http://www.mentornet.net/news/newsart.aspx?nid=28&sid=3
We recently polled our mentors for their Top 10 best secrets for
helping students break into careers in computer science and computer engineering
fields.
Here's
what they told us:
#1:
Consider getting more than one mentor. Get an academic mentor to help you with
school strategies, a professional mentor to help you make career path choices,
and another mentor working in a field that interests you to learn more about
the reality and challenges of his or her job.
#2: Start
getting internships in year one of your college program. How many internships
you experience is not as important as getting as much meaningful work
experience as possible. In computer science and engineering, meaningful work
can vary from defining requirements for a solution to developing a solution,
writing code for a part of a solution, writing test tools, and testing and
installing solutions.
#3: Stay
aware of current trends in your field and keep your skills uptodate on the
latest tools.
#4: Avoid
getting a retail or fast-food job to support yourself while in college;
instead, seek out related work experience.
#5:
Consider scouting for jobs at smaller companies and nonprofits where there will
be less competition and the potential for greater responsibilities and learning
experiences.
#6:
Register at temporary agencies, not only to get experience related to your
field but to check out corporate cultures, network, and learn where you feel
most comfortable.
#7:
Better to take a low-paying job that offers meaningful work experience than a
high-paying job of any kind not related to your field.
#8: If
you can't get an internship, work on a project on your own to demonstrate
initiative and drive or volunteer to help with someone else's team project.
#9:
Students who can demonstrate self-drive and project experience will rank higher
with interviewers. Build something you can show off and be able to discuss the
process you used to build it.
#10:
Diversity is strength. Seek out mentors and work experiences that will
introduce you to a diversity of cultures and a variety of leadership styles. If
you can, go home with a friend during school break to visit a different part of
the country. Learn Chinese and other languages.