A career with impact

Top ten for graduate employment

We consistently achieve high scores for graduate employment in the annual survey completed by Unistats (unistats.direct.gov.uk). Data collected by our Careers Office found that 95% of our 2011-12 graduates seeking work entered employment or further study within six months of graduation; and 95% of these were in graduate jobs. This makes us one of the top ten computer science departments in the UK for graduate employment.

Your prospects are excellent

When it comes to getting well-paid jobs, our graduates are highly successful. Many are hired as IT consultants and software engineers in medium to large companies. Some of our recent graduates have gone on to work for companies such as Google, Logica, IBM, Hewlett Packard, PWC, and HSBC. A recent study by economists at the University of Swansea showed that maths and computing degrees make the biggest difference to lifetime earnings.

Case study: Stuart Scott (Google)

Stuart Scott completed our MComp Computer Science in 2012 with first class honours, and applied for a post with Google in California, where he now works as part of the Android development team. We asked him about the interview process and his first impressions of life as a Google employee. 

What was your interview like? Once I submitted my application I got a response within a couple of weeks. After that things moved very quickly. Google set up a phone interview which was mostly technical and went really well, and the next week I was offered an onsite interview where I was flown to California, again this was mostly technical. A couple of weeks after this, Google made an offer which I accepted and they began the process of getting a work visa, which took a long time. 

Where you are working, and what on? I work in Mountain View, California in a team within Android called Compatibility. We define the technical details of an Android device which OEMs follow to ensure that our users get a consistent experience, and our developers' apps can run on a variety of devices. As a result I get to use the latest prototypes and devices.

What the environment is like at Google. At the center of Google’s culture is “Don’t be Evil” - there is a very big push towards doing the right thing. Everything is environmentally responsible. Google will match any donations you make to charity and will also make a donation every time you commute to/from work using your own energy (I mostly cycle). Google give the whole of Mountain View free Wifi. The whole company loves dogs and its not uncommon to see a dog bolting down the corridor chasing a ball! As far as work goes there is a lot of trust and flexibility; as long as you’re hitting your targets, nobody minds where or when you work. Everyday life is really relaxed as Google provide a lot of services so you don't have to worry; food, laundry, haircuts, gym, bike maintenance, transportation, etc.

How you think your course at Sheffield helped you to get the job? I learnt most of the core requirements needed by Google at Sheffield. Everything from the basic building blocks, to experience in various languages, to communication. Most important were my dissertation, Darwin and Genesys.

Do you have any advice for people that are considering computer science as a career? You need a degree to get into Google, but if you also have experience you’ll stand out much more. I did a bunch of projects outside of university, one of which turned into my dissertation! But the most important piece of advice would be “do a summer internship!” I did an internship at ARM and it was the best thing I did. From another perspective, you’re gaining experience, money and contacts in exchange for your summer. And if you did an internship at Google you’d be spending your summer in California!

What we do to help

Throughout the year we organise a series of departmental careers events where companies and recruitment agencies meet with our students. Many of the companies who attend these events have input in the design of our courses via our Industrial Liaison Board. Many of them target our students for recruitment.

The University Careers Service has a Computer Science adviser who arranges specialist workshops for final year students including employer presentations, skills development sessions, CV workshops, and mock application tests. The Careers Service also keeps a database of graduate vacancies. They can also support you throughout the process of applying for a job. Our Student Jobshop, based in the Union, displays all current vacancies from part-time work to structured work experience placements.

We want you to develop as a person too. That could mean getting involved in a student club or society, volunteering in the local community or undertaking paid or charitable work. This kind of experience can give you the edge when it comes to impressing an employer. We'll make sure you're aware of all the options open to you.