where do computer science majors work right out of college?

Hello Jose,

Professionals with degree in computer science are currently in high demand. A lot of companies have requirement for fresher as they are bring in knowledge of the latest development in technology along with a fresh perspective at solving problems. In today environment almost every major multinational company would have a IT department that is looking at hiring computer science engineers including fresher right out of college. So it will mostly depend on your specialization and interest. The obvious place is technology companies. There are retailers, supply chain management companies that have very aggressive investment in technology. There are lot of other sectors like telecommunication companies to airlines to financial services to manufacturers trying to automate processes. Even fashion, one of my friends from college is working with fashion brand on developing smart watches for the company.

After my major in computer science I started with a supply chain company and then moved to a technology company.

It can be challenging to land your first job out of college and establish some experience that will help build your resume for future job applications. Internships are one great route, as many companies have established internship programs that are available to current students as well as seniors that recently graduated. Internship programs often start their application processes in the fall and winter, so it’s good to start investigating opportunities early. Another option is contacting local startups, as their budget constraints tend to make them more open to providing opportunities for entry-level employees. Also, many there are several code schools and bootcamps that have an multi-week program where students build relevant industry skills, and also have relationships with local business that are looking for entry level employees.

If you’re in a metropolitan area, I’d suggest looking for technology meetups, which can be found on meetup.com or local software community blogs. Meetups form around specific technologies (like Java or Python) or industry trends (like DevOps) Technologists that attend meetups can provide you advice about which trends to follow and learn more about. Frequently local recruiters attend the meetups, and can provide guidance about which companies are hiring, and often volunteer to represent you by submitting your application to a company.

As more companies add technology professionals to their workforce every year, there continue to be more places where you can work. It’s good to be open early in your career, as you never know what type of experience will be helpful later on.

It's exciting you have an interest in computer science, Jose. I work in software development and I find it fun, challenging, interesting, rewarding, and lucrative. Getting your first job in the field can be challenging, but there are many possible paths to take. I've seen some folks go to work for small start-ups. Those kinds of companies are often willing to hire less experienced engineers because they're more budget constrained. Start-ups also take a lot of risks, so that can be exciting and a great way to take on new challenges and grow your skills.

I've seen other folks go to work for large companies. This is also a great environment to get started because large companies often provide a lot of structure. You likely won't have to "reinvent the wheel" as much at a large company. There are more processes in place for administrative needs so you can focus more on coding. There are also more resources to train and grow skills of employees.

If you are still in school, career fairs are a great place to look for companies ready to hire into entry-level computer science roles. If you're out of school, focus on both growing your skills and expanding your professional network.

• To focus on growing your skills, do personal projects on your own or with other job seekers that force you to use technologies you're seeing are the most in-demand in your area. For example, build a web or mobile app.
• To grow your professional network, look for meetups (meetup.com) in your local area that are technology related. Also look for professional organizations that have meetups. Also look for local resources that professionals in your area use to find each other and make connections. For example, in Portland, OR, we have http://calagator.org/ that lists all the local technology meet-ups.

There are many different avenues for a computer science major to work fresh out of school. Technology companies (such as Dell/EMC, Apple Computer, HP to smaller diverse companies.  If you are a programmer the field widens even further because programming is required in all industries. The important thing to remember is, we all have to give our "dues". In this day and age, you start at the bottom, work hard, learn as much as you can, then leverage your knowledge into a new position.  The average nowadays is 3-5 years then individuals move on to gain more knowledge as well as increase in salary.    My recommendation is to look at the type of job you are training for (programming, tech design, ec) then find the industry that you want to work in (consumer electronics, manufacturing, direct mail/marketing, then look for the type of jobs within those industries.  Do not lock yourself into one area or you could back yourself into a corner.

Hi Jose,

I have been working in the tech industry (as a developer and as a sales engineer) since graduating from University/College. Others have answered your question very well. I would like to add that I did an Internship (took a year out between year 2 and 3 of university) and it was the best thing I ever did. I got a job with the same company after graduating too. It was so useful to have the experience on my CV after I graduated too. I'd say if you didn't want to take a whole year out, you should try and do a summer internship where you will get invaluable experience.

Good luck!

Hi I have been working the computing industry for 20years and I did a Computing Science Major.

The amazing thing about your degree is that you can basically work for any type of company anywhere in the world.

If you don't have a specific plan for an organisation or industry that you would like to work in, I would highly recommend just experimenting, talk to all business small and large in any industry and find the industry you most like.

In your early years explore variety and experience.

I have worked for small companies, in multiple countries, in all industries.