Computer Science Graduate looking for work

[JobSearch2024]

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.

Cleary there are jobs, it might be his CV or covering letter.

It has to be a ‘can do’ attitude, follow the job description -

‘I can work independently’ I proved this when I did xyz
I have worked as part of a team doing XY project
I have skills in customer services when I worked in Z shop
I am willing to learn and take any additional exams/training courses.

What else has he got on his CV?

How many jobs has he had before?

No previous computer science job experience unfortunately. He was meant to do a placement year but couldn't find one sadly. He does have experience of shop work in a high street chain.

Ask him to post here then we can help him not his mum! 😂

Did the university not help with finding a placement? I had a placement year in my BSc and it had to be somewhere relevant to comply with the degree requirements. What did he do instead of the placement year?

No I said what job experience has he had.

And why hasn't he got any computer related experience? Of course he's going to struggle to compete with others who do.

What has he been doing with his summers for the past few years?

Seriously he needs to realise he is not going to get pick of the best jobs if he thinks he can just walk into a graduate job having done nothing previously.

Has he got any personal projects he can show? As in is there no iniative he can show that he's done on his own terms? It's an industry where free lancing and being self taught and having your own projects are very much typical. If he hasn't got anything like this, why now?

He may have to start doing this on his own time while he finds a job, any job to start showing other skills and ability whilst earning money.

Not only that but if you have got to the August after graduation and still haven't got a graduate job, you possibly haven't got your act together.

This is all harsh but few will take on someone who can't show anything about themselves other than they have completed a degree because they will have experience of having to effectively baby sit these people.

He needs to show he doesn't need this level of management.

So many degrees for computer science feature placements. If he didn't do one, that's his biggest issue.

He has work experience and transferable skills:

Where abouts are you? He’s needs to broaden his starting point, he can have the same goal, just needs a different route.

Would he be interested in teaching as there is always a shortage of properly qualified CS teachers .

@RedToothBrush I am sure there is a lot of truth in what you say. He is currently in the process of being assessed for ADHD, which (if confirmed) would perhaps offer an explanation of why he hasn't got his act together. He does have poor organisational skills which has been an issue since secondary school. We are absolutely thrilled he made it to the end of his degree as it hasn't been plain sailing by any means.

Hi @Greytulips . He is currently in the Midlands but is prepared to move elsewhere for a job.

@Floralnomad Thank you for this suggestion. I will put it to him. I fear that he may be a little too shy for teaching, but it's an excellent idea.

@yodaforpresident Sadly his uni didn't help with placements. Quite a few students were unsuccessful in getting one. DS did go straight from year 2 into final year as didn't find a placement (which would have been between years 2&3). He did one term of year 3 and decided to take a leave of absence as studying was not going well. He got a job in retail and then started year 3 (final year of degree) the following October.
It hasn't been plain sailing getting to the end of his degree.

@Greytulips Thank you for this advice. I will convey this to him.

@TheBizzies With the greatest of respect, it is doubtful that a 23 year old bloke is likely to be posting on Mumsnet. However, I know from previous experience that MN is a treasure trove for brilliant information!

Has he thought about a career as a patent examiner? It sounds as though he has a background in a sought after area where there is typically a skills shortage. Examiners work at the intellectual property office.

It is very likely his application form.

My ds got a 1st in Comp Sci and had had an extremely successful summer placement at a major IT company - which then rejected his application for interview. Senior managers intervened on his behalf, he was put through to interviewed and passed with flying colours. He now works for that company.

Apparently applications for interview are processed by some sort of automated algorithm. Ds must have omitted some buzzwords or something, which caused the algorithm to mark him down. On top of that, the algorithm was not designed to attach any weight to ds's internship successes, so discounted the whole section.

I hope your ds can find some cv and letter coaching that will help. Does the uni have such a service?

Right if that's the case, get a job any job is a priority whilst he seeks a diagnosis.

During this time he needs to be setting himself a goal related to development in CS. He needs to write it all down with targets and step by step planning. You may need to help him with this, but it's about him learning to manage his ADHD too. He will be expected to in the workplace even with a diagnosis. He needs to see a diagnosis as a step to perhaps medication and access to learning coping strategies but it isn't a magic bullet. It will not earn you special treatment in the workplace. Especially since the number of people in the industry with ADHD and autism is huge anyway.

