Perhaps you have just graduated with a degree in computing and computer science? Maybe you are currently working in the computing industry and are now looking to hone your skills and move up the career ladder by moving into computer science?
Whatever your motivations for learning more about computing and computer science, it would be incredibly helpful to have an in-depth knowledge of the top careers in the field, and such knowledge may well help you refine the direction you want your professional career to take.
With this in mind, continue reading to learn all about the top careers in computer science and their specific roles and responsibilities, as well as the attributes and skills needed in order to achieve ultimate success.
1. Business Analyst
One of the top careers that is most hotly pursued by both undergraduates and postgraduates of computing and computing science is that of a professional business analyst.
Essentially, business analysts are employed in both smaller and even family-run companies—as well as larger and corporate businesses—and their main function is to streamline and improve all business processes. Business analysts are one of the main tools of a successful business model and together with other members of the management team, they strive to improve the overall business success rate and help the company meet its goals and achieve its targets. Business analysts support the information systems of a specific company and provide support systems to ensure that the entirety of the systems, including software packages, are working to their optimum efficiency.
Additionally, with the ever-changing and evolving nature of business, it is crucial for the business analyst to adapt and change as the needs of the business shift.
Key skills required for the successful acquisition of a career as a business analyst include:
- Exceptional problem-solving skills, as it falls upon the shoulders of the business analyst to sort issues—and furthermore, prevent them from occurring in the first place
- Technical skills, including a vast wealth of knowledge surrounding information technology, stakeholder management, and data modeling
- Communication and people skills, which are crucial in successfully conveying ideas and solutions to other leading members of a company
- The ability to quickly, efficiently, and thoroughly analyze vast amounts of information and data accurately
- Exceedingly impressive research skills
The key roles, responsibilities, and general duties of a business analyst include, but are categorically in no way limited to:
- The presentation of findings and ideas in meetings and conferences, both online and in-person at business premises
- The monitoring and developing of projects, and more pertinently, the performance of individual projects and how they work together with each other in tandem
- The evaluation and analysis of the current business model, and the associated and regular business processes a company has already put in place to minimize mistakes and to identify important areas that can be improved
- The coaching and training of members of the workforce, including managers, to best utilize and maximize their current technologies and business processes
2. Graphic Designer
One of the more creative career pathways to embark upon within the world of computing and computer science is that of a professional graphic designer.
It would be pertinent to point out that the successful acquisition of a master’s degree in computer science would be highly advantageous if you want to become an in-demand and innovative graphic designer at the forefront of modern graphic design.
Graphic designers work in a wide variety of exciting businesses and industries, and involve themselves in many avenues, including advertising, websites, blogs, social media platforms, magazines, books, computer games, and product packaging, to name but a few.
Professional graphic designers are assigned a project and a deadline, both of which are pre-agreed with the client, account manager, or creative director of the company, and work to develop eye-catching, visual concepts and ideas which wholly fulfill the brief.
The main roles and responsibilities of a graphic designer usually include the following:
- Correctly estimating the duration of a particularly graphic design job in terms of completion time and the provision of professional quotes to the client
- Creative thinking to produce innovative and impressively unique concepts, ideas, and content in developing interactive design
- The presentation to account managers and clients of finalized concepts and ideas as well as visual props to further your proposal
- Proofreading written content to ensure optimum professionalism
- The commissioning of photographers and illustrators and working together to create the final project
- Regularly traveling to meetings with account managers and clients to discuss the specific requirements of the task and the company’s specific objectives and targets
- The development of design briefs that clearly and accurately suit the purposes of the client or account manager
- Redefining the design brief clearly within the financial and time constraints put in place by the client
- Using computer-aided design (CAD) as well as investigating and implementing the use of new and innovative graphic design technologies
- Working together alongside other graphic designers, web developers, printers, photographers, illustrators, copywriters, marketing specialists, and account executives
3. Computer Engineer
A more “hands-on” and practical application of computer science in terms of a professional and in-demand career pathway is that of a computer engineer, and again, the acquisition of a postgraduate degree in computer science is more than advisable, due to the intensive and challenging nature of the role.
Computer engineers work solely with computing hardware and software systems, striving to improve their effectiveness as well as designing, testing, implementing, and maintaining each and every software and hardware system within their professional remit.
There are a number of valuable and incredibly fascinating specialisms within the field of computer engineering, including artificial intelligence, robotics, operating systems, mobile applications, and virtual reality.
