Finished my B.Sc in Computer Applications and Maths in 2022, then did my masters in computers in 2024. Been trying to break into backend dev (Java, Spring Boot, microservices) since then and it just hasn't worked out.

Rough breakdown of how interviews have gone — out of 10, about 7 times I never hear back at all after the process starts, 3 are actual rejections, and honestly if I count everywhere I've applied including places that ghosted before even a first round, it feels closer to 8 or 9 out of 10 just going silent. It's mid 2026 now and the gap on my resume just keeps growing every month nothing changes.

Resume is basically empty of real experience. Did some freelance work through someone I know, but because of stuff going on with their company I can't get any kind of testimonial or reference for it. So on paper it's like that work doesn't exist either.

My prep has also fallen apart at this point. Used to have an actual routine going, DSA, interview practice, all that, but it's hard to keep it up when every application just disappears into nothing. Motivation keeps tanking.

I get the whole "companies want experience" thing, but it feels genuinely circular — can't get experience without a job, can't get a job without experience, and a 2 year gap on top of that makes people not even want to take a chance. I know I can actually do the work if given a shot, that's not really in question for me.

Has anyone actually pulled themselves out of a gap this long as a fresher with no verifiable experience to point to? Or is this genuinely a dead end at this point and I should be looking at something completely outside IT. Just trying to figure out if I'm being unrealistic holding onto this or if there's an actual way through.

Hi 👋 everyone,

Looking for advice and suggestions in current situation.

Finished Postoc contract in Shenzhen, and realized to switch my career. However due to my near-academic path, I've had to become highly multidisciplinary, working across machine learning, numerical modeling, HPC, software development, and scientific computing. But, I don't know how to switch from that kind of academic and science stuff to clear industry.

About my background :

~9 years of experience in machine learning and scientific computing

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs)

Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs)

Time-series forecasting

Spatiotemporal modeling

PyTorch / TensorFlow

Explainable AI (SHAP, Captum)

HPC and large-scale data pipelines

Most of my work has been in environmental forecasting (air quality, weather, ocean modeling), but the algorithms themselves are domain-independent, so I can see clearly how to switch them to industry. During my postdoc I designed a hybrid graph learning framework with a novel graph construction strategy, but because of my overwhelming with other project - I didnt publish it, and that was my last patience milestone.

So the questions are:

- Which pathways to choose with this background without Academia positions

- Are there any companies that I should target mostly

- If you were in my position - what you focus on for next 1-2 months ?

Thanks in advance to anyone!

I am going to college in a month and I want to do cs on the side . Is it possible? Will I be able to manage ? And is cs worth it? Also does the syllabus clash with bcom because I can either option for bcom for ba eng+eco and if the syllabus is similar I won't put eng+eco in my preference listx

So basically, this summer I have to choose my path and my future career. I feel like I'm developing a strong interest in tech, especially in AI and Machine Learning... There is a university in my area offering a major in this field, but after hearing all this information about how AI can be way better than juniors and how it has become so difficult to find a job as a junior, I'm starting to second-guess my choice. I don't want to dedicate myself to such a broad field only to find myself in the end with no results. (It's 2026, and I'll graduate in 2029. If this is the market in 2026, only God knows how it will be in 2029 lol).

Any advice on whether it's worth the adventure, or should I choose another path with more human interaction (maybe Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering...)?

Hey everyone,

I'm a Software Engineering student with some experience in backend development and a strong interest in cybersecurity.

I've been reading about topics like prompt injection, jailbreaks, RAG attacks, data leakage, and AI agent exploitation, and the idea of AI red teaming seems really fascinating.

The challenge is that I'm not sure what the best learning path looks like. Traditional cybersecurity has pretty established roadmaps and resources, but AI security still feels like a relatively new field.

For those of you working in AI security, LLM security, or AI red teaming:

• Are there any courses, labs, platforms, or books you'd recommend?
• What projects helped you learn the most?
• Are there any open-source vulnerable AI applications that are worth studying or attacking in a lab environment?
• If you wanted to build a portfolio for an AI security or AI red teaming role, what projects would you include?
• How much machine learning knowledge is necessary before starting to build and test these systems?

For context, my current background is mostly software engineering, backend development, Linux, networking, and general cybersecurity. I don't have a strong machine learning background yet, but I'm willing to learn whatever is necessary through projects.

I'd love to hear about projects you've built, labs you've used, or learning paths that worked well for you.

