Created by Women in Computer Science @ UIC & your CS upperclassmen - Fall 2024
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Welcome! This guide has a complete list of things you may need to succeed as a CS student. No lies, no extra stuff, just truth.
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Internships/Experience
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Two application methods:
- Mass application
- applying everywhere (100+ applications in a recruiting season)
- Curating your resume to the application
- Incorporating keywords in an application into your resume
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How do I find a job?
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When do I start?
- the recruiting season for the next summer begins late June the summer before
- ik that’s so early but take advantage of your summer to prep
- START APPLYING ASAP
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What roles do I apply for?
- there are so many sectors of computer science - use internships as your time to find out what you like!
- Here’s a list of some of the main sectors you’ll see in application titles
- software development
- cybersecurity
- data science
- project/product management
- artificial intelligence
- IT
- data analysis
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What are referrals?
- someone who works/worked at a company giving you a hand in getting into that company
- if you apply without a referral you’re at a base 0/10 on an impression scale; with a referral is like 5/10 to a company before any interview
- may get your foot in the door, but you still have to do all of the heavy-lifting like slaying the interviews
- the main way to get into big tech (increases your chances by 20-30%)
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Four Types of Interviews:
- Phone Call (this is sometimes just a screening for hr idk)
- Behavioral Interview (yap and sell yourself): usually with 1-2 full-timers
- OA (Online Coding Assessment): you coding alone with only your computer
- Technical Interview: (you code in front of full-timer(s) and talk through your code)
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Didn’t get an internship? That’s okay!
- Personal projects (code cool projects throughout the school year and summer to showcase your skills for next season)
- Research/TA
- Get experience elsewhere!
- Scroll to out Research and Teaching Assistant sections
- Upskill (with certificates, tests, whatever) → this one is nice if you can get a certification for free, but don’t pay a lot to get something like this
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Cover Letter
- usually NO (no one looks)
- butttt sometimes for smaller pools of applicants it can make you stand out
- ex. research positions, tutoring, etc.
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Okay, but what will actually get me an internship?
- apply as soon as possible → this gives you the greatest chance of getting an offer
- for some companies even a couple of days late is too much
- apply right when you have a chance → set a couple of minutes away each day to apply for internships
LinkedIn
- There are many mixed opinions on if this matters, but it’s good to have just in case you want to reach someone or ask for a referral along the way
- so create an account right away plz and thank you
- Profile Picture
- get a headshot → look out for a free LinkedIn headshots email
- UIC does them once or twice a semester
- for now put a professional, full face and part of your shoulders picture (not blurry)
- or even a cool photo that can still be considered professional, like you in Chicago!
- What do I put on LinkedIn?
- put every role you’ve had, awards, whatever
- this is like your personal website
- recruiters have their own special accounts and find you!
- Watch your words…haha
- be careful of what you like/comment on there - it appears on your main page
- Message People
- many people get referrals this way
- use this as a resource, reach out to people (they might not answer, but who cares)
- I know a lot of people that got jobs this way or found out about things that can help their career
Resume
- Structure
- Name
- under your name list your github, email, & linkedin BUT leave out the https://…in front
- Main sections: EDUCATION, TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE, PROJECTS, LEADERSHIP, SKILLS