Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Software Engineers
For entry-level software engineering roles, Cameron suggests exploring internships at larger companies, building a portfolio through personal projects ("copy people's projects, find tutorials"), and leveraging university resources such as research labs, where "professors" can provide "preferential treatment." The career professional also highlighted the accessibility of reaching out to professors and applying to labs even if not enrolled at the university.
Entry-Level Jobs, Internships, Networking, Building a Portfolio, Research Labs
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cameron Witz
Software Engineer
Redemption Games
Northwestern University
USC MS computer science
Engineering - Industrial
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level positions in software engineering are often found through internships at larger companies, though these can be competitive.
2. Building a portfolio of personal projects, even by replicating tutorials, is a valuable way to gain experience and showcase skills to potential employers.
3. Networking with professors and seeking research assistant positions in university labs can provide valuable experience and connections within the field for undergraduate students.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in computer science, specifically in software engineering, that an undergraduate student might consider?
I think many bigger companies have internships that are sometimes restrictively competitive. But there are so many things you can do, even if you're not getting these internships.
One, you can always apply and scour LinkedIn. Two, there are lots of projects you can take up on your own as hobbies. You can even copy people's projects, find tutorials, and try to build out some sort of portfolio. If you don't have experience, that's a good way of getting experience.
One of the most accessible things you can do is talk to your professors. If you're an undergraduate college student, some of the best options will be through the school or through labs. Research labs are always looking for research assistants.
They will probably give you preferential treatment if they know you've taken their class. They don't have to bring you up to speed on whatever they are researching. If you go to that school, you can even apply to work in labs even if you don't go to that school. Labs are a great way for undergraduates to get experience.
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