The University of KentCareers Service

Careers in computing without a computing degree

You can download a copy of this presentation atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

TOP BUSINESS SKILLS Source: Microsoft

• 1. Team working and interpersonal skills

• 2. Initiative

• 3. Analysing and problem solving

• 4. Verbal communication

• 5. Personal planning and organising

• 6. Flexibility

• 7. IT skills

Teamworking skills ….

Survey of Skills required by IT Employers

1. Communication: oral and written

2. Technical aptitude

3. Career motivation

4. Analytical skills

5. Business Awareness

6. Numeracy

7. Technical Knowledge

8. Team-working

9. Problem solving

10. Leadership

• Communication skills come top of the list.• Technical aptitude comes before technical knowledge - it's

more important to be able to learn a new language quickly from scratch, than to know a particular language.

Postgraduate Conversion Courses

• Computer Science - MSc at Kent £10,000 Government loan now availableprepares graduates from any discipline for a career in computing, or a career involving the application of computing within their original professional field. No prior knowledge of computer science is required.www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/243/computer-science

• FDM Graduate Scheme – at Careers Fairwww.fdmgroup.com/uk/careers/fdm-graduate-programmeTraining takes place in Academies around the UK in London, Leeds or Glasgow. Once trained along your personally tailored learning pathway (full-time for approximately 9-14 weeks), you will progress to become a professional IT or business Consultant. You are then placed on site with high-profile clients working on projects and gaining industry experience.

CORE SKILLS REQUIRED BY MAJOR IT JOBSTeamworking is required for ALL jobs!

PROGRAMMER, SOFTWARE ENGINEER

analytical and logical reasoning good technical knowledge attention to detail

problem-solving

work to deadlines

determination

SYSTEMS ANALYST, CONSULTANT

business awareness persuasiveness handling clients project management written communication skills

oral communication skills

creative problem-solving

Consultancies

• Recruit IT consultants, systems analysts, systems designers, project managers, sales staff

• Major recruiters of new graduates. • Lots of client contact so interpersonal and business skills

important.• Project based work - move to a new project every few months so

constantly learning new skills, but can be a bit unsettling. • Focus on "whole solutions" rather than just consultancy• Often international so opportunities to work abroad.• Cap Gemini, Accenture, CGI, IBM, PA Consulting, Fujitsu• Our main contact at IBM studied American Studies at Kent

ROUTES INTO COMPUTING• MSc Conversion Course: Kent, Sussex etc. Search for courses

at www.prospects.ac.uk • Company training scheme: FDM, Sky etc.• Teach yourself! Learn Python, PHP, SQL, HTML, Javascript• Computer Programming Aptitude Test: test your ability

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/tests/computer-test.htm• Female graduates. Firms such as IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and

Thales seek to recruit women graduates.• Women into Science & Engineering www.wisecampaign.org.uk.

Promotes science and engineering as a valuable and interesting career opportunity for women

• Women in Technology www.womenintechnology.co.uk Online job board and networking group for women working in IT

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/women-in-computing.htm

Other jobsMultimedia and Web Careers www.kent.ac.uk/careers/multimedia.htm

Computer Security, Biometrics and Cryptographywww.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/forensiccomputing.htm

Digital Marketing www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/digital-marketing.htm

Technical Writing www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/sciencewriting.htm

Technical Sales Support www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/medicalsales.htm#sales

Computer Games Careerswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/computergames.htm

Information Science www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitesinf.htm

Bioinformatics www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/bioinformatics.htm

IT Teacher www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteach.htm

Careers Web Pages• Getting into computing without a computing degree

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/computing.htm • Women in computing

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/women-in-computing.htm • Computer Science careers page

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/computersci.htm• Practice Computing Interview

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivcomputing.htm • Applications and Interviews (includes assessment centres

and psychometric tests etc.)www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm

• Placements www.kent.ac.uk/careers/placements.htm• Gradcracker www.gradcracker.com

COMPUTING CVS

• List relevant modules (plus marks if good!)

• Projects – especially if relevant

• Programming languages/operating systems/major applications

• Soft skills – evidence of teamwork, project management, problem solving etc.

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

Careers Award on Moodle

• Half the unemployment rate for students completing the awardEnter Moodle, search for DP2650 or Careers Award and click enrol

• Email bw@kent.ac.uk if you have problems enrolling• More info at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm

www.kent.ac.uk/careers Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.ukOpening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations Drop-in times (no appointment needed: 15 minutes): 10.30 to 12.30 and 2 to 4 pmHelp given for up to 3 years after graduationWeekly careers emails every Monday afternoon

The University of KentCareers & Employability Service

COMPUTING CAREERS

You can download a copy of this presentation atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

IBM MENTORING SCHEME

For students of ANY degree subject

For first-year students looking to do a placement as part of their degree or second year students considering life after University. 

It is a virtual mentoring scheme whereby the majority of contact with students is either via email, telephone or by Skype.

For further details and information on how to apply see www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IBM.htm