| Computer Science and Software Engineering |  |
Canterbury University science honours graduate Simon Glass did not go overseas seeking a fortune - it came to him.
He was touring Europe with a choir in 1990 after completing his computer science course, got a job as a software engineer, and stayed. Mr Glass returned home to Christchurch last August, wiser and certainly wealthier. In his last job, working for a United States subsidiary of Arm computer chip designers in Austin, Texas, he was earning $218,000 at the age of 29. "I thought it was a stupendous amount of money, to be honest. They say in silicone valley that if you earn $US100,000 ($200,000) you've made it," said Mr Glass. "But I wouldn't say it was exceptional money for that type of work."
Mr Glass started work in London with a year's software engineering experience on $45,000, just a few thousand more than an equivalent job in New Zealand. The extra money was swallowed by greater living expenses. Within a few years his salary grew to $57,000, then $67,000, leaving his Kiwi peers behind. After transferring to the States in 1996, he broke the $200,000 barrier.
Back in Christchurch to live, Mr Glass has set up a software consultancy, Bluewater Systems Ltd, and pays himself a $50,000 salary as managing director.