http://www.mentornet.net/news/newsart.aspx?nid=28&sid=3 MentorNet News - November 2007 Top 10 Secrets for Breaking into Computer Science / Computer Engineering Fields 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.