Studying computer science, I had my sights set on working for a large tech company when I graduated. With help and advice from people in the field, professors, and my peers, I was able to accomplish this task. Years later, I even became a tech lead for a fortune 500 company and was able to interview and hire my own programming team. If you are in high school or college and preparing for a job in computer science, these are some simple things you can do now to boost your chances.
Get Good Grades (Especially in your Computer Classes)
Getting good grades should be common sense, but I want to emphasize the word "good." Your grades do not need to be perfect and after you have secured your first job, chances are no one will look at your GPA again. I expect someone that I hire for an internship or their first job out of college to have graduated with at least a 3.0 GPA. This tells me that they were interested in the field, competent in their classes, and motivated enough to adhere to a schedule and complete required tasks. If you have below a 3.0 GPA, do not list it on your resume.
Work Experience
Having a long history of work experience from a young age speaks to your work ethic. If you are in high school, taking on a part-time job shows that you are a hard worker and gives you experience collaborating with others, learning collaborative problem solving, and experience taking direction. For your first job, list all experience even if it isn't in a technical field. You never know what will stand out to an employer. I was once sifting through applications for an internship position and noticed that one applicant had experience working at Taco Bell all through high school. That happened to be my first job as well and I remembered the customer service training that employees were required to go through. We interviewed and hired him for a technical internship that worked closely with internal customers and stakeholders.
Research Experience
Undergraduate research opportunities are unique experiences that allow you to work directly with a professor and graduate students on current problems in your field of study. These opportunities allow you to focus on the current technologies and problems in the field and contribute to improving the field. Most professors are excited when students show interest in their area of research and even if they don't have a position open in their lab, can usually refer you to another professor. Don't be afraid to email professors directly or schedule some time during their office hours to talk about their research and opportunities for you to get involved. Professors are there to help you and see you succeed and more often than not will be very helpful in getting you involved with these unique opportunities.
Club Participation
Research opportunities in your school and community where you can participate in focused groups comprised of people with your similar interests. MeetUp is a great resource for connecting with local community members. Search for keywords based on your specific interests such as "Mobile Application Development" or "Dynamic Web Programming." If a group doesn't exist, consider starting your own. Read department emails from your University and attend showcase events where the different clubs hand out information and talk to potential members. It is important during high school and college that you talk with people at various stages of their career so that you can have a support group when you come across different challenges. The more clubs and groups you are involved with, the more your future employer is assured that you are committed to the field and to staying current and learning new things.
These groups are especially important for women in computer science as there are unique challenge you will face throughout your career. Check to see if your school has a chapter of ACM-W or similar group such as women in electrical engineering & computer science.
Conferences
Conferences are a great way to network and meet potential employers. Make sure to bring multiple copies of your resume to conferences even if you aren't currently planning on entering the work force. Getting your name and contact information into the right hands could mean having a job lined up before you even graduate. Not only are conferences great for networking, but they usually have very knowledgeable presenters and master classes where you can pick up some great tips and ideas. For women in computer science, check out the Grace Hopper Conference. This is the largest conference for women in technology.
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