The modern world of IT and software development is quite severe. High requirements for coders’ qualifications, constant changes, and growing competition force specialists working in this field to constantly be engaged in self-learning and development. Continuous training is required even just to stay in demand as it is easy to fall behind the times.
You definitely can’t become a computer science professional if you don’t make an effort, but rather cheat and google “who can do my cs homework.” So what are the secrets of a successful career in Computer Science?
What is the difference between Computer Science and other technical professions?
Computer Science is a set of theoretical and practical knowledge that professionals in computer science, programming, information systems, and technology use in their work.
Computer science is the study of how information technology works from a theoretical and mathematical perspective to provide a scientific foundation for the deployment, integration, and interaction of information technology.
Currently, computer science generally distinguishes between the following major sections:
- algorithms and data structures;
- programming languages;
- computer architecture;
- operating systems and computer networks;
- software development;
- databases and information retrieval systems;
- artificial intelligence and robotics;
- human-computer interaction.
Let’s compare the other specialties of the field of information technology (Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Systems Analysis) among themselves. They have the same subject of study and mostly the same sections as Computer Science.
The difference between the specialties is that each of them puts more emphasis on one of the aspects. Computer Engineering focuses on the design, construction, implementation, and maintenance of software and hardware components of modern computing systems and computer equipment. Software Engineering is about applying a system-measured approach to software development, use and maintenance, and others.
The main emphasis of Computer Science is on the integrated consideration and provision of integration and information interaction of the whole set of information technologies at the level of high scientific abstraction.
You need to have skills in four main areas in order to apply the basic results of computer science research:
- Algorithmic and complex thinking
- Information representation and information interaction
- Programming
- Design and deployment of information systems for various purposes
The most important goal of studying computer science is to have an in-depth knowledge of all the major sections of information technology and a clear understanding of the relationships that exist between application programs and computer systems. Becoming a specialist in modern computer science is possible only through the comprehensive study of all the constituent parts of computer science, considering their integration and interaction.
Given the current state of development of information technology, ensuring their integration and interaction is considered at a level that has a high degree of scientific abstraction — the development of cloud technology, virtualization, software-defined networks, and artificial intelligence systems. Interaction at this level is not carried out physically but with the use of software interfaces (API), which provide a high degree of systematicity and dynamism.
Tips for studying Computer Science and becoming a real professional
Develop Practical Skills in Computer Science Disciplines
One of the advantages of Computer Science, like other IT courses, is that the theoretical skills you have just learned can immediately be put into practice. Keep this in mind and alternate theory with practice to get the best results. If you don’t apply your knowledge in practice, you can hardly develop as a professional.
Don’t procrastinate
Computer science is a difficult subject, and not many people find it easy to learn, especially at first. That’s why when starting to study Computer Science disciplines, you should not give in to procrastination. Do not put off mastering theory, problem-solving and practice, because this can not only prolong the study but, most likely, it will not be as effective.
Do not limit yourself to one course
Don’t expect to be able to get all the knowledge you need on a subject from one course, no matter how good it is. It is always better to consult at least several sources of information to better understand the subject. Besides, if you are planning on becoming an expert, you have to become an eternal student who is always hungry for new knowledge to be more competitive and profound than other experts in the industry.
Find like-minded people
It sounds a bit trite, but learning effectively, like doing many other things in life, is best done as part of a group of like-minded people. Finding a fellowship to study Computer Science together will be helpful for a number of reasons. It will help you learn more effectively, solve tasks and problems together, and compare your learning progress and skills in applying your new knowledge to others.
Learn to write words, not just code
Another common piece of advice from many experts is learning to write (not code), that is, to put words into sentences and make texts from sentences. This skill is important enough for any developer, and its absence will hinder progress not only in learning computer science but also in other aspects of programming as a profession.
Soft Skills for Computer Science Professionals
- Written business communication. Unfortunately, most CS professionals have no concept of correspondence etiquette. The specifics of communication in messengers in the exchange of messages at night and day and the use of conversational style and informal vocabulary. However, as if you want to become a professional, you have to train these skills.
- In practice, managers are often faced with the need to decompose a large project into smaller tasks. This requires a good description of each task and its components so that junior developers understand what is required of them. A poorly defined task often results in the need to redo something, so experience in written communication helps to work in a team.
- Academic Writing. It is useful for CS professionals to get acquainted with the rules of academic writing, use of arguments, searching for information in different sources, and making references to these sources.
- Communication skills. IT specialists are considered to be quite shy and tongue-tied. However, they have to attend meetings, work in a team, and communicate with customers. It’s vital to develop great communication skills if you plan on advancing your career in computer science.
- Public speaking. More and more engineers become speakers at international conferences, give interviews, or participate in podcasts. The art of public speaking can help you express your thoughts and not feel awkward in front of a big audience.
