Michael
What goals should we set for ourselves in order to prepare for a career in technology?
I am asking because now I want to know what I need to do in order to succeed in a field dealing with software. In college, I plan on taking computer science and want to know what i can do now as a senior in high school to be prepared in the future. #computer-science #computer-software #computer #computer-programming
3 answers
Joanne Mammarelli
Joanne’s Answer
- Learn how to work in teams
- Learn how to write and speak effectively
- Don't be afraid of change. Technology is far from constant
- Don't wait for people to teach you. Go find the answers
Joanne Mammarelli
Joanne’s Answer
Expose yourself to the different programming languages (java, c++, python, etc ......)
The more hands-on experience going into college, the better.
Joanne
John Stokes
John’s Answer
Joanne's answer hits a critical piece: People skills. You must be able to work with other people, whether it's in the form of getting software requirements, presenting a finished product, or giving/getting help from co-workers.
Technically, the best thing you can do for yourself is write a program. Don't write a simple text-only "hello world" app; write a program that you might actually use. It doesn't have to be fancy (like the Microsoft Excel for Mobile), but maybe a simple address book or word game. Actually writing a program is an education in itself, and it will fill in the gaps textbooks leave.
Once you enter college, study databases. They're everywhere, so you will definitely have to interact with them in your career. Also, don't be afraid of the command line. Whether it's Powershell, Linux, or something more obscure, knowing your way around a CLI is very helpful.
John recommends the following next steps: