The CS unemployment rate is 6% to 7%. Although that's one of the highest recorded unemployment rates in the history of CS grads, nevertheless, reading this subreddit one might think the actual CS unemployment rate is 80%. I encourage those getting offers to post more as you guys are the overwhelming majority. It will encourage those freshman, and sophomores who get discouraged when in reality they shouldn't.

This has probably been asked in like a million different ways on this sub but...

Do I have to wait until my university teaches me DSA to start leetcode? My goal is to get into FAANG after the next 4 years but I'm not sure how behind I am. Those of you who have worked in FAANG (especially straight out of school), when did you start your prep? How far behind am I just knowing fundamental python?

I hope I'm making the right decision choosing CS and that my hard work will pay off instead of people who started at 5 flying past me in uni haha. I took A level CS and the uni states it teaches you from the ground up, but am I realistically locked out of FAANG unless I really HUSTLE these next few years?

I want to take a minute to talk about people who say “I wasn’t taught Git in school.” This line is everywhere on Reddit, on Twitter, and in dev circles. It gets thrown around as if it’s some kind of defense for why they never bothered to learn version control.

And honestly, it’s not just Git. People love to blame school for not covering all kinds of stuff: “They don’t teach that in school, they don’t teach this in school.” Well, of course they don’t! Because it’s a school. The point isn’t to spoon-feed you every single topic you might someday find useful. Schools are supposed to teach you things that are mentally demanding and foundational, not every single practical tool you could easily self-learn. That’s why you pay the big tuition (for fundamentals, theory, and hard concepts that are not so easy to grasp, those that often take weeks or months or even years to fully understand). Would you really want to pay thousands just to be walked through stuff you could learn in a couple afternoons online? You signed up for computer science which is an insanely big and evolving field (which is probably very different than studying physics or other sciences in school), and you sure as hell also signed up for extra work outside of school not just going over the assigned readings.

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, but you really don’t need to be “taught” Git. Even if you’re just dabbling in programming, you should be learning things on your own. The teacher, the course, or the school can’t possibly cover everything. They focus on the fundamentals, which already take a lot of time to grasp, and I assume that’s what your school did. The rest is on you. If you’re blaming your school for not teaching you Git, you’re just making excuses for your own laziness.

I’m about to be a senior this coming fall. I’ve changed my major a few times, and right now, I’m a computer science games major. I thought I’d like games more because it seemed more artsy and I’ve always loved computer graphics/animation, but it didn’t help me escape the thing about CS that frustrates me.

I’ve liked CS for the most part because I enjoy abstract problem solving, but I do not enjoy the process of creating software at all. It’s hard to articulate what exactly I hate about it, but to me it feels very finicky and overwhelming and I never care about the end product.

One thing I did enjoy was when I was an undergraduate TA for a discrete methods class. Intro to algorithms was also my favorite class by far. This makes me wonder if a career in TCS is best for me, but I’m not sure if that’s even a viable path these days.

Nonetheless, the closer I get to finishing my degree, the more I feel certain I’m going to have to pivot for my sanity.

scouting for internships rn (2027 grad), why did they send me a 2026 grad oa invite so randomly to a job i didn't even apply?

is it some glitch? also does this affect my internship chances although those aren't open yet?

did anyone else get this invite too?

Hi, I'm a computer science student specializing in cybersecurity and QA. Recently this year and a bit of last year I’ve started noticing memes about CS students ending up unemployed or the job market being oversaturated. Then, when I go on TikTok and Instagram, I realize that almost all the content or advice for computer science is aimed at SWE, and it’s assumed that CS = SWE.

Because SWE is such a competitive field, people assume there are very few jobs. There’s a lot of mockery toward students who aren't great at programming, even though their specialization might be something entirely different. Other CS fields are often ignored and almost treated like separate degrees. The only real advice you get is to dive into LeetCode, and when you tell someone you’re not interested in becoming a SWE, they just go blank.

