Computer Science - using your degree
From CareersWiki
Contents |
Introduction
A degree from Scotland's first university is an excellent start to any future career. St Andrews has a reputation for excellence and the ability to attract the brightest students world wide. With this as a starting point you are well on the way to impressing future employers.
Modern life depends crucially on computer and information systems, from traffic lights to hospitals to supermarkets. Most companies and organizations have invested heavily in computer systems in recent years and job prospects remain good for graduates in these technologies. Because of the size and complexity of modern computer systems, most software development is now undertaken by multi-disciplinary teams of skilled personnel. This has created demand for many different specializations, along with business managers who are familiar with Information Technology.
Among the sorts of specialized personnel involved with creating and managing modern IT systems are:
* Business analysts, who identify the needs of software users and specify what computer systems must do * System architects and analysts, who design systems and software to meet the desired specifications * Programmers, who create and maintain the program code * Testers and verifiers, who seek to ensure that software meets its specifications * Technical writers, who write the help-guides and other documentation needed by users of software * IT Trainers and user advisers, who train and assist software users * and Project Managers, who lead and manage these multi-disciplinary system development teams.
The skills required for these different positions can differ greatly. For example, nowadays only programmers typically need to be able to write and read computer code. Business analysts and technical writers usually need a strong ability to empathize with customers and the users of software. System architects often require a strong sense of narrative, in order to design systems to support workflows and business processes. However, all of these positions require an ability to think abstractly and logically, and to work with care and rigour. And, increasingly all require an ability to work well with others, as part of a team.
Prospects - After a period of downturn following the dot-com crash in 2000, employment prospects for computer and IT graduates in the UK have again picked up. Currently, some 90% of the University of St Andrews computer science graduates find graduate employment within 6 months of graduating from their first degree. Our students find employment across the full range of industry sectors, from finance to defence to healthcare.
Salaries - New computer graduates can currently expect to earn salaries from about £18,000 per annum and upwards. In some industry sectors, such as finance, new graduates may start on as much as £30,000, when sign-on bonuses are included. Programmers and business analysts with three or more years experience can expect to earn up to £45,000 pa. Experienced software testers and technical support staff may earn up to £35,000 pa. Experienced project managers may achieve annual salaries well above these figures.
The Careers Centre Computing and IT wiki page provides a wealth of information on careers and work experience directly related to Computer Science.
| Print friendly leaflet on What can I do with Computer Science |
St Andrews student wins TARGETjobs undergraduate of the year award
Adam Copp, a Junior honours Computer Science student won the TARGETjobs IT and Computer Science Undergraduate of the Year Award for 2011. The award was sponsored by BT and, through a series of online tests, application forms, interviews and assessment exercises, Adam emerged as winner. BT only targeted a relatively small number of universities and so he beat off competition from other excellent students from other excellent universities. Pictured right is a photo of Adam collecting the award from Michael Portillo (who hosted the awards) and Andy Skingley, Director of IP, Media and Mobility Platforms at BT.
Where Our Graduates Go
- 2008 Undergraduates - 6 months after graduation - 30% went into Further Study and of those who went into employment 90% went into graduate roles
- 2007 Undergraduates - 6 months after graduation - 32% went into Further Study of those who went into employment 78% went into graduate roles
| Year of Graduation | Organisation/Company | Position | Comp. Science Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | FreeAgent | Software Developer | Yes |
| 2011 | The Amazing Media Group Ltd | Developer | Yes |
| 2011 | Sky Scanner Ltd | Data Acquisition Developer | Yes |
| 2010 | Thomson Reuters | Financial Software Engineer | Yes |
| 2010 | Deutsche Bank | Financial Analyst | Not directly |
| 2010 | Software Engineer | Yes | |
| 2009 | IBM | Software Engineer | Yes |
| 2009 | Landis & Gyr | IT Support Technician | Yes |
| 2009 | Adobe | Software Developer | Yes |
| 2009 | University of St Andrews | MSc Advanced Computer Science | Yes |
| 2009 | Real Time Engineering | Systems Designer | Yes |
| 2009 | SkyScanner | Software Engineer | Yes |
| 2009 (CAN) | Accenture | Management Consulting Analyst | Yes |
| 2004 (CAN) | CheetahMail , New York | Account Manager | Yes |
| 2004 (CAN) | Procter & Gamble , Geneva | Purchasing Manager | Not directly |
| 1998 (CAN) | Cranfield University | Head of Development | Yes |
| 1996 (CAN) | LogicaCMG | Service Delivery Manager | Yes |
| 1986 (CAN) | National Air Traffic Services | Computer Prog/Design System Engineer | Yes |
Careers Alumni Network (CAN) indicates these alumni are willing and keen to be contacted to help St Andrews students with their careers search.
