Career Planning

Career Resources

The need for computing professionals in the United States is increasing at unprecedented rates. Almost every major challenge facing our world is turning to computing for a solution, from conquering disease to eliminating hunger, from improving education to increasing national defense.

Although much of the economy is experiencing a downturn, today's market is experiencing growing demand with big salaries for qualified professionals in computer science-related fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates (opens in a new tab) that the number of tech jobs will grow much faster than the national average over the next ten years. With more choices and more opportunities, it's a better time than ever to be on the search for a career in computing. The jobs are there--your task is to simply narrow down your options! Services offered by BYU, the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and the Computer Science Department can help.

Check out upcoming events that can help you network and prepare for your career!
Events – Career Opportunities

Career Quest

The Computer Science Department invites you to embark on a quest to become the best BYU Computer Scientist you can. Along the way, you'll earn badges that help you visualize meaningful academic, technical, professional, and community milestones.

Earn badges!
Complete tracks!
Build your career!

Career Quest

BYU Handshake

Handshake (opens in a new tab) is the official job board used by BYU. Employers who want to hire graduates or offer internships to current students post job openings to this website and students apply. Just like LinkedIn, employers can view student profiles and students can network as they apply for jobs and internships.

During your time here at BYU as you are applying for jobs, internships, etc., Handshake (opens in a new tab)will be your best friend for finding employers, applying for jobs, and networking with individuals. It will make your experience smoother as you go to enter the professional world.

Handshake: Start Now

Handshake is a hub for students and alumni looking for high quality internship and full-time placement positions. Students and alumni can use BYU Handshake for the following:

Full-time jobs or internships
Information Sessions on campus
Resume database for employers

How to get started:

Visit handshake.byu.edu (opens in a new tab)
Log in with your BYU netID and password
Fill out your profile if this is your first time (takes up to 5-10 minutes)

Handshake: How To Complete Your Profile

If you have any questions, or if you want individualized assistance, visit 2410 WSC or call 801-422-9058.

Career Placement

Contact Melanie Steimle (opens in a new tab), Coordinator of Career Placement Services.

BYU Connect

Visit BYU Connect (opens in a new tab) to Network with BYU alumni in your industry of interest to discuss your goals and aspirations, get advice, and access other resources such as job shadowing and job postings.

Internships

Internships are a great way to learn about possible careers and they can be the turning point for students to stay in a major or choose to change. In the CS department most students qualify for internships by the end of their sophomore year.

The Computer Science Department strongly encourages students to participate in at least one internship experience during their academic career (please note: that internships are not a requirement in the CS programs of study in order to graduate). Most students intern the summer after their junior year. Internships allow students to apply their technical knowledge in a real-world environment while helping them discover the career path they would most enjoy. Interns often engage in the same projects and work on the same teams as seasoned software engineers and system administrators.

Not all internships are equal in quality or opportunity. Companies sometimes label jobs as "internships" to pay less, but fail to provide a quality, learning experience for the student. Choose your internship carefully. Quality internships usually fit the following parameters:

Paid: Due to the high demand for computer scientists, the vast majority of reputable internships in this field are paid.
In a highly competitive work environment, it is important to recognize that paid internships are the established industry standard in software engineering and development. As a Computer Science student, your skills are highly sought after, and you bring tangible value to any project through your work on production-level code and systems architecture.
Mentored: You should have an assigned supervisor who will work closely with you in a mentored relationship throughout the duration of your internship. She/he should periodically evaluate your work--having a mentored environment will allow for increased opportunities for growth.
Company of interest: An internship is a unique opportunity for you to "test drive" a company before accepting a full-time job. You will experience the company culture, environment and projects first-hand. If you think you know where you would like to work someday, get an internship with that company. This will also be a good chance for you to show them that you will be a good addition to their team.
Substantive Assignments: Your internship should require computer science skills, provide opportunities for increased learning and growth and acquaint you with real-world problems and practices.

Finding an Internship

BYU Handshake: BYU's eRecruiting website has job postings, information sessions, and company contacts. Register for this system by visiting handshake.byu.edu (opens in a new tab).

STEM Career Fair: National and local companies visit campus twice each year to recruit technical and scientific majors at the BYU STEM Career Fair. The fair takes place early in the fall and winter semesters. Many of these companies will also have information sessions and interviews during their stay to campus. Dress up, bring a resume and be ready to talk to the recruiters. See our Career Fair Tips for Success for insights on interacting with recruiters.

Upcoming Career Fairs (opens in a new tab)
Career Fair Tips for Success

Company Information Sessions: Companies frequently visit campus and host information sessions or tech talks. These sessions provide insight into projects, company culture, recruiting practices and more. Watch Handshake (opens in a new tab) and your weekly newsletter email for information about upcoming sessions (if you are a declared major, you will be on this list).

External Links

Please note: these links do not constitute an endorsement by the CS Department of any of these websites or services. They are provided for information only.

Career Planning

Just a few of the companies that hire our graduates

Sections

Career Planning

1. Take a CS class & learn a programming language

2. Use the resources available to you

3. Explore CS through extracurriculars

4. Create LinkedIn & Professional Profiles

1. Build upon year 1 foundation

2. Work on personal & collaborative technical projects

3. Participate in soft skills interviews

4. Keep making an impact through extracurriculars and personal projects to boost your resume

5. Apply for internships!

6. Network with CS Alumni & CS Community

1. Build your technical proficiency

2. Start thinking about software design in your projects

3. Look for leadership and unique opportunities to build your resume

4. Participate in technical mock interviews

5. Apply for industry-level internships

6. Attend student-alumni events

1. Tying it all together

2. Continue to look for more leadership opportunities

3. Polish your resume and focus on relevant experiences

4. Carve out time to prepare for interviews

5. Apply for industry-level full-time roles

Career Resources

Career Quest

BYU Handshake

Career Placement

BYU Connect

Internships

Just a few of the companies that hire our graduates

Lucid

Vivint

Adobe

Amazon

Qualtrics

Apple

Bamboo HR

Redo

Goldman Sachs

Palantir

Tesla

NVIDIA

Uber

Finding an Internship

External Links

Technology-Related Job Search Sites

Career Related Information

Company Internship / Research Institute Websites

Sections