You have your computer science degree. Now what?

Well, you can program professionally with a company or the government. There is also the option of contracting, but that will not be covered in this article. If you are interested in any of these paths, I suggest you do some research and see which is the right fit. These ideas are a representation of my research over the past couple years.

Living in the DC area, there are many government opportunities available for programming.
In college, I heard about various internships that could fast track my career. However, after applying for multiple positions, and talking to recruiters at career fairs, I learned the hiring process for these jobs were lengthy and quite invasive.

Your personal life is separate from your career and it’s not unreasonable to overlook the value in changing yourself for a 40 hour weekly commitment. Your job should supplement your life, not the other way around.

Many in the computer science arena tend to work on side projects during their spare time at work. Unfortunately, it seems as though time on the job is limited to work related projects and you might not be allowed to do side projects. Not to mention assigned work may be a fragment of a larger project you won’t know about for security purposes. It’s not all bad though. Working for the government, compensation is a given. You could receive generous pay and a pension for retirement.

With private companies, the hiring process has a greater variation and they usually won’t look into your personal life. Some companies may have demanding hours, but more than likely, they’ll only know what you want them to know. Some might feel more comfortable with an employer not interviewing their neighbors and family about their lifestyle choices.

With private companies, there is generally greater exposure to projects. You may better understand your work’s purpose and participate in it beginning to end. Though pensions are rare, some companies do provide alternative incentives for maintaining a long tenure like 401(k) matching, vacations, etc.

Which is better? That’s up to you. Think about what you want from your job. I enjoy variety in terms of tasks as well as a good work load to keep me centered throughout the day. Of course, these are just my preferences. Talk to others in the field, do research, and interview with programmers in both areas. As long as you consider which direction is right for you, you can’t go wrong!

Peaceful in action, manic in thoughts.
Coding Fanatic