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Old 09-11-2019, 10:44 PM
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Default Career Advice for a Computer Science student

I'm graduating end of this year with a NTU Computer Science second upper degree. My previous education is a Diploma in IT. I'm currently looking into my career options for my first career. During my course at the university, I realised that Computer Science is not for me despite my love for programming and being good at it while I was studying in diploma, therefore, I'm very hesitant about taking a software engineer job. Due to that, I feel that I could only manage to pass the interviews at software consultancy companies, e.g. NCS due to my poor computer science knowledge.

Based on my experience during my internship, I found that I love interacting with clients and the different aspects of project management. Should I pursue careers like a business analyst or technical consultant or should I climb the career ladder of a software engineer and be a project manager in the end. At the same time, if there are any careers and its companies (Non-software engineer role) that will suit me, do list it down. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

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Old 10-11-2019, 12:11 AM
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As an alumni, here are my pure thoughts:

Software Engineer route:
- Endless job opportunities
- Extremely high pay nowadays if you can crack tough technical interviews
- GPA isn't as important, it's all about CS knowledge and whiteboard coding to get top high paid jobs
- Easier to go from technical to non-technical route, but not the other way around
- Downside is if you can't crack interviews, you can only end up in low paid companies like NCS
- I think you need passion to keep upgrading technical skills, which isn't align with what you mentioned
- Not everyone becomes a Project Manager, but senior software engineers at top tech companies can be paid as much

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Old 10-11-2019, 12:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
As an alumni, here are my pure thoughts:

Software Engineer route:
- Endless job opportunities
- Extremely high pay nowadays if you can crack tough technical interviews
- GPA isn't as important, it's all about CS knowledge and whiteboard coding to get top high paid jobs
- Easier to go from technical to non-technical route, but not the other way around
- Downside is if you can't crack interviews, you can only end up in low paid companies like NCS
- I think you need passion to keep upgrading technical skills, which isn't align with what you mentioned
- Not everyone becomes a Project Manager, but senior software engineers at top tech companies can be paid as much
I think at my current level, I can only end up in low paid companies like NCS or slightly better due to my poor CS knowledge with good coding skills. Do you think it is still ok to be a software engineer, maybe comparing to other careers or stat board?

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Old 10-11-2019, 03:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flawless94 View Post
I think at my current level, I can only end up in low paid companies like NCS or slightly better due to my poor CS knowledge with good coding skills. Do you think it is still ok to be a software engineer, maybe comparing to other careers or stat board?
You can consider applying to DBS SEED programme. They give competitive compensation, and interviews are not too technically challenged.

Email me if you want to know more about it, and I can refer you in.


[email protected]
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Old 10-11-2019, 12:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flawless94 View Post
I think at my current level, I can only end up in low paid companies like NCS or slightly better due to my poor CS knowledge with good coding skills. Do you think it is still ok to be a software engineer, maybe comparing to other careers or stat board?
If you are truly good at coding (like algorithm and problem solving), you will still be able to get high paid offers without strong CS knowledge in other topics (OS, networking etc).

You have to ask yourself, what do you truly want?
I think it is still relatively easy to get >= 4k offer as a fresh graduate nowadays even if you aren't a top tier software engineer candidate.
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Old 10-11-2019, 03:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
If you are truly good at coding (like algorithm and problem solving), you will still be able to get high paid offers without strong CS knowledge in other topics (OS, networking etc).

You have to ask yourself, what do you truly want?
I think it is still relatively easy to get >= 4k offer as a fresh graduate nowadays even if you aren't a top tier software engineer candidate.
Let's say if I would want to continue to be a software engineer, I will foresee myself trying to look for non-technical roles as I know that I do not want to do coding in the long run. If that's the case, what are the companies do you think I can get away with my poor CS knowledge in their interviews? Those interviews that requires a strong CS knowledge makes me hesitate to apply due to me being an intern now with not much leave to go for these interviews.

Last edited by flawless94; 10-11-2019 at 03:12 PM.
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Old 10-11-2019, 03:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
If you are truly good at coding (like algorithm and problem solving), you will still be able to get high paid offers without strong CS knowledge in other topics (OS, networking etc).

You have to ask yourself, what do you truly want?
I think it is still relatively easy to get >= 4k offer as a fresh graduate nowadays even if you aren't a top tier software engineer candidate.
With regards to my coding skills, problem solving is what makes me good at it. However, this makes me bad at finding the good algorithm to solve the problem since most of the time my problem solving methnd are mostly brute force. This is based on the feedback I got from doing leetcode. Although I can try and learn the "best" way to solve the problem, my preferable problem solving method is still through brute force unless I memorise the way after attempting a few similar problems. At the same time, I dont adapt to changes well, therefore I cant keep up with the constant change of technologies. This makes me think I can't be a software engineer in the long run. I'm probably only doing it for its high starting pay and my degree.


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Last edited by flawless94; 10-11-2019 at 03:34 PM.
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Old 01-12-2019, 03:00 PM
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I’m the same profile as you. CS grad who’s not very good after coming out of school, doesn’t feel confident enough for technical roles so prefer non technical.

Went to one of the Tech MA programmes.

So think about it this way:
1) Spend two years getting paid decent money while TRAINING to be a good software engineer. Doesn’t mean you have to be the best , but understand what business wants and how does good code look like.

2) After this x number of years you’ve been learning , you can go out and apply to be non-technical roles. No one wants project managers who don’t have hands on technical experience or haven’t interacted daily with Engineers. Why would they take you over any other non-CS grad?

3) Get Your base salary as high as possible at the start. All future increases will be based on your current drawn. 3K and 4K starting are worlds apart.
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Old 31-12-2019, 03:25 PM
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Old 02-01-2020, 08:14 PM
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Quote:
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With regards to my coding skills, problem solving is what makes me good at it. However, this makes me bad at finding the good algorithm to solve the problem since most of the time my problem solving methnd are mostly brute force. This is based on the feedback I got from doing leetcode. Although I can try and learn the "best" way to solve the problem, my preferable problem solving method is still through brute force unless I memorise the way after attempting a few similar problems. At the same time, I dont adapt to changes well, therefore I cant keep up with the constant change of technologies. This makes me think I can't be a software engineer in the long run. I'm probably only doing it for its high starting pay and my degree.
Wait, unless I'm misunderstanding you, how does one deem himself to be good at problem solving when the solutions are admittedly derived via brute forcing? Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Are you trying to say you would like to land a SWE job for the high starting salary and eventually transition to a non-techical role, despite knowing that you probably won't be good at your current job as a swe, your lack of ability to adapt and your lack of willingness to address your current issues in terms of keeping up with the current technologies / nurture critical problem solving skills?

... Please try to identify the skills required for business analysts or technical consultants and work towards achieving those skills instead.
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