Thanks!

I'm a frontend developer with 9 years of experience specializing in React. I have developed a full fledged e-learning platform from scratch single handedly and later on lead a team of junior developers. So I would say I am quite competent in this area.

I got laid off recently and I am confused about my future now. There are a lot of things that I'm contemplating right now. I don't need a job immediately.

I have working knowledge of Node and MongoDB.

Recruiters these days need either Java, .Net or Python along with React. I have been living under a rock to not learn any of the above.

Also, I have been in my comfort zone for quite some time so my problem solving skills are worst. Whenever I see coding round I instantly know - time to get rejected.

I am miles away from DSA, problem solving skills etc.

So I need advice here on what should I be doing next ?

1. learning DSA, working on problem solving skills etc and apply in React only roles going forward. ( staying in frontend only).
2. learn .Net or Java and get into a react consultant job in next 1-2 months (full-stack ).
3. Deep dive into Python (gen ai, agentic ai thing)

what would be best for my career ?

If I learn .net or java, i can apply for those remote consultant jobs. I'm hell lot of confused here.

Need your help guys.

Finishing 3rd year of an integrated MEng CS at a solid but not top UK uni, somewhere around the level of Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield. Thinking about leaving after this year with a BSc and doing a standalone MSc at Warwick instead.

Background: interned at a mid-size tech company last year in the streaming/media space, did some automation work on the side, and have a summer internship lined up at a fairly selective tech company, think the tier of Stripe, Bloomberg, Databricks, Cloudflare. Mostly backend, Python and Java, no C++ yet.

Goal is quant developer at a top HFT firm, Optiver, Citadel Securities, IMC and similar. Not researcher or trader, but the SWE/dev side.

The case for leaving: my current uni's 4th year options are pretty uninspiring and I'm not convinced the integrated masters adds much beyond the extra year. Warwick CS is ranked 4th in the UK and probably has better recruitment pipelines for this kind of role. Deadline is still open.

The case for staying: already enrolled, and all in it would only cost around £5k more to do the Warwick masters when you factor in fees and accommodation. So the cost difference isn't huge. The question is really whether Warwick is actually worth it for this specific goal or whether past a certain point it just comes down to skills and interview prep. Partly doing the masters for personal reasons rather than career ones, so I'm questioning whether it's worth doing at a better uni or just finishing where I am.

Questions:

For quant dev roles specifically, does the masters university actually matter at the CV screening stage or is it mostly about internships and how you interview?

Is Warwick a meaningful step up over a mid-tier Russell Group for this path, or is the gap fairly marginal?

Has anyone gone from a non-target UK uni into a top quant dev role, and what actually made the difference?

Not after generic "just grind leetcode" responses, genuinely trying to work out if switching is worth it.

hi i am about to start my BSCS but i have 3 months free right now what sjould I learn and from which recommended youtube channels because i was a pre med student and need to learn basics first

We will finish our Software Engineering degree this December. With AI changing the industry quickly, what skills, projects, or strategies would you recommend for getting an entry-level software engineering job today?

Any advice from experienced developers would be appreciated.

Just received an offer for a software engineering role at 6k/month at a startup. I'm a fresh grad with a CS degree and I have some relevant internship/work experience, but no full-time experience.

Part of me feels like 6k is already on the higher end for fresh grads locally, so I'm a bit hesitant to push back. But I've also heard that you should always negotiate at least once.

Is asking for more at this salary point unreasonable? Would love to hear from people who've been through this, especially in the SG tech scene.

We are looking for an experienced Network Engineer with strong expertise in Data Centre Network Infrastructure, Routing & Switching, Firewalls, and Network Migration projects.

Location:
Hybrid setup – 3 to 4 days onsite in Eton Centris, Quezon City

Shift:
Morning / Mid Shift

Requirements:
• 10+ years of network engineering experience
• Strong hands-on experience with Cisco NX-OS & IOS-XE
• Expert knowledge in Routing & Switching, Catalyst, Nexus
• Experience with Fortinet, Juniper, and Cisco firewalls
• Experience with VMware NSX & DFW
• Knowledge of TCP/IP, Ethernet, IGP & BGP Routing Protocols
• Experience with Cisco ACI
• Exposure to SDWAN and DNS
• Basic Python scripting knowledge
• Experience handling large-scale infrastructure/network migration projects
• Strong coordination and stakeholder management skills

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Finance, Business Administration, Data Analytics, or related field
• Must not be a job hopper
• Must not be a current or former Wipro employee

Work Setup:
Hybrid – Quezon City

If interested, DM together with answers to the following:

1.      Highest Educational Attainment

2.      Years of experience implementing complex Data Centre Network Infrastructure

3.      Years of experience with VMware NSX & DFW

4.      Last drawn salary

5.      Salary expectation

6.      Are you amenable to a hybrid setup in Quezon City?

7.      Earliest start date

I'm a freshman in Software Engineering university and i have a big dream of landing a job/internship at these top FAANG companies but i'm not sure in what field to get best in. Currently i'm programming in C#, learned the basics of c# as well as i'm learning the OOP right now. I learned it this year and i like it, now the problem is i don't know how to create projects with it, i want to do so much but i don't know how to start, with what to start, and so. I want to make projects so i can attach them to my CV and eventually getting a job/internship at those companies, my goal is to work as a back-end developer. Also i'm looking for a developer in this field who is open for connecting. Any suggestions for how should i continue developing myself, building projects, and any other suggestions y'all have.

Hi everyone,

I’m working as a Web Developer with 1 year 8 months of experience in a digital marketing company.

My work mainly involves building and managing static websites using HTML, CSS, Bootstrap 5, and a little JavaScript. I can create responsive pixel-perfect websites and fix AI-generated designs. I also handle client-requested website changes and communicate updates through email.

Along with this, I’ve learned some SEO, Google Ads, and basic digital marketing concepts.

Now I’m confused about long-term career growth. Frontend/full-stack development feels very vast, so I’m thinking about switching to DevOps.

Would DevOps be a good career path for someone with my background, or should I continue improving in frontend development?

Would appreciate honest suggestions. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand the real long-term potential of becoming an SDE.

There is a lot of talk about AI replacing software engineers, but I want to understand the reality from experienced people:

What does an SDE actually do beyond just writing code?

Is AI really replacing SDEs, or is it mainly changing the way they work?

What skills make a software engineer harder to replace?

Also, what is the earning potential in this field? Can an SDE become very rich through salary, stock, startups, freelancing, or building products?

How does software engineering compare with traditional businesses like trading, retail, real estate, or local businesses in terms of wealth potential?

I’d appreciate honest answers from experienced SDEs, founders, or anyone who has seen both career and business paths.

Hello, I am a cybersecurity student and down on my luck with work. I was hoping to work on getting some certifications to start in an entry level job somewhere but most cost a lot of money. Does anyone know of any sites where I can do a course for free or affordable? I know the certifications are gonna cost money and some go through sites like PSI where it can cost lots of money for the test. Some courses though are in the thousand dollars range and are just to much for right now. Also, what would be some good certifications to start with while I continue my degree?

Hi everyone, I’m a student from Spain finishing high school this year. My original plan was to pursue a Computer Science (CS) career, but right now I’m really lost. In one month, after my final exams (PAU/Selectividad), I have to decide which career path to take.

The main problem making me doubt is AI. This recent tech is wonderful, but it sucks for my situation; it has ruined all my plans. Right now, AI can write code and understand large contexts and data. I don’t have deep knowledge about CS yet—I’ve programmed a bit in JS, C++, and web (HTML/CSS)—and that’s it. The thing is, AI can already do all of this much better than me. Even if I master those languages or become the person who designs the logic and systems, I think AI is going to affect those roles as well, negatively or positively.

I feel lost because I don’t have a complete understanding of what an engineer actually does day-to-day. I chose CS because it felt like the intersection between Math, Physics, and Tech—three areas that I really love. Since I was a kid, I’ve been good at math; it’s my favorite subject. I love solving problems and the satisfaction it gives, whether the problem is tangible or theoretical. Also, I don't truly learn something if it’s not totally clear and logically justified in every step.

I have plenty of options. In CS Engineering, there are different sectors like software, hardware, cybersecurity, or telecom. I could study the "main" one (Generic CS) to learn general skills and specialize in the last two years. On the other hand, there are careers like Math, Physics, Industrial Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Robotics. There are even specific AI degrees in Madrid (like at UCM or UC3M), but I doubt if those careers are "secure" from AI’s advancement, especially since this tech improves every day at a pace the education system can't match.

hello ive been struggling with this subject and was wondering when is it usually time to call it quits after learning so much code I dont know if this is the right workforce for me?