One of the great things about studying Computer Science is how wide its applications are. Most majors have a variety of applications, but I believe that the opportunities that Computer Science makes available are particularly varied. Additionally, these options also happen to both be in high demand and pay well, often in the six-figure range.
Far from Perfect
Let me start by qualifying that this doesn’t mean I think everyone should go into CS. There are some downsides which I will list here:
- While mid-to-high-level positions in CS are much in demand it can be difficult for a new CS graduate to get an entry-level position. That first job will likely be a big hurdle.
- The CS job market and what required skills are popular change quickly and often. New jobs pop into existence, old jobs go away, and you will likely need to update your knowledge several times in your career.
- A lot of learning CS is expected to happen outside the classroom. A degree helps a lot in building a foundation, but you likely need to study a great deal on your own to even be ready for an entry level position.
- Interviews are hard, sometimes even harder than the actual job. Learning to pass a coding interview is a whole skillset on its own (completely different than just passing a job interview).
- A lot of CS related jobs expect overtime. You get paid well, but you work for it.
There are probably more reasons not to go into CS than those above, but I also believe the field fits the talents and desires of more people than really know it.
Math
Those interested in Math are probably among the first that come to mind when programming comes up. There is a plethora of positions associated with CS. Careers like Data Scientists, Statisticians, and Database Administrators are all very heavy in applied mathematics. Machine learning, Cyber security, and Computer graphics are all fields that need those who are exceptionally good at math.
Science
Most who think of computer careers first think of programmers and developers. It’s easy to forget that the study of computer science can actually lead to being a computer scientist. Or just a scientist. A CS degree can prepare you to become a specialized biologist, chemist, or medical coder. Labs and hospitals everywhere are looking for people with both science and computer science backgrounds to help them generate virtual models, process large amounts of research data, program medical devices, and build medical software. These some of these positions are in high demand and especially difficult to fill. Both medical professionals and experienced programmers are in high demand; imagine how difficult it is to fill a position that requires both programming expertise and a medical degree.
Art and Creativity
Maybe math isn’t your strong suite. Many CS fields put a high value on Art and Creativity. Front-End web developers apply a great deal of design and creativity in their work and many artists find designing web pages a fulfilling (and profitable) way to channel their abilities. Computer Graphics is naturally a very in-demand field where artists can apply their talents. Programmers of this kind are needed in movies, television, advertising, videogames, as well as in graphic design and various fields of science. Aside from graphics, videogames is another direction creative computer scientists can go, though it is significantly more competitive and has a bad reputations for being unstable and a poor work environment.
Being creative isn’t restricted to just art. A number of Computer Science related careers focus on design. Information researchers work on building new technologies. IT architects, systems analysts, database administrators, and network specialists build, maintain, and plan out large systems, sometimes from the ground up. UI and UX designers design systems, interfaces, and experiences to be more user-friendly. There is even a social component that can involve testing software in the field and interviewing those who use your product. Even QA testers require a certain degree of creativity as they imagine new and outlandish ways to break software and generate errors.
Hands On
A lot of people prefer to get their hands dirty and have a physical product at the end of the day. While computer engineering is a bit of a different field, students of computer science still have a place in developing AI, Machine learning, and robotics. Embedded software engineers specialize in code that runs hardware—their work is found in factories, businesses, hospitals, tools, farm equipment, construction equipment, electronic stores, computers, and even toys. In careers like these working with computers doesn’t necessarily mean sitting in a dark room in front of a computer all day.
These examples are far from the only Computer Science careers and in this digital age many more specializations are imagined each year. Regardless of what your interests are, there is probably a computer science career that fits you. There are lots majors and career paths and we need people in all of them, but if you haven’t considered it before, CS is a field definitely worth looking into.
