KimArnett

It’s been a few years now since I graduated and stumbled my way through my first internship, my first job, my first two weeks notice.. I’d like to share some preparation tips that I wish I would have received as a Computer Science student. (And also good luck to all of you recent/future graduates!) Intern. Whether your program requires an internship or not, I believe this was one of the best decisions I made during college. Having an internship under your belt provides you with real world experience. This experience already sets you apart from other graduates who decided not to intern. Find an internship that will provide you with valuable experience. Look for teams that practice Agile, that have a project waiting for you, that have a team you can collaborate with. Look for an internship that is in the technology you’re interested in. This also is a bonus if you’re not sure where you’d like to focus your attention. My internship was focused around web, and that experience helped me find my true passion: mobile. RRR: Resume, Review, Repeat. It quickly became unbelievable to me how many recruiters were blown away by my resume. I’m not sure if it was the internship, or the fact that it was nicely formatted. Anyway, start your resume early, and continually build on it. Write down the projects you’re proudest of, any volunteer and work experience. Also keep in mind, that you will be quizzed on everything you include – so only include the languages you’re confident in, and only the technologies that reflect where you want to take your career. Review Review Review. Many technical interviews (especially starting out) want to make sure you know the basics of programming. Know the pillars of object oriented programming. Know the basics of algorithms and data structures you were taught. Know how to explain these things to someone else. Review your assignments and books constantly, so this information is engraved into your brain. Repeat is the easy step. Update your resume, review your work, you’ll be in great shape for any interview in your future. Network. As a young professional, you start out knowing absolutely no one in the field. This is your chance to brand yourself, and remember people you meet during your journey. Keep recruiters’ business cards, connect with people on Linked In, go to networking events and recruiting fairs. Technical conferences are a great place to learn and network. Most importantly, don’t burn bridges. The technical world is actually pretty small once you’re immersed into it, people stay connected and check in, so it’s in your futures best interest to maintain good relations with previous co-workers, bosses and companies. Learn. If you’re someone who refuses to learn, I have bad news for you, you’re definitely in the wrong field. Remember the industrial revolution? We’re currently living in the technical revolution. Technology is going to be changing… a lot. Keep up. Open yourself to new experiences and embrace what this crazy community has to offer. Challenge. Going hand in hand with number 4, challenge yourself. This is the best way to find your passion in technology.

KimArnett

KimArnett

KaydaCode

Develop | Create | Make

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