Career Advice - Post Grad Comp Science/IT

questionquick · 08-02-2012 01:10PM #1

I am in the final year of my current BsC which is construction/property related; obviously employment options will be dire in Ireland for this.

I have been considering computer science as a postgraduate option for a while now. Ive always had an interest in tech and would be great to learn how all the software works.

Im looking at computer science/IT conversion courses in UCD(msc), DCU (post grad in IT), NUI Maynooth (Hdip IT) etc....

Now... Ive to write a personal statement...

Just looking to hear some feedback from people in the industry about what its like to be a software developer of one kind or another..

Typical Day.. 9 - 5.. or more like 8 - 6?? (im not afraid of long hours.. well used to that having worked in construction..5am to 11pm sometimes)
Level of Maths (I only did ordinary maths in the leaving, but got a good grade in that....but there was some mathematics modules in my current degree)
Job prospects

Im also looking for recommendations for:

Books that may give me an idea what id be in for
Courses run over the summer that would give me a basic introduction to one or more languages (this would help get me off to a good start in the postgrad)

Mort5000 · 09-02-2012 06:29AM

My experience would be as follows:

Typical day: 9-5 with occasional blips. You end up working longer hours when there is a critical issue to resolve, or a release to push out, or possibly a client site that needs attention but not while they're working.

Level of Math: it should be fair. I would say it is far more important to have a high level of logic and to be able to apply yourself. I think it is like a horse rider being a good vet. It might help, but it is far more important to know how to ride horses.

Job Prospects: appear to be good at the moment. There is also a great variety of directions you can take and industries to work in. Mobile phone dev, banking, insurance, any client server apps, web apps.

Books: sorry, don't have any good suggestions.

Courses: you can download Java for free, along with an editor. There are many free intro courses for Java on the net. Go through a few of them and then look around for a formal course.

HTH

thegift06 · 15-02-2012 01:58AM

questionquick wrote: »

I am in the final year of my current BsC which is construction/property related; obviously employment options will be dire in Ireland for this.

I have been considering computer science as a postgraduate option for a while now. Ive always had an interest in tech and would be great to learn how all the software works.

Im looking at computer science/IT conversion courses in UCD(msc), DCU (post grad in IT), NUI Maynooth (Hdip IT) etc....

Now... Ive to write a personal statement...

Just looking to hear some feedback from people in the industry about what its like to be a software developer of one kind or another..

Typical Day.. 9 - 5.. or more like 8 - 6?? (im not afraid of long hours.. well used to that having worked in construction..5am to 11pm sometimes)

Level of Maths (I only did ordinary maths in the leaving, but got a good grade in that....but there was some mathematics modules in my current degree)

Job prospects

Im also looking for recommendations for:

Books that may give me an idea what id be in for

Courses run over the summer that would give me a basic introduction to one or more languages (this would help get me off to a good start in the postgrad)

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Career Advice - Post Grad Comp Science/IT

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