Applying Your CS Degree Skills
Earning your degree is but one goal in order to land a role in the tech world. This is true of any major, but in terms of Computer Science, what you learn in your studies carries with it a considerable level of practicality throughout every stage of your career. With that in mind, here are several things to maintain while earning your CS degree and feel confident about your readiness as you navigate your career.
Practice and ensure you can use code & critical thinking to solve problems, especially the ability to:
Define problems, including by asking clarifying questions that help to define parameters of the problem, identify any consideration that should be taken into account when devising an approach, and, as needed, narrow the scope of the problem.
Identify what tools or approaches may be most helpful to solve a problem, including a new and/or complicated problem.
Identify tradeoffs as they apply to a particular problem. Make choices given these options and tradeoffs, and articulate why they accept the tradeoffs they do.
Solve a problem efficiently and with the fewest resources needed (types of resources needed vary depending on the type of problem).
Clearly articulate and explain their approach, including explaining how they consider various possible approaches and evaluate tradeoffs, and why they make certain choices.
Respond well to feedback from an interviewer (and people in general); use this feedback to improve solutions with greater initiative or take a different approach to a problem.
Consider challenging aspects of a problem introduced by an interviewer and/or embedded in the problem, such as how edge cases might impact a solution's viability, and adjust approach to solution as needed to account for these cases.
Deal effectively with dead ends and frustration.
Practice and ensure you have communication skills, including:
General communications skills (strong written, verbal, and non-verbal communication).
Writing readable, easy-to-follow code.
Comfort with receiving, using, and giving feedback (good listener as well as an active participant).
Additional professional skills and qualities that employers often tell us they look for:
Passion for and curiosity about tech.
Quick learner/adaptability (can quickly learn and apply new languages, etc.)
Ability to problem-solve independently (by troubleshooting, as well as locating and using reliable resources)- paired with the willingness to ask for help when needed.
Good attitude (team player; takes constructive feedback; doesn't get defensive).
You can find a full list of all the pages on the Handbook here.....