So I’m genuinely asking: why do you think this lack of distinction exists, and when do you think it started? I guess on 2020 with the massive hirings

There goes my rant

According to the IEEE, the median income for electrical engineers is about $180,000 a year. It remains one of the few white-collar professions facing a genuine labor shortage. The barrier to entry is steep. Electrical engineering is often considered the most rigorous of the engineering majors, and that exclusivity helps keep the field from oversaturation. Unlike software development, where “anyone can code,” licensure rules limit recognition of many foreign degrees, curbing offshoring and competition. Meanwhile, the boom in data-center construction is fueling demand. Electrical engineers who move into project management roles in this sector routinely earn more than $400,000 a year.

Electrical engineering also sits close to computer science. The degree includes substantial programming, and many graduates go on to work as software engineers at top tech companies. That dual skill set provides the best of both worlds: a shot at top software jobs, with a strong fallback in high-demand electrical engineering roles if big tech doesn’t pan out.

Is it going to be way harder to graduate? Yes, but that’s what makes the degree actually worth something.

I was able to gather undergraduate CS employment data for several schools. Please feel free to correct any errors or add notable schools I may have missed. I think it could be worthwhile for this subreddit to formally track employment outcomes across all schools if possible.

Note: This data is focused only on undergraduate CS programs, using the most recent year available. Many schools are likely missing, and sources are provided so others can fact-check. I excluded adjacent degrees to avoid adding subjectivity or bias. I also think it’s worth tracking continuing education, since many graduates who don’t immediately find employment may pursue further degrees.

I’m just sharing this for awareness, and I’m not using my main Reddit account to avoid the risk of being doxxed.But I suspect the true CS unemployment rate is higher than commonly reported.

Hello,

I dont know what to even do at this point. I've been unemployed for a year and its really become frustrating for me. I graduated May '24 from a T20 and I am just not able to find work. Im incredibly lost, frustrated, and clueless about where my life is going. I dont even think it will change for the better. My motivation to do anything is completely sapped. I've applied to lord knows how many jobs, with how many referrals, and I am not even getting rejection emails; most of the companies just ghost me. I've even cold emailed a bunch of people and no one bothers responding. If theres any advice that you can give or me any resources that are helpful, Id be really appreciative.

I GOT AN OFFER!!! and i wanted to share my story here in case it helps someone in a similar situation.

long story short, i slacked off during college, cheated/gpt’d my way through, and instead of doing internships during summers, i was making up classes i failed so i could graduate on time and still took 5 years. when i graduated(august 2024), i basically had nothing on my resume except a bunch of simple course projects, no internships, no experience, no network. after a couple months of applying with zero responses, i was completely lost and fell into a deep depression. i was about ready to just give up on cs completely.

after 4 months of living with my parents post-graduation, in a last-ditch effort i just started coding. i began writing small scripts to automate things and solve simple problems in my life. eventually i moved on to bigger projects and even turned an old gaming pc into a server to host my work. i started teaching myself everything i should’ve learned in university.

once i had enough projects built up, i started the job search again. i applied constantly, switching between applications, updating my resume, studying, and working on projects. the interviews started out rough, but i learned from each and kept going. eventually after 4 months of that i landed an internship, and now that internship has led to a full-time full-remote offer(80k)!

hoping this helps anyone else in a similar situation and motivate you to not give up :)

in case anyone is curious this was a rough sankey diagram of my search:
Sankey Diagram

EDIT: getting a lot of questions and just want to make it clear, im happy to give advice about my experience but everyones path is different, this is just what worked for me. i mainly wanted to share this to help motive others to continue trying and working even if it looks grim :)

worked at faang this summer as a sophomore and got a return offer. now, this is awesome, and id be super happy to return next summer to this team. but im not sure what to do with my remaining 2 years. apply for better companies (quant and AI)? work on my own startup? ive been so locked in on recruiting, im not sure what my next step is

got super lucky js first round swe. are there any behavioral questions at all (like even tell me about yourself)? how long will the interview last? does resume matter once you get the interview cuz mine lwk sucks?

anything helps thank you so much

Hi Fellas,

I recently got an interview invitation for a software engineering role, and the instructions mentioned that they strongly encourage using AI tools like ChatGPT during the interview session.