Where Our Postgraduates Go
| Year of Graduation | Organisation/Company | Position | Computer Science Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Callatay & Wouters | IT Consultant | Yes |
| 2010 | Kubix | Software Tester | Yes |
| 2010 | HSBC | Technical Lead IT Consultant | Yes |
| 2009 | Logica | Consultant | Not directly |
| 2008 | University of Dundee Abertay | Lecturer | Yes |
| 2007 | Rockstar Games | Games Tester | Yes |
| 2007 | Fife Council | Programmer | Yes |
| 2007 | CNRS (Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique) | Researcher | Yes |
| 2005 | University of Manchester | IT Officer (Software) | Yes |
Popular Jobs for Computer Science Graduates Nationally
In 2010, six months after graduation, around two-thirds of computing/IT graduates were in employment. Around 16% were assumed not to be in employment. Of those graduates in full-time employment, around 40% were working as IT professionals.
Typical initial jobs for computing/IT graduates include graduate trainee and entry-level positions as programmers, web developers, help-desk support and consultants. First roles are often as junior members of project teams, with progression depending on individual circumstances.
As well as careers in technical fields, computing graduates are also found in professions that require a combination of technical and other skills and qualities. In 2010, for example, around 9% of IT graduates had gone on to work as managers in the public, commercial and industrial sectors, with a further 5% working as business and financial professionals.
Summer Internships & Work Experience
It can be very valuable to gain experience of work in various areas, but particularly in those areas that you are considering as a future career.
- The University Careers Centre has information on vacation jobs and internships in the US
- If you'd like to stay in St Andrews over the summer, you might want to apply for the St Andrews Summer Internship Scheme.
- Remember to network with students in more senior years, tutors, family and friends they may have suggestions and contacts.
- The Undergraduate Research Internship Programme (URIP) was launched in 2008 by the University of St Andrews. Under the URIP scheme, the University funds 20 undergraduates to carry out research over ten weeks during the summer vacation. The students work on independent projects under the guidance and supervision of a member of academic staff. Look out on the website for application forms which normally have to be returned by the end of April.
- Several penultimate year students have been successful in getting a paid summer internship with the Saltire Foundation. These are global experiences in USA, Japan, Cayman Islands and others.
- Summer Research Schools are also funded by organisations such as Nuffield, IAESTE and Carnegie.
- If you are interested in teaching or other work with children the University runs schemes in partnerships with local education authorities which give students access to school pupils. To find out more contact the staff involved by e-mail, schools.access@st-andrews.ac.uk .More Schools are offering the UK Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme, which requires students to spend up to 25 hours working within a Primary or Secondary school or Science centre. The module is assessed and contributes towards the final degree outcome.
- Joining a society and/or a professional body, particularly if you take on a role of responsibility, can impress future employers and also enhance employability skills such as - team working, negotiation, event management, controlling budgets, leadership etc. Have a look at the case study from a student who made the most of his time at St Andrews through involvement in societies. At St Andrews you have a wealth of societies to choose from. Here are a few relevant examples:
The table below gives some examples of the experiences of Computer Science students.
| Year | Organisation/Company | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Open University of Tanzania (IAESTE Programme) | Application Developer case study |
Employability Profile
Over the course of your degree you develop a good mix of subject specific and transferable core skills (communication, team work, time management, presentation etc). Consider these alongside your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.
Skills
The profile below identifies the skills that can be developed through the study of your discipline based on subject benchmark statements developed by UK higher education academic communities.
This table is able to help you to identify the valuable skills that you can offer to potential employers.
| A graduate in Chemistry typically will have the ability to: | Evidence: |
|---|---|
| demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to Computing and computer applications | |
| use such understanding in modelling and designing computer based systems for the purposes of comprehension, communication, prediction and the understanding of tradeoffs | |
| use criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems, and plan solutions | |
| analyse the extent to which a computer-based system meets defi ned requirements | |
| deploy appropriate theory, practices and tools to specify, design, implement and evaluate computer-based systems | |
| present succinctly to a range of audiences (orally, electronically or in writing) rational and reasoned arguments that address a given information handling problem or opportunity | |
| recognise the professional, moral and ethical issues involved in exploiting computer technology and be guided by appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices | |
| work as a development team member, recognising the different roles within a team and different ways of organising teams | |
| operate computing equipment, taking account of its logical and physical properties | |
| deploy information retrieval skills (including using browsers, search engines and catalogues) | |
| exercise numeracy skills and use effectively general IT facilities | |
| manage personal development including using time management and organisational skills. |
Computer Science Careers/Employability Link
Each School has a Careers/Employability Link who "champions" employability. Yours is Alex Bain. If you have any information you consider important for your fellow students please let him know. Alternatively you can complete a "profile" which enables you to share your experiences with other students.
Links to Useful Resources
- Destination Statistics of St Andrews graduates
- Prospects contacts and resources for Computer Scientists
- Prospects: IT and Information Services
- Interconnect Interconnect is the network for women studying science, engineering, technology and the built environment in Scotland. Connect with other students, qualified women and employers to start your career before you finish your studies.
Recruitment
- Computer Science Employers - list compiled by Kent University
Postgraduate/Research
- Research Gate research jobs
Professional Bodies and Associations
- British computer Society, The Chartered Institute for IT - this site gives information on employment and further study opportunities available to chemistry graduates
