preparing for life after college nine months and counting…

Preparing for Life After CollegeNine months and counting…


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Tara Strobel Currently working on Mid-Tier Development and Testing

BA Computer Science, Minor in MIS, Interactive Media, Business

Chris Fahey Currently working on User Interface Development

BS Computer Science, Minor in MIS, Business Certificate

Kevin Owocki Currently working on Mid-Tier Development

BS Computer Science, Minor in Physics, Philosophy


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Application Development Process / Project Lifecycle

Teamwork, Teamwork, Teamwork.

Project and Time Management

Adaptability to Change

Design Diagrams, Design Models and Documentation

Milestone Presentation Techniques and Etiquette

When interviewing, the stories drawn from CIS475 experiences can demonstrate teamwork, leadership, time management, flexibility, etc.

7 Most Important Points Learned in CIS475


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Diversify the strengths and weaknesses within your team Documentation User Interface Mid-Tier Coding Networks (if applicable) Databases Team Management

Coordinate schedules Group meetings SubGroup meetings

Select a project that interests you and your team

Define a reasonable scope for your project as soon as possible Begin with a narrow scope

Surviving CIS475 : Choosing Your Team and Project


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Maintain an open mind throughout the project lifecycle Combine individual ideas to form the best solution

Utilize Project Management Tools CVS Eclipse or NetBeans Wiki

Do Not delegate one team member to do all of the work

Take advantage of paired programming

Keep your documentation up to date!

Surviving CIS475 : Working With Your Team


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Use the Application Development Process as a guideline to set milestones for your project

Set aggressive yet realistic goals for your project. Stick to those dates!

Update documentation regularly. Make sure that every team member is up to speed

Communication Wiki Email / Yahoo Groups Telephone

Create test cases BEFORE you begin coding your project.

Surviving CIS475 : Managing Your Project


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Maintain a positive attitude!

Meet with Professor Leipold He is very helpful [we are not just saying this because he is in the room!] Share your concerns and ask questions

Use Visual Aids

Just remember, setbacks are inevitable. Plan accordingly.

Surviving CIS475 : Dealing with Project Setbacks


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This project mimics IT project development in the real-world and hence it demands professionalism

Email etiquette [especially with Professor Leipold] Documentation structure, readability, consistency, and accuracy Team relations

Professional Presence in your Presentations Dress appropriately Be prepared! Know your slides and practice ahead of time! Eye contact: Talk to your audience, not to the projector screen Know your project’s strengths and weaknesses and be prepared to answer

questions about them.

Surviving CIS475 : Professionalism


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Team Structure

You do not get to pick your team

People transfer and rotate between teams

Design Models and Diagrams, Documentation

The importance of documenting every aspect of IT development

Changing Requirements

Coding in a Team Environment

Working off of other programmers’ code

Agile programming

Strict guidelines, timelines, and practices

Our Real-World Experiences…


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Networking

Ask questions, attend career events, contact potential employers

Maintain professional contacts within the university

Actively participate in eRecruiting

Attend Recruiting Events

Job Jamboree on September 26th

Interviewing (research employer, follow up with them, take initiative!)

Prepare Professional Documents

Cover Letter, Resume, Follow-Up letter, Writing/Coding Sample, etc.

Start Early!

Preparing for the Real-World


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Prepare interview “stories” to back up your strengths. Use your

experiences from CIS475!

30 Second Commercial

Know what you want to do

If you don’t, cater your career goals towards the interviewer. You are interviewing with that Company for a reason!

Speak with Professors, Advisors, Mentors about potential career

opportunities

Enjoy your senior year!

Advice from Us


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• No-load mutual fund company.

• Serves individual shareholders and institutional clients.

• Established in 1975.

• Owned by fund shareholders, not by outside stockholders.

• Over 11,000 crew members in three U.S. sites – PA, NC, AZ.

• International operations in Europe, Japan, and Australia.

Vanguard


Questions?

Mary Ann Fornarol:[email protected]

Chris Fahey:[email protected]

Kevin Owocki:[email protected]

Tara Strobel:[email protected]

Professional Presence

> 15 For internal use only

Attitude and behaviors

•How am I appearing to others?

•How do I approach coming to work each day?

•What impressions might others have of me when they see me during the business day?

•What do my facial expressions say to others when I am faced with an unfamiliar situation?

•What impressions do people have of me as a positive (or negative) person?


Negative impact on professional presence

•Matt always has at least two folders overflowing with information at every meeting he attends.

•Arlene notices that Malcolm mispronounces her name—even after 5 weeks of working together.

•Mario frequently sits quietly in meetings, taking notes but not speaking up.

•Over the past few months, Leo’s cell phone has been ringing—even when he is not at his desk.


Etiquette

•Maintain eye contact.

•Avoid interrupting someone.

•Arrive on time.

•Respond to telephone calls and e-mails within 24 hours.

•Dress professionally.


Verbal communication

•Understand that tone of voice has more impact than the words.

•Keep voice mail messages short.

•Avoid filler words such as “um” or “ah.”

•Avoid slang.

•Be cautious of jokes or special lingo.

•Use correct grammar.

preparing for life after college nine months and counting…

Documents

project slide

project development

team slide

project setbacks

project mimics

cis475 slide

project set aggressive

team member