Malikwal

Would it being in washington dc have any effect for software jobs?

ucbalumnus

Probably a higher concentration of specific types of employers like government agencies, including those looking for people with or who can get security clearances.

OsakaDad

Government contractors and consulting firms also abound. Also, tech related positions with the FBI, CIA, NSA and all branches of the military and military intelligence are in demand big time in DC.

Security clearance capable folks are far more marketable. This means, no prior arrests for anything including DUI, no bankruptcies, limited debt (including school debt), politically neutral family with no relatives or anyone in close affiliation belonging to political groups such as the Black Panthers, Communists or Radical Islam, etc. Fringe religious groups like the Church of Scientology, Hari Krishna and non-mainstream Mormonism that still practice polygamy are out too (mainstream Mormonism is completely acceptable if not sought after). Gang affiliations past or present is an automatic exclusion. If you are serious about getting a security clearance, remove any tattoos that could be mistaken for gang affiliation. Also, any history of drug use, even with no arrests, can get you excluded. Clean up your facebook page and profile. Eliminate any party photos with alcohol, lewd dress and behavior, etc. Do the same with twitter and linkedin or any other social media. Expect to fill out tons of paperwork, get fingerprinted and take a polygraph test.

OsakaDad

Oh yeah, clean up your private email box as well.

I grew up in a household in DC and my father had the highest possible security clearances for his job. As his son living under his roof, my father demanded that I curb my activities to avoid controversy as well.

Malikwal

Does bring an hbcu effect anything?

OsakaDad

The government is always looking for smart minority employees. From that end there will be no bias. With regards to HBCU, I think that your major, grades, test scores (with them on their qualification exams), and interview will be most important. However, keep in mind that the top leadership in government also includes Ivy grads regardless of minority status.

Here are a few resources of famous HBCU alumni:
List of Howard University people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
FAMOUS HBCU ALUMNI

tsdad

I spent 30 years in the Federal government. I believe that most government employers are more interested in specific skills sets than where you went to college. What do you bring to the job? For example, when I began my Federal career I had two years worth of experience doing the same kind of work in a state agency. So if you decide to go to Howard try and get internships in government agencies where you can learn the skills that the government will find useful. When I was hired into the Justice Department I told them, and the background investigation revealed the same information, that I had been a member of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Didn't make any difference.

BTW, the administration of Howard over the last several decades has not always covered itself with glory.