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Original poster

Computer Science Graduate looking for work

18 replies

JobSearch2024 · 04/08/2024 08:59

DS has recently graduated with a 2:1 in Artificial Intelligence. He has been sending off loads of job applications and getting rejections or no response at all. He is getting somewhat despondent. He is going to book an appointment with the career advice service at the university he has recently left. However, there is currently a long wait for an appointment.
Does anyone have any good ideas about where would be a good place for DS to look for jobs? He is currently searching the employment agencies online and applying for lots of different jobs. I just wondered if there might be any tips he hasn't thought of.
Thanks for any pointers.

OP posts:
Glittertwins · 04/08/2024 09:04

Well done to him. If he's wanting to stay in that field, has he looked at specialist IT recruitment agencies or does he want to work in a different sector such as engineering? Airbus, Boeing, Meggitt for example?

Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 04/08/2024 10:02

Glittertwins · 04/08/2024 09:04

Well done to him. If he's wanting to stay in that field, has he looked at specialist IT recruitment agencies or does he want to work in a different sector such as engineering? Airbus, Boeing, Meggitt for example?

Thanks for your reply. Think he is open to any ideas, but is hoping to stay in the field of Computer Science.
I am not sure if he has applied to any specialist IT recruitment agencies. I will ask. Thanks for this suggestion.

OP posts:
Musicaltheatremum · 04/08/2024 10:26

IT jobs very hard to get just now. Friends son just finishing masters in AI and struggling to get job. My son wth 6 years experience post graduation struggling to find software jobs. It's awful

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Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 04/08/2024 20:11

Musicaltheatremum · 04/08/2024 10:26

IT jobs very hard to get just now. Friends son just finishing masters in AI and struggling to get job. My son wth 6 years experience post graduation struggling to find software jobs. It's awful

@Musicaltheatremum I didn't realise how tough it would be. I wish your son all the best in his job search too.

OP posts:
ChristmasChocolateAugust · 04/08/2024 20:44

Has your DS looked at civil service & Telecommunication companies ?

Does he have his CV on LinkedIn ?

ChristmasChocolateAugust · 04/08/2024 20:46

Please be aware that some software jobs have been out sourced from UK to cheaper parts of the world
India
Philippines

Blankname22 · 04/08/2024 20:59

I work for a huge IT company and know something about how recruitment works for them.
If someone came I saying they are skilled in AI, they probably wouldn't be interested unless other skills were listed. As a grad, he may not have much experience in the area, but can he do a 3 or 4 liner at the top of his cv saying what his most recent project was on, (not just AI) and what other skills he used, eg analytics, data or software, any soft skills, eg, any persuasive or written communication skills, marketing, maths, etc.
IT companies won't necessarily have pure AI roles, but they will be looking for marketing teams, sales teams or transformation teams that need AI skills.
Also, avoid mentioning leadership skills or management, that really turns recruitment off when they see that in a graduate cv.

Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 05/08/2024 11:06

ChristmasChocolateAugust · 04/08/2024 20:44

Has your DS looked at civil service & Telecommunication companies ?

Does he have his CV on LinkedIn ?

@ChristmasChocolateAugust Many thanks for these pointers. I will pass onto DS.

OP posts:
Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 05/08/2024 11:07

Blankname22 · 04/08/2024 20:59

I work for a huge IT company and know something about how recruitment works for them.
If someone came I saying they are skilled in AI, they probably wouldn't be interested unless other skills were listed. As a grad, he may not have much experience in the area, but can he do a 3 or 4 liner at the top of his cv saying what his most recent project was on, (not just AI) and what other skills he used, eg analytics, data or software, any soft skills, eg, any persuasive or written communication skills, marketing, maths, etc.
IT companies won't necessarily have pure AI roles, but they will be looking for marketing teams, sales teams or transformation teams that need AI skills.
Also, avoid mentioning leadership skills or management, that really turns recruitment off when they see that in a graduate cv.

@Blankname22 Many thanks for this advice. I will relay to DS.

OP posts:
Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 05/08/2024 11:08

ChristmasChocolateAugust · 04/08/2024 20:46

Please be aware that some software jobs have been out sourced from UK to cheaper parts of the world
India
Philippines

@ChristmasChocolateAugust This doesn't surprise me.

OP posts:
Babush · 05/08/2024 11:15

There are plenty of tech jobs out there. I have been involved in recruiting juniors. What we looked for was evidence of experience outside of pure academia. A degree in computer studies bears no resemblance at all to the kind of work you will be doing day to day. We don’t expect people to have worked for free in internships but you need to have some real world examples to show - maybe something you developed at home in your free time.

I would say don’t bang on too much about very academic stuff. Most companies really don’t need anyone else who is super smart. They need people who are proper all rounders, can work as a team and do the stuff that isn’t glamorous and exciting.

KnutonHardz · 05/08/2024 12:42

Firstly, congrats to your DS on his qualification. There is a lot of talk about lots of tech jobs, but in fact there are 10-20% layoffs in many of the leading companies over the past year or so, and possibly more on the cards.

