Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
You can program a computer. What's out there for you? Hello?! Are you seriously asking that question? You're literally surrounded by computers.
Sorry, sometimes rhetorical devices can get us needlessly combative around here.
Software engineering is a relatively new major. In the olden days, when computers terrorized farmers on horseback and demanded one third of their barley crops, the major was just called, "Computer Science." That major is still around, and today's graduates may get a bit confused when confronted by job listings for Computer Programmers and Software Engineers.
A lot of times, these terms are interchangeable. So don't hurt yourself. Just apply, apply, apply.
The important thing to remember is that we are never, ever going to use computers less than we currently do. Well, maybe in the event of some kind of apocalypse. But let's be honest, you'll have bigger problems than a job search if that happens. In all other scenarios we can think of, you'll basically be King of the Hill, Mrs. Software Engineer.
Common Career Fields
Computer programmer. Pretty obvious, right? There's nothing wrong with obvious. Especially not when it puts food on the TV and Xboxes in your belly. Wait, that's backwards. The point is, you're trained for this, you know how to do it, and computers aren't going to program themselves.
Mathematician. Is there anything more boring than doing math all of your life? Lots of things. Like being forced to reread Dubliners over and over and over again. Besides, you know how everyone complains you'll never use math in real life? That is patently untrue, and as a mathematician, you get to pedantically prove everyone wrong.
Also, the government employs mathematicians, only they call them code-breakers. This is getting a little Mission Impossible, are we right? Extra points for anyone who requests that their integers be shaken, not stirred.
Software developer. Specific programs are always being invented to make your life easier. Sometimes harder, too, but that's usually the sign of a bad program. The more dependent we are on computers, and the more important they become in our lives, the more software we need. T
his job is a great fit for people who want to let their imagination run wild, but also want to achieve concrete goals. Like solving real-world problems, AirBnB style. Got the perfect idea? Here's your career.
Database administrator. Databases are unruly. Always zooming around, bothering uncollated data, spilling their drinks everywhere, and generally being terrible guests. Databases are a ton of data all rammed up together, like, say, every password that exists to log into a site. Administrators make sure that the data that should be accessed actually gets accessed by users.
In other words, if you have ever used anything that required a password, like email, any online shopping site, a social network, etc., it's because of a database administrator. We don't want to call them heroes, so we won't. But we're thinking it.
Cyber Security Manager. Ever see one of those movies where some idiot randomly hacks into NORAD http://www.norad.mil/ with a few keystrokes? Cyber Security Managers prevent that kind of thing. If you're interested in matching wits with a bunch of other programmers, but also want a steady paycheck and the peace of mind of knowing you're on the right side of the law, this is an excellent career choice. Plus, you get to keep your awesome hacker alias.
Embedded Software Engineer. (Requires Master's degree or Ph.D.) These software engineers work specifically with the programs that are embedded in objects like airplanes, cars, medical devices…you know, all of the things we really don't want to break down on us. It's an important gig, which is why you need a graduate degree to do it.
Computer Systems Analyst. You've got a computer system that needs analyzing. Who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters.) That didn't help at all.
Look at it this way: someone has an idea for a website. Say, a website that will play any movie or episode of TV that a user could want. Before it actually gets built, the Computer Systems Analyst figures out how people are going to interact with this theoretical website. They'll figure out how people will login, how they'll pay, whether there'll be commercials or not, whether users will get rickrolled no reason...these are major decisions.
Current unemployment of the major
5.0%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
33%Stats obtained from this source.