2 answers
Kamiyah
Student
Warren, Michigan
1
Question
Asked
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How hard is it to get a job with a Computer Science degree And does anyone have any tips for making the most out of the research available to you during your college years??
I am currently a High-school senior planning to attend MSU as a computer science major if accepted.
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2 answers
Jerin Varughese
37
Answers
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Updated
Jerin’s Answer
Dear Kamiyah,
Thanks for your question .
The honest answer is that at this point , it is a bit hard to find a job in this sector ,but things will turn around , that's my hope.
In a good situation , finding a job is not that hard as long as you have decent logical skills .
Research , it all depends on what you want to do , because there is no limit , unless you want to do a Master's or PhD , I think whatever research you have to do as part of your course is more than enough . If you can get a Professor to work with him on some of his projects , then that can help you and also earn you some extra money, but do it only if you can balance both your studies and this kind of research , as most of the times ,it is a bit demanding , and takes away your time.
Hope this helps !
Thanks and Regards,
Jerin
Thanks for your question .
The honest answer is that at this point , it is a bit hard to find a job in this sector ,but things will turn around , that's my hope.
In a good situation , finding a job is not that hard as long as you have decent logical skills .
Research , it all depends on what you want to do , because there is no limit , unless you want to do a Master's or PhD , I think whatever research you have to do as part of your course is more than enough . If you can get a Professor to work with him on some of his projects , then that can help you and also earn you some extra money, but do it only if you can balance both your studies and this kind of research , as most of the times ,it is a bit demanding , and takes away your time.
Hope this helps !
Thanks and Regards,
Jerin
Thank you! Not many people are willing to tell you about the truthful downside to certain degrees. I really appreciate you taking time to answer my question. Have a great weekend!!!
Kamiyah
My pleasure :) .
Jerin Varughese
Kirthi KN
Computers
35
Answers
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Updated
Kirthi’s Answer
Hi Kamiyah,
Congrats on aiming for MSU! Go Spartans. I’ve been working in Network Security at Verizon for about 10 years now, and I’m involved in some of our campus recruiting efforts in the Midwest. I’ll give it to you straight because the college brochures usually sugarcoat things.
1. How hard is it to get a job right now? To be honest, it is harder than it was 5 years ago. The entry-level market is a bit saturated because everyone heard "CS pays well" and flooded the major. However, it is not hard if you do more than just go to class. When I look at resumes for internships, I skip the ones that just list classes like "Intro to C++" and "Data Structures." Every student has those. I look for the student who built a weird app on the weekend, or the one who set up a home server, or participated in a Hackathon. If you just get the degree and do nothing else, you will struggle. If you build a portfolio while you study, you’ll have multiple offers before you graduate.
2. Making the most of research/resources Since you are going to a big research school like MSU, you have a huge advantage. Here is how to use it:
Bother your professors during office hours: Most students only go to office hours to complain about a grade. Go there to ask what they are working on. I got my first internship because I asked a professor about his research on wireless networks, and he ended up recommending me to a colleague at a telecom company.
Don't just do "Theory": If you get involved in research, try to find projects that have a practical application. If a professor is researching AI, ask if you can help write the Python scripts to clean the data. That is a resume bullet point that companies like Verizon love because it shows you can do the "grunt work."
Use the University Labs: MSU likely has computer labs with expensive software or hardware (like Cisco networking gear or high-end GPUs) that you couldn't afford on your own. Learn how to use them.
The degree gets you past the HR filter. The extra stuff (research, side projects, curiosity) is what gets you the job.
Good luck with your application!
Congrats on aiming for MSU! Go Spartans. I’ve been working in Network Security at Verizon for about 10 years now, and I’m involved in some of our campus recruiting efforts in the Midwest. I’ll give it to you straight because the college brochures usually sugarcoat things.
1. How hard is it to get a job right now? To be honest, it is harder than it was 5 years ago. The entry-level market is a bit saturated because everyone heard "CS pays well" and flooded the major. However, it is not hard if you do more than just go to class. When I look at resumes for internships, I skip the ones that just list classes like "Intro to C++" and "Data Structures." Every student has those. I look for the student who built a weird app on the weekend, or the one who set up a home server, or participated in a Hackathon. If you just get the degree and do nothing else, you will struggle. If you build a portfolio while you study, you’ll have multiple offers before you graduate.
2. Making the most of research/resources Since you are going to a big research school like MSU, you have a huge advantage. Here is how to use it:
Bother your professors during office hours: Most students only go to office hours to complain about a grade. Go there to ask what they are working on. I got my first internship because I asked a professor about his research on wireless networks, and he ended up recommending me to a colleague at a telecom company.
Don't just do "Theory": If you get involved in research, try to find projects that have a practical application. If a professor is researching AI, ask if you can help write the Python scripts to clean the data. That is a resume bullet point that companies like Verizon love because it shows you can do the "grunt work."
Use the University Labs: MSU likely has computer labs with expensive software or hardware (like Cisco networking gear or high-end GPUs) that you couldn't afford on your own. Learn how to use them.
The degree gets you past the HR filter. The extra stuff (research, side projects, curiosity) is what gets you the job.
Good luck with your application!
Thank you very much! I really appreciate the detailed answer💕
I hope you have a great weekend!
Kamiyah