Career and School Info for Computer Programmers in Washington

What I wish I had known. The longevity of the program at that college, how forward thinking the faculty is, what was really involved in the process of getting my education, and what the degree will actually say. Look for the program's history in its alumni. Discover the career paths of alumni. Find out what positions and careers they've held. Determine if those are positions you want in your career plan. These questions all would have been nice for me to think about before starting my program. They can indicate to a prospective student how successful a graduate is at attaining employment, and even where on the ladder they start.

Look for colleges that can give you several examples of graduates who start out in successful position, instead of those who can show you only a few students who, at the end of their career, have made it to management positions. Eventually you want where the few are, but to get there you need to start successfully.

Learn about the staff and faculty within the program. Read their about me pages on the website if possible. Interview other students, and if possible, meet with a few teachers. Find out if they really are passionate about their field. Discover whether they relive the golden years of ISA slots and manually programming a computer by flipping switches manually or if they are excited about the new technologies being developed. Learning about the old technology is fun, but for your education, it is an elective unless you are planning on working in a Living Museum of Computer Science.

Learn about the program plans available. Find out if there is a way to tailor a plan, or to double or cross major. Though you may want to be a game programmer at heart, it is always good to have a backstop of workstation tech or network specialist education if your primary employer downsizes between projects. Find out the headings, labels and titles on the degree you plan to earn. Be sure they are specific. Some employers may look at your coursework if you are fresh out of college. Most HR representatives, however, are not computer nerds and will not understand many course titles and descriptions. It is much better to be able to write on a resume or say in an interview that you hold a Bachelor in Computer Science, Majoring in Network Infrastructure and Database Administration, which is much better than saying you have a Bachelor in Arts and Science with an emphasis in Computer Science. Trust me.