Software Engineer/AI/ Data Science Career Advice

[SoapyToad]

Hi carbonite,

This year I will be doing my final year of my BSc IT degree at the NWU (Potchefstroom Campus). As I am approaching the end of my undergraduate studies, I am deciding between working or studying one more year for my honours. I have asked the advice of a few people in industry and most recommend that Honours is a must. I'm just trying to figure out what big a difference this makes for software engineers and their carreers. So far I am getting my degree with distinction so I shouldn't have a problem with getting into honours (I hope). If honours is a must, does the university I go to affect starting salaries aswell? I have contacted UCT and the program coordinator did say I shouldn't have a problem completing their honours in computer science since my undergraduate modules line up with theirs. Wits on the other hand have rude people answering their phones who get annoyed when I ask questions and the science faculty staff barely respond with details, so I am unsure about them. If anyone can also give me some framework for starting salaries and what I can expect for each of my decisions, I would appreciate it. Searching online for salaries seems useless as one site might say 10k and another 50k. Thank you for reading my post and I hope nothing seems assumptious or naive (which of course you can call me out on).

SoapyToad

 

[Valheru]

I am deciding between working or studying one more year for my honours. I have asked the advice of a few people in industry and most recommend that Honours is a must. I'm just trying to figure out what big a difference this makes for software engineers and their carreers. So far I am getting my degree with distinction so I shouldn't have a problem with getting into honours (I hope). If honours is a must, does the university I go to affect starting salaries aswell?

Doing an Honors full-time was a bit of a waste of time for me. It has also added little to no value in the short to my career. It will only start affecting you later on, when you reach levels whereby such qualifications are required (eg, exec level). As a matter of fact, some of the brigtest people I have enountered in the industry did not even have degrees to begin with, so after a certain level of experience, the qualification becomes a moot point. Intitution of issue also does not appear to matter that much to people locally, although it will definately matter when/if you go international.

If anyone can also give me some framework for starting salaries and what I can expect for each of my decisions, I would appreciate it. Searching online for salaries seems useless as one site might say 10k and another 50k.

Salaries will vary wildly based on the specific area of expertise in the sector. Just do not expect to walk into a job with 0 experience at 50K salary. Even if those do happen, they are reserved for the select few (i.e. winning international award/recognition on a dissertation).

In summary, think about what you want, and rather consider completing some studies part-time, i.e. Honors and then maybe add something like a MBA (some companies like those things).

 

[ViVceptioN]

Hi carbonite,

This year I will be doing my final year of my BSc IT degree at the NWU (Potchefstroom Campus). As I am approaching the end of my undergraduate studies, I am deciding between working or studying one more year for my honours. I have asked the advice of a few people in industry and most recommend that Honours is a must. I'm just trying to figure out what big a difference this makes for software engineers and their carreers. So far I am getting my degree with distinction so I shouldn't have a problem with getting into honours (I hope). If honours is a must, does the university I go to affect starting salaries aswell? I have contacted UCT and the program coordinator did say I shouldn't have a problem completing their honours in computer science since my undergraduate modules line up with theirs. Wits on the other hand have rude people answering their phones who get annoyed when I ask questions and the science faculty staff barely respond with details, so I am unsure about them. If anyone can also give me some framework for starting salaries and what I can expect for each of my decisions, I would appreciate it. Searching online for salaries seems useless as one site might say 10k and another 50k. Thank you for reading my post and I hope nothing seems assumptious or naive (which of course you can call me out on).

SoapyToad

I'm not talking about other companies, but I got a massive boost in salary once I obtained my honors.
I also did my honors part-time while working (for the same company).

Honors is not a MUST in the industry definitely not as a junior (which you will be after graduation) and no offense if any company requires that (in South Africa) for your level I'd stay far away.

Your university won't have that big of an influence, it is literally about you and your skills/experience/understanding and if you fit into company culture or not IMO. I can, however, say that Tuks, Stellies and Pukke seem to be the majority that does get employed (I'm not saying go to these places I'm just stating what I've seen).

Salaries are company dependant. I had 2 offers when I graduated, lets just say the one was really low and the other one was respectable. You absolutely won't get R50k in SA as a junior.

P.S. Let me know by the end of the year (October onwards) if you are looking for places to work at I can help to organize an interview at my company.

 

[Razor]

Graduate starting salaries vary widely, literally in the range you described above, the bigger companies seemed to pay far more when I was in your shoes.

Shameless punt at getting a referral bonus: Pop me a PM if you want to send your CV to payments company in Cape Town, degree required

The honours doesn’t make much difference in a dev role salary to start in my experience. About 11 years ago it was worth 3-5% CTC PA for our batch of new hires comparing salaries at a big corporate.

The other thing I will add, part time studies suck. I did my BTech part time and it very kak for an early 20s lightie.
Office hours from 7:30-16:30, then race to classes most nights from 17:30-20:30 or whatever it was, then go home and do homework/study/etc, much coffee was consumed. It also made no difference to salary once I finished either.

 

[SoapyToad]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I can see how it makes sense that honours is more beneficial in the long run, so im guessing it is just up to me if I want to get it done and dusted with now or start gaining experience and do it part time. @ViVceptioN and @Razor I will definitely pm you when im closing in on the end of the year and want to start working. Thanks a lot for offering help.