Preparing for my career: volunteering, internships and events

Hi, I'm Hasan. I'm in my second year of BSc (Hons) Computer Science.

What drew me to computer science?

I picked computing because I liked programming, and I had heard great things about the course at Bradford. I saw a bright future in tech, especially with Artificial Intelligence on the rise.

Nearly two years in, I know I made the right decision. I’ve had many exciting opportunities. Last year, I got to do a summer internship, and I've also had the opportunity to work as a lab demonstrator at the University.

Work experience and preparation

When I first started university, I had an idea of my future career aspirations – I wanted to become a software developer. During my first year, I was proactive in contacting the Career and Employability Service. They helped me apply for summer internships as they came up.

I also started volunteering at a local charity shop, which I continued for around a year. It helped me develop soft skills and gain valuable work experience along the way.

I had my first meeting with the Career and Employability Service in February 2024, and from then on, I started to understand how to find industry experience and stay ahead of the competition.

My advice to other students would be to reach out to the Careers team because they can help you gain that crucial industry experience.

My summer internship

Something that really set me up for my future career was the summer internship I found through the University. I was applying for the Summer Experience scheme, which has internships from different industries advertised on Handshake for first and second-year students.

I had quite a few interviews but unfortunately wasn't successful in attaining any of the roles.

Finding my place with Brad-ATTAIN

Then, out of nowhere, in July, the Careers team told me about an AI researcher internship under the Brad-ATTAIN scheme. I thought I would be a good fit, given that I had completed the Microsoft AI Fundamentals certification in May, which I also found out about through the University.

I had a successful interview and started the internship halfway through July, up until classes resumed in September. I thoroughly enjoyed the internship, and I feel like it helped me grow so much more as a computer science student.

I'd recommend to other students: don't give up hope when applying for jobs. Sometimes, the right opportunity comes when you least expect it.

I also received an award from the University at the Summer Experience and Brad-ATTAIN awards evening last October, which was a rewarding moment. I continued with the organisation part-time as an IT automation officer up until March this year.

Conclusion

I’ve been applying for placements in my second year, which has been heavily supported by the Careers team. During this, I’ve been working as a lab demonstrator in the University, helping first-year students with their lab activities, and I'm also starting my own freelance business where I build software applications on request.

Furthermore, I’ve recently been attending and participating in university events such as BradHack and Beyond the Code: AI for Everyone.

Ready to turn curiosity into code?

Get stuck in.

BSc (Hons) Computer Science is more than lectures and labs, it's your launchpad into a future shaped by innovation and opportunity.