Current Events > Compsci majors, were you able to find work easily after graduation?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm graduating in a couple terms, and I can't help but feel entirely unprepared to enter the job market. I do decently in my classes, but I feel like most of my peers are much more experienced and know exactly what kind of work they want to go into. I also haven't had any luck getting internships so far, but I may have something lined up this summer at least.

Those of you that have some kind of programming job, do you feel like your university adequately prepared you, or did you gain most of your experience through other means?
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Get an internship.

I worked as a web dev during my senior year and stayed with the startup until I started my PhD program a year later.

Most of what you learn in school is not relevant for a job. You need to learn whatever language they use at work plus a modern environment. The fundamentals from school help conceptually, but in practice youre going to need to crack open some programming books. I like OReilly, Packt, and Apress
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I didn't bother looking for work until after I finished, but I was still able to find work within a month of graduating. It was a web development position which is funny since I didn't do any web development at all. As a junior developer, you'll be able to catch up and figure things out. School doesn't generally teach you exactly what you need for your job, but it teaches you how to pick up and learn what you need.
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You'll be fine--

TeaMilk posted...

I also haven't had any luck getting internships so far

You're fucked. You realize you're competing with people who had internships as part of their university program?

Possibly lucky for you, if you're a minority and/or woman you get a big boost in job opportunities. Negative boost if you're a white male.
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Ya bro I had my choice between KFC and Burger King

1337toothbrush posted...

I didn't bother looking for work until after I finished, but I was still able to find work within a month of graduating. It was a web development position which is funny since I didn't do any web development at all. As a junior developer, you'll be able to catch up and figure things out. School doesn't generally teach you exactly what you need for your job, but it teaches you how to pick up and learn what you need.

This was reassuring, thanks. I do feel like I can pick up on new stuff quickly when I need to.

Frostshock posted...

You're fucked. You realize you're competing with people who had internships as part of their university program?

Possibly lucky for you, if you're a minority and/or woman you get a big boost in job opportunities. Negative boost if you're a white male.

Yeah I do realize that, I applied for quite a few things in past years and got turned down without much feedback. I feel pretty sure I've got something this summer, but I haven't been given the paperwork yet. (I also do happen to fall under a ton of minority demographics, hopefully that works to my benefit somehow lol)
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