So I’m going to be studying Computer Science BSc this year at a local university, does anyone have any useful advice to give me to prepare me for what sort of level of work I should expect? All of my studies leading up to university have been very easy and I’ve done good enough for myself.
Can anyone also suggest how to build a network of contact for a junior web developer?
I’m currently working on 3 different websites for 3 different companies, but I want to try and get even more web design/development work. I’ve been entered into a global competition for my webdesign work, specifically, the WorldSkills, Web Design, so for a junior web developer/designer I can’t be all that bad? I’ve come second place in the first two rounds of the competition, it’s now getting on to the national stage of the competition, any other advice you could give me in order to prepare for the next round of the competition?
I'm just going to tell you whats actually helped me in my Network Sys Admin program.
Stay current on the forums (read the news, and read things you don't know) and google everything you don't recognize. I've ended up using some of the information I've learned for papers and for discussion boards (yay online classes with terribly designed forums)
Diversifying your knowledge base in your chosen field of study, can help a lot.
I guess that makes a lot of sense to be fair, I mean if you don't quite get something that you should get in order to do well, if you can't find out the information in the real world, just turn to Google and don't worry, I'm always looking at news articles and updates in the world, I mean in all sorts of fields too, not just in the world of computing/technology/science. I also have the bad habbit of looking into some things that are way over my head and just end up getting quite confused, but it does help my mind expand and it does eventually help me out in some way or another, even if it just changes my perspective on something.
I have a broad understanding of computers, in my opinion, I've learnt a lot about HCI, I've studied a tiny bit of it with web design. I've also studied a course prior to university, where they literally teach you a broad range of subjects, i.e. Networking skills, software development, system analysis skills, game development, web development, hardware courses, etc. Just a cover of everything really, maybe not in a huge amount of detail, but you do learn more and more, I mean I've learnt a lot of law though my studies, like the DPA and Computer Misuse Act...
I'm in school for something besides development but I did get a junior dev job about 8 months ago and can tell you how I secured it.
The requirement for getting my junior position was simply showing that I knew basic coding ideas, I wrote a program in pseudo code, answered some logic questions and wrote a few excel equations; the requirements for keeping the job (which I've already seen better developers than me fail at) is learning quickly and knowing how to work with people (i.e. translate and confirm client's ideas, provide accurate quotes for turnaround, be able to live with other developer's decisions, etc.). If you already like coding then the first part won't be an issue, where I would recommend focusing is working with other developers (and a stakeholder if you can), join an open source project online or meet with your peers to develop something for fun. Success in the corporate world (in my short experience) requires and depends on more than just knowing your trade.
Best advice I can give to you is find a language you like and stick to it. Personally I like the C languages, so always suggest C /C++ as a starting position.