Getting your degree in computer science is a great start for your career in technology. But with so many people entering the tech field, employers are looking for more than just a diploma. They want real skills, initiative, and proof that you can apply everything you’ve learned.
You need to make your degree stand out to employers. Here’s how:
Build a Portfolio
Show off what you can do! A strong portfolio is worth more than a perfect GPA: it’s a compilation of all your projects and evidence of your abilities. If you’ve made apps, developed websites, analyzed data, or written code, share that with your portfolio. Anyone can get a degree, but if you’ve created an impressive website, that’ll make you stand out.
If you’re stuck on ideas for your portfolio, try expanding on one of your school projects. You can turn a class assignment into a real-world application. If you worked on the project with someone else, credit them! This can prove that you can work with others as part of a team to deliver a quality product.
Here are some examples of what you can put in your portfolio that will make you stand out:
- A unique website design
- A complete and helpful database
- A fun and useful mobile app
- A hard-to-crack encryption tool
You can check out this article by Vanderbilt University for more tips on building an expert portfolio for your application.
Get Real-World Experience
Don’t forget your internships! Real-world experience is important to your employers; they want to know that you can work outside the classroom under real pressure and deadlines. Completing internships, research assistantships, or part-time tech jobs can demonstrate your knowledge and people skills.
If internships or part-time jobs aren’t available, don’t count out volunteer work. Talk to the small business owners in your town. Maybe they need help setting up a website or fixing tech bugs in their business. Volunteering won’t only show your employers your work ethic but also prove you’re proactive and care about your community.
According to the IEEE’s Computer Society, here’s what you get out of real-world experience:
- Better career prospects and relationships
- Academic credit for your program
- Opportunities to network
- Real-world projects for your portfolio
Learn Beyond the Curriculum
Computer science is evolving rapidly, and your classes can’t cover everything. What’s cutting-edge today may be outdated in just two years. Take the initiative to learn outside your course curriculum. Employers notice when candidates have the motivation and inspiration to seek more learning.
You can get online learning certificates from online platforms and businesses, like LinkedIn and Cisco. This certification and others can demonstrate your willingness to keep learning, even after graduation. But don’t limit yourself to just computer science certificates! Look into communication, business, and marketing, too. This can show that you’re a well-rounded candidate for the position.
BYU-Idaho has several certificates for students. This includes:
Network with Professionals
Networking can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Start small with student groups on campus. Attend meetings and learn teamwork, find mentors, and discover internship opportunities from other students. You could even reach out and talk to your professors. They already have years of industry experience, and chances are, they know a guy!
One of the best ways to gain experience alongside other professionals and future professionals is to join a student society on campus.
BYU-Idaho has a large Computing Society that meets every week. The society prepares members for future careers, helps build their portfolios, and encourages teamwork in computer science.
They have groups for every interest, even yours! You could join:
- The Hackathon
- The Web Society
- Video Game Design
- Amateur Radio Society
Develop Interpersonal Skills
Your technical knowledge will get your foot in the door, but employers want to know you can work with other people. A career in computer science means working with a team to complete your projects. There’s no way around it, so employers need their candidates to be team players and effective workers.
Being a team player goes beyond working well with your team. You also need to be a good communicator, especially for those who don’t speak the same “tech language” that you do.
Your company may employ a writer who needs to know what you’re working on so they can explain it to stakeholders. This is a big part of keeping your projects running!
Beyond teamwork and good communication, some interpersonal skills that will help you in the workplace are:
- Problem solving
- Critical Thinking
- Conflict Resolution
- Time Management
Indeed has some great tips for developing these skills. Check out their article!
Start Your Job Search Today!
Beyond the tips and tricks we discussed in this article, the best way to see what employers are looking for in candidates is to check their job postings! They know what they want, so start working on it now while you’re still in school.
Look at larger companies with stricter requirements for entry-level positions. This will give you a better idea of what they want.
There are lots of opportunities to make your computer science degree stand out from the rest. You don’t have to be another boring candidate in a sea of applications. Swim against the current and find something that’s unique to you, whether it's professional certificates in cybersecurity and marketing or a connection to people in the industry already.
Focus on your interpersonal skills, build your portfolio, and get real-world experience, and you’ll be one step closer to landing your dream career.
Citations:
How to Build a Computer Science Portfolio to Attract Employers - Vanderbilt University
The Benefits of a Computer Science Internship - IEEE Computer Society
Professional Certificates Online Training Courses - Indeed.com
Grow your career with Cisco certifications - Cisco
Cloud Computing (Certificate) - BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog
Cybersecurity (Certificate) - BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog
Small Business Innovation and Management (Certificate) - BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog
Digital Marketing (Certificate) - BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog
Professional Selling (Certificate) - BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog
Computer Science & Engineering Student Societies - BYU-Idaho
14 Ways To Improve Your Interpersonal Skills at Work - Indeed.com