finance: $OVERFLOW$
2. Lobbyist: $INSUFFDIGITS$
3. Senior executive: $180,231 (+ $225,657 bonus and options)
4. Lawyer: $140,654 (net $5.61 per hour)
5. Laborer (union): $33,871 (+ $82,930 overtime)
6. Doctor: $110,431 (in kind)
7. Politician: $85,648 (declared)
8. Engineer (any): $54,464 (not incl. after hours food benefits)
9. Cosmetologist: $31,030
10. Laborer (non-union): $14,876
 

rchiu

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2002
3,846
0
0
Comp sci is just a tool, how easy to get a job and how secure the job is depends on what you apply your comp sci degree in.

If you apply your comp sci degree in desktop support, heh good luck with that. If you apply your comp sci degree in writing trading, risk management....etc specialized software and programs and you'd make easy 6 figures with super secured job.

If you are starting out, make sure you get some certificates. Java Cert is easy to get. Get a starting job in area that's promising, software development in banks, investment firms are pretty good. Other specialized software development like ERP, CRM (both implementation and coding is okay), is decent too. Eventually you need to develop specialized business knowledge to go with ur software eng/dev skill, or else you can be replaced easily.
 

PhaZe

Platinum Member
Dec 13, 1999
2,880
0
76
If you make it toward you're junior/senior year, take Paris for OS, not Cheng. I'm assuming you go to uh main campus.
 

pepsi_max2k

Junior Member
Feb 26, 2010
2
0
0
>> Can anyone that graduated with a computer science tell me how easy it was to get a job ?

Erm... graduated 2006... 2008 still no job, became self employed, still am, and looking to give someone else a job. So if you know anything about PHP / MySQL / eCom then pm me :)
 

jonsu

Junior Member
Mar 29, 2009
22
0
0
If you choose tobe software dev.

You're good programmer(High GPA from good university) I have seen some of my friend doing very well in enterpricey job market and AI, join good company.

If you are not so bright then you should also prepare for good project management and customer PR skill, that should really helps your salary in days ahead for consultant/support job.

Or like other have said in forum: You could well start your own business with less money but you must also have good sales skill(Or dependable sales employee).

But if you want these jobs because it might pay good? I just want to let you know that picking this field might lead you to a stressful live :)
 
May 8, 2007
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As someone graduating in CS (and I'll keep this simple):

There are more opportunities, challenges, and hobbies than I know what to do with. If you cannot find a career in this field you are not trying hard enough.
 

Fox5

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
5,957
7
81
>> Can anyone that graduated with a computer science tell me how easy it was to get a job ?

Erm... graduated 2006... 2008 still no job, became self employed, still am, and looking to give someone else a job. So if you know anything about PHP / MySQL / eCom then pm me :)

Lol, did you register just to offer Anandtech a job?