He needs to be realistic in his goals. It sounds like he is applying for jobs he hasn't a hope in getting because of his experience and who he is competing against.

He needs to do something that makes him stand out from the crowd.

At this point, continuing to apply for computing jobs and sitting at home will start to have an opposite effect. It will look better if he is willing to take a job doing something else. This doesn't mean abandoning computing.

I think that kids think they a degree is everything. It's really really not.

DH is a senior programmer. He didn't get a graduate job. He has recruited in the past. Whilst a degree is almost expected now, he certainly doesn't value one in computer science. Anyone who doesn't show more than a degree is likely to get binned very quickly for a graduate job. In the past those who get an interview will have some sort of aptitude test. And no it doesn't make it harder for those with ADHD and autism - you have to know your stuff.

How is he continuing to expand his skill set and knowledge. Leaving education shouldnt be the end of him doing this. He should still be trying to learn since he's graduated. From his own initiative.

If he's not prepared to do this even though it's hard, he may lack the focus he needs for a career in the area full stop.

@Dilbertian Many thanks for these pointers. DS is in the process of getting an appointment with his university Careers service. There seems to be a bit of a wait for appointments, but hopefully they can help with regard to completing the application form and cover letter.
Well done to your son in getting his job. He has done exceptionally well xxx

Could he contact the computer magazines eg Computer Weekly to see if he could write for them?

@RedToothBrush Thank you. This is all great advice.
I am really trying to sell the idea to DS the idea of getting any job whilst he is waiting for the dream job. I think work of any nature is helpful for so many reasons, not the least in providing structure and mental stimulation.
DS is hoping for a diagnosis of ADD as is interested to see if medication would help with focus. Diagnosis and assessment will take time, so we are looking short term at the moment.
Thanks again for all the advice you have given. It is much appreciated and very useful.

Im sorry I've had to be really blunt and direct (you've taken what I've said well - many wouldn't).

But genuinely, few people who get into the industry via the graduate route. You have to stand out that way.

It's getting a shit job at a much smaller company to start. Often having first done something else to demonstrate willingness to work hard, take responsibility and work independently by showing initiative that's the stepping stone in.

Graduate places are hard to get. Competition is tough.

They are people who have had placements, can show leadership in other extra curricular activities completely unrelated to computing, can show almost a 'portfolio' of what they've done - especially if it's off their own back, people who can show they are still learning different skills and languages etc etc.

If your son has just about managed to stay the course on his degree and doesn't have other stuff going on, he's not going to get those places.

He should look at stuff like maybe tech support. It's not always a great job but there's always people who need that and if you can get your foot in the door that way at a company other doors may start to open up.

I know DH didn't get his first proper job in programming at a tech company for about 6 years out of university. He worked at other companies as a shop worker, tech support type role, then building websites and then started to get into programming roles. He was doing his own things on the side throughout. What he did do was kept applying and changing jobs and getting new skills - this is not necessarily frowned on in the industry as long as you can demonstrate it's part of your learning curve.

It's not a race. Some people get a fast track. Others don't. In the long run some graduates end up getting comfy and stay in the same role for a long time and eventually become worse candidates than those who take the longer route who gain a wider range of skills and work experience along the way.

As long as he understands this, it might be easier.

He'll have to work his way up! My ds has a computer science degree, he took an entry level job in a company that provides IT support to the NHS as his first job, he found it incredibly boring but knew that it was just the first step. After a year, he got a promotion to a different team and now, a year later he is in his third job on the path that he has always wanted. There is a lot of competition out there and, unfortunately, they need experience.

Has he got any work on GitHub? Or similar? I don't really understand these things but know that my adult CS graduate talked about the importance of having work on GitHub.

It's a generalization obviously but many CS graduates are not dissimilar to your son. There will be something for him somewhere. I'd suggest he contacts some specialist recruitment agencies and gets some professional help with his CV (and don't let him use AI 😅)

Can I ask which part of the country he lives or is looking in?

I work in the field so have some pointers.