I hated my major, I don't like the jobs, but no job yet, What should I do?

Question

I didn't know if I liked Computer Science when I started college, but just before my senior year I realized I still hated it after 3 years and I had no job in mind that I liked either. I thought I better finish and just take a related job, but I think I wasn't thinking clearly. I'm out now and there are almost no jobs that I like the looks of in IT and I seem to totally hate the field. I have a phobia of computer programming or related things and I got a GPA of 2.6, but made dean's list once, and spent 62% of my college fund to get the BS degree. It took me a while to realize I hate CS and my interests and personality really changed while I was going through college and they didn't offer CS in high school (like other subjects) so I didn't know that I wouldn't like it so much. I really really hate it. What should I do?

to the girl: Talk to a career counselor at your University and get all the tests and ask to work with them extensively. I didn't even try that and was stubborn when I had big trouble with CS. I would not suggest CS unless you love to just program for programming sake, no matter the industry or topic. See, after a few years you realize that programming is a TOOL, used to work on subjects you should be interested in. Just studying computer science alone is boring unless you intrinsically love the tool. CS should be taken as part of another subject to aid with programming. Math is not specific enough and would require a masters in some field. If you like math and can get 3.0/3.3+ gpa I would suggest mechanical engineering or something like that. Find something related to math, not just pure math. That is too theory, just like CS is all basically a type of math theory and programming. It took me years to figure that out because CS is a newer field and hard for people to describe or plan.

Answer 1

- You can use your CS degree to get other jobs as well. Some places don't even care what field your degree is, sad but true. Also lots of jobs require computer experience and boy do you have it!
- You may look into attending a community college for some professional training (supplemental classes), you can use your additional fin. aid for this. It'll build up your resume so you can switch careers. Also community colleges have community classes that are considerably cheaper than other classes. These too will help build up resume.
- You can apply for a part time job in something somewhat related to CS and work that for a year. While you are doing that intern for a year somewhere that you are interested in. This will pad your resume so you can apply for a job in the area you are interested in. Volunteering and Internships are great ways to switch carers (they just don't bring in the money).

Here are some links about career change:
(sorry have to post links in two lines or won't post)
http://www.quintcareers.com/
career_change.html

www.careerchangenetwork.com/

www.changingcourse.com

(there are a lot more too, just google career change)

Also here's a website that lists CS careers:
http://www.khake.com/page17.html
(there's SO MANY)

Answer 2

If you like working with people you could become a sales representative or work on the help desk or training for a computer software company.If you have any artistic talent you could get a job designing web sites, which require a minimum of programing, but an understanding of basics would make you valuable. Most people do not actually use their collage major in their jobs, so check out jobs that just want a college graduate. They won't pay as well to start, but money isn't everything. Before returning to school you should work and find what you will really like.

Answer 3

How about going to graduate school for masters in library science (MLS)? With your computer science experience and an MLS, you could become a cataloger, a digital archivist, or work at designing the search software and programs that libraries use. Computers and online resources are becoming a big thing in the library science field, so you could always go into something like that too; there's really a lot of possibilities. It's a large field too, and growing, especially since most of the library & information professionals are getting up towards retirement age. Not to mention, the library & information science field makes some really good money.

Answer 4

Geez, I am thinking about majoring in computer science... but my mind isn't quite clear. My other choice is math, a subject i do find relavent . I took one programming class and I am on my second one right now. It seems alright (they didn't offer CS in my high school either). I was wondering if you could explain to me the up and downs you've experienced with this major. I don't want to make a mistake in majoring something I don't like. Any advice would be appreciated!!!

Anyways, I belive you should apply to jobs that are not cs related. Maybe the hospital as a technician, a salesperson, a tutor, etc. Do something you love!