Ask HN: What are other career options as a CS major?

I go to a top ten school where I am studying computer science and at the moment a second major in math. I can pretty much see my future right now, and I don't really like it. Like everyone else around me I'll probably go into SWE or (more likely with a math background) finance, as is extremely popular at my college. While these jobs do interest me, I don't really want to be a SWE day-to-day. I really like making things and while I always have really enjoy programming, I'd like to use it as more of a tool to solve problems that I find interesting, not really for developing large software. I think a job as a quant or something at a finance firm would be interesting, but they're incredibly competitive. I don't really see myself going to grad school, and I don't really consider academia an option. I don't exactly know what an answer to this question looks like but, what realistic career paths are there for someone like me? I'd really like to consider starting my own business / being self-employed but I'm not sure how realistic this is. Are there any books, resources you'd recommend?

TLDR: what career options besides finance and software engineering do I have as a cs major?

Thanks!

Look into internships for business analyst roles - lots of work that will leverage your CS/math background but not (usually) lead down a path of large software development.

If you have trouble finding anything, consider taking a "backdoor" into it by learning enough SQL and Tableau/Qlikview/other business intelligence tool and use reporting/analysis to break into the field.

The most important advice I can offer on top of that is to strictly restrict your search to "profit centers" in companies - try really hard not to get pulled into "cost center" projects. The main difference is that the first matters to business bottom lines (how to make more money) and the second is necessary, but not particularly appreciated.

Good luck!

> I really like making things and while I always have really enjoy programming, I'd like to use it as more of a tool to solve problems that I find interesting, not really for developing large software

That sounds like a thread I would like to pull. What exactly do you enjoy building?

I work as a quant trader and come from a software engineering background. Why don't you apply for jobs as an analyst in sales and trading? After a couple years, get an MBA or MFE or even try a PhD and move into a more quantitative trading/research role.

I think quantitative finance would be perfect for you. I know I wouldn't be able to stand doing anything else. Pay is awesome, problems are incredibly interesting, and the work environment is exciting and fun.

Hey, I was in a similar spot when I was graduating.

I honestly took a year off to just teach math to kids and work at the mall.

Same story, quant finance. Math background. Didn't go anywhere with that immediately.

Here's what I wish I'd done.

Take the minimum amount of steps it requires to go to grad school or line up a quantitative finance job. Even if you don't care about those possible paths, you have the privilege of applying whereas many do not. At least talk to some of those people and see what they have to say to you. It sounds like you're coming up with a catastrophic idea of your future without consulting the very people who are supposed to navigate these waters with you.

If you want a 'realistic' answer, it sounds like you just need a job. Any job. Give up the idea that the work will always be interesting. I guarantee you, once you abandon the pretense that you need to be working on interesting problems, you will see that others will bring interesting work to you anyways.

As math major to another, there are interesting problems everywhere and literally all people are interesting and full of problems.