I work as a SW developer in a well known tech company, it's especially challening for people starting out, and here is my advice:

  • He MUST have an active GitHub profile. It's the first thing I look at, especially for a young engineer. You can see their work, do a quick scan of code, etc. No GitHub profile => no interview
  • He should make a targetted CV/resume for specific jobs and not send off generic ones. Teams are hiring for specific roles, try get as close as possible to target the specific role. Look at the job location, use LinkedIn to look at a few people likely to be working at that location, then target based on that
  • Prepare for a coding interview. There will be one. The bar is high. There are well known tasks. If you don't do well at those you won't get a job. Practice and study for those, just as with any exam
  • If your DS has some time, and is targetting a specific area/company, then he sould take an online course in the relevant areas. Udemy/Coursea are very cheap, and they show a willingness for the student to go beyond their course basics.

Wishing him all the best at the start of an exciting career!!

Fivews · 05/08/2024 12:47

KnutonHardz · 05/08/2024 12:42

Firstly, congrats to your DS on his qualification. There is a lot of talk about lots of tech jobs, but in fact there are 10-20% layoffs in many of the leading companies over the past year or so, and possibly more on the cards.

I work as a SW developer in a well known tech company, it's especially challening for people starting out, and here is my advice:

  • He MUST have an active GitHub profile. It's the first thing I look at, especially for a young engineer. You can see their work, do a quick scan of code, etc. No GitHub profile => no interview
  • He should make a targetted CV/resume for specific jobs and not send off generic ones. Teams are hiring for specific roles, try get as close as possible to target the specific role. Look at the job location, use LinkedIn to look at a few people likely to be working at that location, then target based on that
  • Prepare for a coding interview. There will be one. The bar is high. There are well known tasks. If you don't do well at those you won't get a job. Practice and study for those, just as with any exam
  • If your DS has some time, and is targetting a specific area/company, then he sould take an online course in the relevant areas. Udemy/Coursea are very cheap, and they show a willingness for the student to go beyond their course basics.

Wishing him all the best at the start of an exciting career!!

Great practical advice.

Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 05/08/2024 12:51

KnutonHardz · 05/08/2024 12:42

Firstly, congrats to your DS on his qualification. There is a lot of talk about lots of tech jobs, but in fact there are 10-20% layoffs in many of the leading companies over the past year or so, and possibly more on the cards.

I work as a SW developer in a well known tech company, it's especially challening for people starting out, and here is my advice:

  • He MUST have an active GitHub profile. It's the first thing I look at, especially for a young engineer. You can see their work, do a quick scan of code, etc. No GitHub profile => no interview
  • He should make a targetted CV/resume for specific jobs and not send off generic ones. Teams are hiring for specific roles, try get as close as possible to target the specific role. Look at the job location, use LinkedIn to look at a few people likely to be working at that location, then target based on that
  • Prepare for a coding interview. There will be one. The bar is high. There are well known tasks. If you don't do well at those you won't get a job. Practice and study for those, just as with any exam
  • If your DS has some time, and is targetting a specific area/company, then he sould take an online course in the relevant areas. Udemy/Coursea are very cheap, and they show a willingness for the student to go beyond their course basics.

Wishing him all the best at the start of an exciting career!!

@KnutonHardz Thank you so much for all of this amazing detailed advice. That is mega helpful.

OP posts:
Tapsaffweather · 05/08/2024 12:53

Some big companies run their graduate recruitment in the run up to December for an intake next Aug/Sept so if he’s willing to do something else for a year it might be worth a look. I’ve no idea if this relates but found this technology one.

https://careers.sky.com/earlycareers/graduates/technology

Technology Programme at Sky Early Careers

Where better begins

https://careers.sky.com/earlycareers/graduates/technology

Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 05/08/2024 12:54

Babush · 05/08/2024 11:15

There are plenty of tech jobs out there. I have been involved in recruiting juniors. What we looked for was evidence of experience outside of pure academia. A degree in computer studies bears no resemblance at all to the kind of work you will be doing day to day. We don’t expect people to have worked for free in internships but you need to have some real world examples to show - maybe something you developed at home in your free time.

I would say don’t bang on too much about very academic stuff. Most companies really don’t need anyone else who is super smart. They need people who are proper all rounders, can work as a team and do the stuff that isn’t glamorous and exciting.

@Babush Thank you! Good idea about giving real world examples of work in job application.

OP posts:
Original poster
JobSearch2024 · 05/08/2024 12:55

Tapsaffweather · 05/08/2024 12:53

Some big companies run their graduate recruitment in the run up to December for an intake next Aug/Sept so if he’s willing to do something else for a year it might be worth a look. I’ve no idea if this relates but found this technology one.

https://careers.sky.com/earlycareers/graduates/technology

@@Tapsaffweather Thanks for this. That is very useful to know.

OP posts:
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