Way forward for a student? Advice please?

[Ghost02]

I'm currently doing a BSC Computer Science and Information Technology degree at UKZN and I'm in my first year of study, do you guys have any advice/pointers that would help with being successful once my degree is done? I will definitely be doing my honors when the time comes and might look at other universities to do that at but do you guys have any advice for the mean time?

Thanks

[HeftyCrab]

I'm currently doing a BSC Computer Science and Information Technology degree at UKZN and I'm in my first year of study, do you guys have any advice/pointers that would help with being successful once my degree is done? I will definitely be doing my honors when the time comes and might look at other universities to do that at but do you guys have any advice for the mean time?

Thanks

Dont act like you know everything? ive heard thats one of the biggest complaints.

[HeftyCrab]

Also ive heard that its useful to build up a portfolio to show your skills and become part of an opensource project where you can contribute.

[Ghost02]

So be humble and help out on open source stuff and I will be fine?

[stoymigo]

First make sure you pass university, I'm studying first year + working and can tell you that some interview questions I've had
I could answer because of doing some of my first year modules.

In the meantime, when you have free time you can either contribute to an opensource project or create your own project and build on it, it can be a mobile app/desktop app or website which you can show in your interview or even the projects you've had to do while at university.

Another thing is I got my first job through a connection, so see how you can get a job through a connection.

[Hamster]

I'm currently doing a BSC Computer Science and Information Technology degree at UKZN and I'm in my first year of study, do you guys have any advice/pointers that would help with being successful once my degree is done? I will definitely be doing my honors when the time comes and might look at other universities to do that at but do you guys have any advice for the mean time?

Thanks

Finish your studies but enjoy yourself before you have to start "real work".
Try get a part time job for 3 - 6 months somewhere in your final year just to separate your CV from the masses.

Once you start work prepare for pain and a low salary for the first two years. The salary jump will come - be patient.
Do not pledge loyalty to the first company you start working for. After 2 or 3 years - bail. Go get another job somewhere.

Like the other's said, keep that cocky attitude some of the grads have at home. You really really REALLY don't know all that much when you just leave uni.
You need an "always willing to learn" attitude.

And very importantly: throughout your whole career, stay technologically agnostic. Pick the right tool for the job and not you favourite tool/language/tech (this comes in to play later when your opinion will start to matter especially if you want to go the architect route).



And for the love of God please don't call yourself a software architect until you have at least a decade or more experience.


EDIT: If you are seriously considering going the architect route try get an enterprise development job instead of a web(site) development job. For your first job you may not have much choice, but after 2 years you'll have a lot more open doors.

[Ghost02]

Thanks for all the opinion guys, I figured this would be the place to start looking for advice as most of you have been there done that.

[PatBam]

I would say spend one extra year as a undergrad and pick up a few credits in subjects outside of IT. Don’t underrate linguistic skills. Proficiency in English counts even more than proficiency in C or Pascal or whatever else they teach nowadays. Getting a first year credit in English literature would be a really good move. A credit in any field of biology will help you land a job in companies that are in all sorts of fields like medical, biochem, agriculture, food processing, etc. Likewise some electronics or accounting would also be good. A credit in something like Archaeology show that you are bright and interesting.

[dheshenp]

on a different but not unrelated note.... Do guys still game in the comp sci blue lan?

[Ghost02]

I would say spend one extra year as a undergrad and pick up a few credits in subjects outside of IT. Don’t underrate linguistic skills. Proficiency in English counts even more than proficiency in C or Pascal or whatever else they teach nowadays. Getting a first year credit in English literature would be a really good move. A credit in any field of biology will help you land a job in companies that are in all sorts of fields like medical, biochem, agriculture, food processing, etc. Likewise some electronics or accounting would also be good. A credit in something like Archaeology show that you are bright and interesting.

Well I was hoping the advice wouldn't slow down my progression into the workplace, I'll see what I can cover as electives and extra modules thanks.

on a different but not unrelated note.... Do guys still game in the comp sci blue lan?

If there really is nothing to do we lan some quake, other than that not much works over the network.

[tsume]

Get to know like minded people. Get together and start fooling around with codes.
Once you've know some people (or even someone) you can trust, go ahead and venture on with your own product.

[Hamster]

Get to know like minded people. Get together and start fooling around with codes.
Once you've know some people (or even someone) you can trust, go ahead and venture on with your own product.

That "own product" works in the rarest of cases for the young guys trying to be the next Gates or Zuckerberg. You need experience above all else to get anywhere (most of the time any way).

[tsume]

That "own product" works in the rarest of cases for the young guys trying to be the next Gates or Zuckerberg. You need experience above all else to get anywhere (most of the time any way).

You never know if you never take a shot . It doesn't have to be an original product. SA has many major gaps to be filled with existing products. Just take something which is there and improve it immensely. You might not be the billionaire guy but you can be your own boss and be living very wealthy. This leads me to another thing
@Ghost02, get to know your lectures...they've probably been on all sides of the industry. Personal experience.

[Hamster]

You never know if you never take a shot . It doesn't have to be an original product. SA has many major gaps to be filled with existing products. Just take something which is there and improve it immensely. You might not be the billionaire guy but you can be your own boss and be living very wealthy. This leads me to another thing
@Ghost02, get to know your lectures...they've probably been on all sides of the industry. Personal experience.

Fair enough. But do it part time so that your more-than-likely-real-career doesn't get neglected.

[abzo]

A credit in something like Archaeology show that you are bright and interesting.

No, it doesn't.