Options with computer science/IT
Computer science/IT degrees vary widely in content but generally combine theoretical study and practical hands-on projects. Employers are interested in both the technical skills you have gained during your degree and the non-technical transferable skills.
Computer science/IT courses teach you subject-specific skills in areas such as:
You learn how to specify, design and construct computer-based systems as well as how to evaluate systems and recognise any potential risks or safety aspects.
Studying computer science/IT also gives you skills in:
Your course also teaches you a disciplined approach to analysing problems, and how to design creative solutions and critically evaluate the results. You also develop skills such as creativity and an adaptability to cope with rapid technological changes. In addition, you learn to appreciate the need for continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career.
There is a wide range of career options available to computing/IT graduates that require a combination of computing and other skills and capabilities. Research the career area you are interested in thoroughly. Some careers, for example, teaching IT at secondary school level, accountancy or law, will require further vocational or professional training. For other careers, such as marketing or human resources, it may be useful to take a postgraduate course to develop specific skills and knowledge.
Whatever career area you are interested in, it is always important to get relevant work experience. Talk to professionals in the field you are interested in and consider work placements, paid evening/weekend work, voluntary work or work shadowing. This experience shows employers that you are committed and also helps you decide on whether a particular career is right for you.
Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.
Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.
Research shows that in 2011, six months after graduation, around 65% of computing/IT graduates were in full-time employment in the UK or overseas, with a further 5% combining study and work. Of those graduates in work, around 47% 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 2011, for example, around 8% of IT graduates had gone on to work as managers in the public, commercial and industrial sectors, with a further 4% working as business and financial professionals.
Many graduate entry-level positions can be found within the IT industry itself, and common employers are IT consultancies and IT service providers.
The IT departments of major organisations in the following sectors also employ IT graduates:
Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also have a wide range of opportunities.
For an insight into employment areas see:
See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.
Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do? and your degree...what next?
Research shows that in 2011, six months after graduation, around 14% of computer science graduates had gone on to either full-time further study or a combination of study and work.
Some computer science graduates chose to study a computer science subject in greater detail, through an MSc or PhD. Further study is essential for a career in academia and can be useful for a range of other careers. Specialising in a particular area can be particularly useful, for example, when considering a career in developing new technologies and products such as internet security and e-business services. It is also possible to combine computer related work with further study through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).
Some computer science graduates decided to take a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in Scotland) in order to teach IT in secondary schools. Vocational postgraduate courses are also available in areas such as journalism or law. Such courses allow you to study in an area you wish to enter as a career.
These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgrad study and search courses and research to identify your options.
Look at funding my further study for details relating to finance and the application process.
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