Although the professional daily life of a computer engineer is incredibly varied, there are indeed more than a few key responsibilities that are heavily associated with the profession, with such roles including:
- Implementing, testing, and designing computer networks
- Intensive research of both computer software and hardware
- Management of operating systems
- Testing and designing every single component of computer hardware systems, including routers, circuit boards, processors, and memory devices
- The testing and designing of robots and the study of robotics
- The creation of specifically designed computer programs across the spectrum of industries, from surgical technologies to components of aircrafts
- The testing, writing, and designing of software specifically used in computers and mobile devices
4. Data Scientist
One of the most in-demand careers within the field of computer science is that of a data scientist, and as businesses across the entire spectrum of industries become more and more reliant on the use of data, the profession is subsequently becoming increasingly prolific.
All businesses and business models are in need of professional data scientists, who can analyze, interpret, and accurately extract large volumes of information and data from a wide range of sources—including but in no way limited to machine learning, artificial intelligence, algorithms, data mining, and statistical tools.
There are eight fundamental areas of business whereby professional data scientists are most highly in demand:
- Government
- Academia
- Health
- Information technology
- E-Commerce
- Finance
- Scientific research
- Retail
Data scientists face an incredibly demanding set of multi-faceted challenges and tasks and implement a wide array of different tools and techniques in order to successfully meet and exceed their professional objectives.
Such necessary responsibilities include:
- The use of statistical techniques and machine learning tools to devise and implement various solutions to issues and problems
- The creation of accurate, thorough, and comprehensive reports and feedback points on how either the clients or customers interact and work with a particular business
- The conducting of research to aid you in developing the proof of concepts and ideas, as well as developing business prototypes
- Working closely with the specific business in which you are currently employed in order to use data and information to enhance the effectiveness of the business model as a whole, as well as determining, managing, and diminishing any issues or problems
- The testing of data mining models to choose which one will best aid the business and which ones are most appropriate and applicable to the project in hand
- The assessment of how effective the data and data sources are, as well as the effectiveness of the current data-gathering tools and techniques to improve the overall results
- The sourcing of opportunities to use various models, insights, code, and datasets in other departments of the business
5. IT Systems Manager
Another professional career that relies heavily on the acquisition of a wealth of experience and knowledge of everything relating to computer science is that of an IT systems manager. Prior experience is not exactly necessary; however, it may be exceedingly difficult to enter at the level of IT systems manager without having experienced working in areas of a business such as management, operations, or technical support.
IT systems managers have an incredibly important role, and carry a lot of responsibility within an organization—the proverbial “buck” stops with them. As such, IT systems managers are responsible for carrying out a range of different duties and roles, which consist of, but are not exclusively limited to, the following:
- Deciding which hardware and software to purchase, and the sourcing of the best brands and suppliers of such products
- The securing and protecting of all business information and data from cyber-attacks, as well as internal and external breaches
- The contribution to the organizational procedures and policies in relation to the strategic planning of the business and the current and aspired quality standards
- The planning, development, and implementation of the company’s information technology budget and the acquisition of competitive prices to ensure the affordability and cost-effectiveness of the products purchased
- Checking that each and every employee uses all data and information collected in the correct manner—always adhering to the specific software and hardware licensing laws
- The cool, calm, and collected management of situations of crisis in terms of serious breaches or problems with either software or hardware systems
- The installation and copious research of and around new and innovative networks and systems
- The evaluation of the overall functionality and efficiency of each and every system, and ensuring that the current IT systems meet the needs and wants of the users
- The timely and accurate scheduling of the security backups of both software and hardware business systems, including all scheduled upgrades and maintenance periods
- The provision of a secure and unabridged connection and access to the entire server network from remote locations for authorized users
- The direction of work and tasks for a variety of colleagues and other professionals, such as developers, other computing-related workers, business analysts, system analysts, and support specialists
- The guarantee that every single hardware and software system runs without problems or issues
- The provision and implementation of appropriate print services, email provision, and anti-virus software
6. Web Developer
Another fascinating career pathway for a graduate and again, ideally a postgraduate in computing and computer science, is that of a web developer. The primary function of a professional web developer is incredibly simple: to create websites.
After the development and live creation of a website, the web developer is usually also responsible for the website’s capacity and overall performance.
There are three fundamentally different types of web developers:
- Front-End Web Developers
Front-end web developers work specifically on the pages of the website which visitors to the site see and interact with. These types of web developers work on the visual aspects—designing the physical and aesthetic aspects of the layout and use tools such as graphics, JavaScript, and HTML.
- Webmasters
Webmasters are basically the general managers of the entire website and are responsible for regularly and professionally updating and upgrading the site—ensuring that every link, hyperlink, and embedded application is always working perfectly.
- Full-Stack Developers
Full-stack developers hold the vast knowledge required to create the structure of the website, and have the ability to create the user-friendly, interactive elements, as well. Usually, full-stack developers are hired when a company cannot afford the budget to employ a team of people dedicated to website management.
