Tuesday, December 6, 2011

8 Great Careers for a Computer Science

You are about to graduate with a degree in computer science. You thought that this was a good decision because you are fascinated by computer programs and really enjoyed learning about how to design them. However, as graduation nears, you are starting to wonder what you can possibly do for a job now that you’re going to be done with college. The job market for people with computer science majors is competitive but that doesn’t mean that you won’t have options. In fact, there are a lot of different career paths that someone could take after graduating with a degree in computer science.
Here is a look at eight different jobs that you might get after you’ve completed a computer science major in college:
1. Software Designer for a Tech Company. One of the most common jobs that people get after graduating with a computer science degree is a software design and development job within any tech company that happens to be hiring. People work in this position at the entry level, usually participating as part of a team in the development of new software. This software may relate to any aspect of technology. Hot areas including mobile Internet software and issues related to computer security.
2. Start-up Company Partner. Some people like the idea of doing software development and design but they don’t actually want to be stuck doing this within the confines of someone else’s business. It is common these days for students to come together during their course work in the computer science program and to decide to launch a start-up business together after graduation. A good path for these people to follow is to go ahead and enter a graduate program in computer science while beginning to launch your new business.
3. Research Positions Related to Computer Development. People who don’t necessarily want to work hands-on in developing software but who do have an interest in being on the cutting edge of the interest may find that they enjoy assisting in technological research projects that relate to how computers will be used in the future. Entry-level positions for a computer science major may be limited in this area but it’s possible to find them if you get in with the right company.
4. Various IT Positions. Many computer science majors opt to get entry level positions within the Information Technology field. They do a combination of software design, software implementation and computer technology development. Basically anything related to analyzing a business in terms of its computer organization and working to improve the organization of the business so that it operates more smoothly would fall into the category of IT work. There are both general and specific jobs within the IT field that can be obtained with a basic degree in computer science.
5. Office Admin / Customer Service/ Troubleshooter. Some computer science majors opt to take general office positions within both computer and non-computer-related businesses and then serve as the main person who troubleshoots when problems arise with the computer system. They may also act as a liaison in a customer service position, assisting a company’s clients in dealing with computer problems. This allows computer science majors to work in different types of businesses but still do the type of work that their education has taught them to do best.
6. Freelance Computer Programming. People with a degree in computer science are typically skilled enough at basic computer programming that they can help develop programs for a diverse range of different types of businesses. It is possible to do this work freelance if you are interested in working from home on your own schedule although you have to be highly self-motivated to do so.
7. Writing / Blogging about the Industry. Those few lucky people who are skilled not only at the math behind computer science but also at using words to explain technology to others may find that they can use their education to serve as experts in the computer industry. They may start a blog or write articles for large magazines related to the issues that are of importance to people in the computer science field.
8. Teaching. Some people may choose to take a different type of career path and use their education as a stepping stone for a career in child education. People interested in sharing their technological skills with students in the K-12 grades may find that a computer science background serves them well in getting this best computer education positions in those schools.
These are some of the most common general jobs that you can pursue once you have a basic college degree in computer science. Because this is such a competitive field, it is a wise idea to go on to get an advanced degree in this industry. People who get specialized degrees in the specific niche areas of computer technology that interest them most are capable of going on to get better, higher-paying and more interesting jobs in areas including artificial intelligence studies, technology business development and even the legal issues related to computer technology.
However, there are plenty of people who graduate with a basic college degree in computer science and do fine for themselves in standard computer careers that do not require an advanced degree. Combining a steady job at a technology firm with work in blogging, teaching or start-up endeavors can help to keep this type of work interesting even without going on to get a Masters Degree or PhD in Computer Science or another computer-related field.

No comments:

Post a Comment