Simon Fisher - Full Interview

Name: Simon
From: Wirral
Degree: MComp Computer Science

I came to Sheffield for several reasons. The reputation of the University itself was a big selling point, as was that of the Computer Science department and its courses. I´d visited friends here before and knew that I liked the city and the nightlife. I had A levels in Maths, English and Spanish, and an interest in computing. I chose the Computer Science course as it seemed like the most appropriate for my interests and skills, and looking back, it was a good decision. I decided to do the four year course as it´s an easier, more cost effective way of getting a masters level qualification than doing a 3 year BSc then a one year MSc.

I´ve just finished my fourth year now. Half of the fourth year is made up of Genesys, where we run our own company. My specific role was to work in one of the software development teams. We were tasked with making an interactive DVD based game for the Leeds Royal Armouries museum, which used several different graphics packages, as well as DVD software.

Genesys was brilliant when it came to applying for jobs. I put it under the `work experience´ section of my CV, rather than under my degree, and to be honest it was all interviewers really wanted to talk about. They were really impressed that a group of students could run a profit making company. Genesys gives you a lot of experience in real life situations. Every project has its own challenges and days when things don´t go to plan, so it makes you very resourceful.
A lot of job interviews are competency based – you are asked to give an example of a time you´ve worked in a team, or a time when you´ve had to work under pressure etc, so Genesys gives you a huge amount of ways to demonstrate your strengths in a way that a standard degree doesn´t.

Genesys is combined with four other module choices. I chose Java e-commerce, machine learning, computer games technology and Natural Language Processing. The machine learning concept is interesting – you´re trying to teach a machine to learn to manipulate the data that you give it so that it can come to a decision about the data by itself.

I also did four ARTs – advanced research topics. The most interesting was based around virtual reality, using the department´s VR facility. It´s an advanced piece of technology worth millions of pounds, so it´s great to be able to use it as an undergraduate. My assignment involved making a virtual coconut shy using Open GL graphics library. There are different ways you can interact with the graphics once they´re projected onto a large screen. For example, gloves with movement sensors, goggles to make the image 3D, and hand held trigger guns used to aim the balls at the coconut shy. The 3D goggles contain a tracker system - a motion sensor which detects the position of your head in relation to the screen and alters the graphics accordingly. There´s also surround sound which again alters according to where you are in virtual space. ART modules change from year to year because they are based around what is currently being developed in that particular field. It gives you a great opportunity to work with the newest possible technology.

While I´ve been at University I´ve also worked in the Students´ Union as a bouncer, and played prop for the rugby team. I also took part in `Bummit to Budapest´ which is a sponsored hitchhike organised by the Student´s Union. The idea is for teams of 3 to get from Sheffield to Budapest as cheaply as possible in a week. You´re given a budget of £15 each, wear Bummit t-shirts and have documents to prove who you are and what you are doing. We hitchhiked, scrounged and blagged our way across Europe and arrived in Budapest within 7 days having spent only £7.50 each. Because it´s for charity, most people are very generous, giving you free meals and transport, or at least heavily discounted. The best lift we got was from someone who was so impressed with what we were doing that he drove us from the Czech border, right across the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Hungary. Subway sponsored the event, so we could walk into any Subway in Europe and be fed for free. 120 people took part, raising over £12K which goes to support an orphanage in Romania.

I graduate this summer and start working for IBM in Technical Sales. I was also offered a job with Lloyds TSB in their leadership programme but chose IBM because of the scope it provides as a global company. Another deciding factor was that the work is a mix of client based and technical work, rather than purely management. Part of their training package sends you to IBM Global Sales School in Belgium for 6 months, all expenses paid. I start in September.