10 questions about computer science

[coltonl]

i need a person's name, qualifications, and answers for this interview about the career field of computer science

1. How many do you work a week?

2. What is your annual alary?

3 Who do you work for?

4. Are there many job openings?

5. What should you go to colled for?

6. Where did you go to college?

7. How long should you stay in college?

8. Is your career field expanding?

9. Can you be promoted?

10. What other fields could you work ing?

[deleted-71837]

I forwarded your questions to a friend here is what she had to say...

1. How many do hours you work a week?
Technically, 40. However, depending on the company this number can be higher, lower, or
fluctuate week to week. Personally, at the company I work for this number is not monitored
closely, and I am mainly expected to get my work done. This meant last summer I worked
weekends and late nights for a few months, but for the past few months I frequent the gym
while tests are running and leave early on Fridays.

2. What is your annual alary?
$90,101. To give you some background, this is with a bachelor’s degree and 2.5 years of
work experience. I started at out of school at $73,500.

3 Who do you work for?
Dolby Laboratories

4. Are there many job openings?
98 to be exact. Check out careers.dolby.com if you want to see what kind of jobs we’re hiring
for.

5. What should you go to college for?
Computer Science or Engineering (but I’m obviously biased J )

6. Where did you go to college?
Simon Fraser University

7. How long should you stay in college?
I have a 4 year bachelor’s in Systems Engineering. Quite a few engineers at my office also
have a Master’s degree (2-3 years).

8. Is your career field expanding?
Yes, the world of sound and video is expanding, and its need for engineers and computers
scientists is growing.

9. Can you be promoted?
Definitely. I was just promoted to Senior Design Engineer from Software Engineer in late
2010.

10. What other fields could you work in?
Software gives you a lot of flexibility. Since you know the tools (different programming
languages, problem solving skills, and design practices), these are often applicable to many
fields. Just to name a few, you could work in Social Media (Facebook, Twitter), Consumer
Electronics (like cell phones, TV’s, laptops, etc), Defense (military, NASA), or even working
with Non-Profits!

[hhemken]

coltonl,

I won't go into personal detail, but JasonS's info is quite realistic and representative of what you can expect out there.

As to what you go to college for, I would suggest the following (assuming you are the college-going kind of person, make sure you are):

1) It has to be something that gives you basic tools that can be applied to many different real life activities. Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, to name a few, are disciplines that will teach you secrets of the universe that you can apply in many many situations. Even as your career changes, the foundation you get from these will support you for most or all of your life.

2) Make sure you really like it. I don't mean like it like some people choose a major as frivolously as they choose an ice cream at the supermarket, I mean something that itches inside of you pretty badly, and that has been there in one form or other as far back as you can remember. If you've always burned to be an artist, then be an artist. If you have always wondered how physical substances interact to form new ones or do weird and interesting things, physics or chemistry may work for you. If all you want to do in life is make robots or build machines that do complex and cool things, then engineering or computer science might work. You get the picture. You have to have a burning passion that will last a long time.

3) Go to grad school if you feel you need to. Consider getting a job in your chosen field for a year or two before grad school, or at least for a summer. If you are still going full speed ahead and already have grad school planned out, go for it.

4) The future cannot be predicted. Learn things that empower your creativity, things that will be hard to get a machine to do or a low-pay worker in a faraway land. I have some bad news: in your lifetime low-skilled work will be automated out of existence, and any job that a company can get done more cheaply in a foreign country will be quickly exported. Keep that in mind. That's what I mean by empowering your creativity. Be able to do the new, cool, and profitable things people haven't even imagined yet.

I hope this gives you some useful perspective.