Computer Science is an area that in the past decade has seen immense growth as well as deep decline. The rise, then fall of the .com era coupled with the news of outsourcing has resulted in fewer jobs, decreasing enrollments nationwide, and numerous students worried about their future in the field. Students often voice their concern over whether jobs will be available after graduation. To those I say, there’s good news on the horizon. Recent indicators reveal a demand once again in the area of computer science, information technology, and web development. But, to get those jobs you need to keep your competitive edge sharp.

Start now. Students often wait until their senior year to begin thinking about how they can make themselves stand out to future employers, when in fact they should consider this early on. That means taking advantage of any opportunity that will help them get noticed when they enter the job market. Internships, co-ops, and participating in various activities outside the classroom are great ways to complement any degree. At Webster, the applied nature of our programs in the area of computer science offer students hands-on experience they may not get at other institutions. Students that intern often comment that their classroom experiences proved invaluable. They also comment on how much more confident and prepared they feel after interning.

Don’t dismiss clubs and organizations. Outside activities are a great way for students to network and get involved. Those associated with Webster’s computer club have development of a very successful annual computer programming competition for area high school students to add to their resumes. They also volunteer with the contest giving them the chance to author questions and act as judges. These same students have gone on to be very successful in the annual ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Collegiate Programming Contest. Webster began participating in the contest in 2004 and just last fall finished first in their area competition and 14th in their region. You can read more about these outstanding students in “And the Winner is” in this edition of NotaBene. Having the chance to work with such a talented group of students is an honor for any faculty member.

It’s best to branch out. Students must also understand that participation in activities outside of their field plays a big part in getting your foot in the door when job hunting. I recently had a student in our combined degree program comment that she was getting no call backs after sending out her resume. After going over her resume, I noticed she left off previous accomplishments and volunteer work she felt was unimportant because they were not related directly to her field. I urged her to revise her resume to include that work and ever since she has been called back by every company she has contacted. It is just a matter of time before this student lands her first job.

Today, students are so busy with school and part-time jobs that they feel they have no time to devote to such activities. But, the time you take now could mean landing that perfect job later. Take the time to get involved in any way you can. You may never know what will interest that potential employer and prompt them to call you in for an interview.

Martha Smith (left) is an assistant professor in the Math and Computer Sciences Department in Webster's School of Business and Technology. She was also the site director for the 2007 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Programming Contest held at Webster’s St. Louis campus where 124 teams competed for the title. She teaches a variety of courses including database concepts, computer operating systems, computer topics in game development, and distributed application development. She has a 1991 bachelor of arts degree in computer studies from Webster University, a 2000 master of science degree in computer science from Webster University and is currently completing her doctoral work at St. Louis University.

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