Before graduation
A fourth year software student sent me an email: “This is my last year in college, few months from now I will be looking for job. I worried a lot since there are many conflicting information about the job market. Some students told me that there is no jobs available for college graduates like me but my professor said there are many. I do NOT know who to believe, sometime I ask myself whether I chose the right field to study or not. Looking at the advertised jobs that only requires programming skills, I am NOT sure about my choice to spend four year in college? Please advise.”
Answer: Do NOT listen to negative advices. Do NOT worry because of false rumors. Look at the fact, there is a shortage of qualified people in information technology in the world today. You are selecting the RIGHT field, you are making the RIGHT choice, and you almost complete your RIGHT degree. I am sure that you will be successful and make your family proud so please stop worry. I do NOT know whether it is a “Scam” or not but the fact is in India and China, there are many vocational schools “falsely advertised” plenty of programming and testing jobs that only require six months training. These jobs are NOT real, but they lure many young people to enroll in these schools with the hope of making “quick money” instead of building a solid foundation for their careers. From what I know, most good software jobs do require a bachelor degree as minimum. Here are few things that you could do before your graduation:
1) Do NOT wait until graduation then looking for job, you need to prepare and start looking NOW.
2) Start to visit business people and company owners, interview them about their careers and gain a chance to talk with their managers. (You may tell them that you are doing a research for school and ask for a 15 minutes interview for your school assignment. If you are polite, they will grant you the time).
3) Choose only companies that you are interested in and let them know that you will be looking for work soon. Get them to interest in you by share with them your knowledge and ask them for advices, it may turn into a job interview. (Most students told me that this technique works well)
4) Do NOT settle for something that seems simple. Look for challenging works because easy things will soon bore you, give you a lower position, and you learn nothing.
5) Ask questions. As "student" you could have an excuse on something that you do NOT know. It would be harder after graduation as they expect you to know many things.
6) Prepare your questions carefully. Ask how they got started in this career; what do they like and do not like; what kind of projects they work on; what help they got along the way, what they wish they had done, what advice they can give you. If possible, ask for a chance to be an intern (paid or not).
7) Get involved with professional activities in school such as manage a software forum, organize a technology day, despite your heavy academic schedules. Many employers are looking for aggressive, creative, entrepreneurial future leaders. Leadership in school activities proves that you can do more than follow directions and demonstrate your drive, motivation, and ability to work with people, deal with conflict and solve problems.
8) Use the Career Center in school for additional information and advices. Sign up for any workshops offered, such as mock-up interview or how to apply for jobs. Do NOT be passive even in these workshops; participate even if it is uncomfortable for you to start practicing what they teach.
9) If you still do NOT know what job to choose after graduation, do NOT despair because most students are experiencing the same thing. Choose several options. You never know which one will lead to a job offer. Follow your heart and your intuition.
10) When you are interviewing for a job, do NOT act passively by answering just the questions asked. Take every chance to explain what you have learned in class and outside that will help you contribute as a great employee. While you cannot pretend to know everything, you do have to show enthusiasm and preparation. And, finally ask for the job. If they say they are interviewing others, ask about your chances and any concerns they have about you so you can improve your odds.
11) Do NOT rely too much on the prestige of your school or your program. Learn to “hustle” by making your interests, your abilities, and your markets knowledge known to them. Prove to them that you are very serious about a career NOT just a job.
Life is never a smooth journey from one thing to the next. Instead, it always be something “unknown” that requires exploration and adventure. That is why you spend four years in college to prepare for this journey. Make things happen!
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
