[UWAB] Mentornet's Top 10 suggestions for "breaking into the CS field"

[Biggers, Maureen Short]

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. 

 

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