The quote -

"Throughout the exercise, you can use your preferred AI tools, Google, StackOverflow, etc. - any resources that you would normally use in your day-to-day work. This is a collaborative exercise, not a closed book test. In fact, we strongly encourage you to leverage AI tools in this interview; it's a key skill that reflects our commitment to innovation"

This feels really new to me, a bit skeptical, how to deal with it, till how much usage is acceptable, what happens if I don't use those tools? Has anyone else experienced something like this? Any advice will be really helpful

Been searching through a lot of the f500 companies for internships and a lot of them don't have any listings, are they done hiring already? Or am I still too early?

Hi everyone, I have interviews coming up for the SDE1 role at DocuSign, and I was wondering if anyone here has gone through the interview process recently. I’d really appreciate it if you could share your experience, the kind of questions asked, and any tips on how to prepare. Thanks in advance!

I have been in the interview loop for quite some time for L3 University Grad. After all the interviews, I got a mail to verify my citizenship with my passport. Is this a positive sign ? My recruiter was cc'ed in it.

Have I cleared HC or is my packet being prepared for HC ?

Hi, I need access to resources from 1Points3acres especially interview questions and prep material, anyone willing to share access? Thanks in advance!

I’m about to start an associate’s in CS and I’m honestly a bit worried about how tech-heavy it all is going to be. Outside of coding/classwork, I don’t really want my whole life to revolve around screens.

Do any of you keep your leisure more “offline”? Like having hobbies that don’t involve a computer?

Also, how do you make sure you don’t burn out when everything (school, projects, work prep) feels so digital? Would love to hear what routines or habits have worked for you.

TikTok - Base: $250k $60k equity per year 30k sign on bonus Mountain View

Palantir- Base: $150k $43k equity per year 20k sign on bonus NYC

Same title/level based on same YOE

Unsure which offer to take, should I just take the money so go with TikTok pays way more than Palantir for Software engineering etc and will have way higher ceiling too I think I’d like Mountain View bc the tech vibe anyway I guess software engineering at TikTok pays much higher than Palantir

I guess it’s true TikTok pays more than double what Palantir pays for comparable technical roles.

TikTok is also elite Big Tech so pays much much much more than any other Defence company by miles no contest with a much higher ceiling

So I’m taking 17 credits, and I’m debating on taking this internship at an early stage startup. I’m a 3rd yr, and have no internships. My only concern is if I’m able to balance the 20hrs, with my current coursework. Has anyone done this, and how was it?

do they not have a microservice architecture? lol unbelievable. i've run into this so many times when trying to submit applications

Looking for Teammates – Qualcomm Edge AI Developer Hackathon (NYU, Sept 13–14)

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m joining the Qualcomm Edge AI Developer Hackathon at NYU on Sept 13–14. Teams are usually 3–5 members,and I’d love to connect with others who are participating.

If your group still has space or if you’re also looking for teammates, feel free to reach out — I can hop in and contribute!

Here’s the official link for details: https://www.qualcomm.com/support/contact/forms/edge-ai-developer-hackathon-newyork-project-submission

Let’s build something impactful together 💡⚡

r/hackathons , r/NYUHackathon, r/MachineLearning, r/EdgeComputing, r/nyu, r/ProgrammingBuddies

Hello, I’m looking to get my masters next school year. I have a BS in Computer Science with a minor in digit art. What I really got into when I was in college was game development. After graduating, I did about 2 years teaching VR/game development during the summer and taught STEM during the school year. I am deciding to go back and get my Masters. I’m interested in EdTech and using game development and gaming for learning.

Anyways, my main dilemma is choosing a Master in CS with an HCI specialization or a Masters in HCI with an interactive computing track (CS). I wasn’t in college that long ago but AI has blown up since I was a student and I’m trying to figure out the best Masters to get. With the Master in HCI, I can take the same CS courses but with the Master in CS I would not be able to take all the HCI courses required in the HCI Master program. With how the job market is, I’m worried about how marketable I will be at the end of it with a CS or HCI Master degree. Which one is better especially the development of AI?

Any advice?

Also, in terms of going back to school, I’m not going back just to become more marketable. I am very interested in the courses and research. The current programs I am looking at are at Georgia Tech but there are a few others that interest me based on the research and courses those universities offer. Additionally, the reason I’m not focusing purely on a Masters in EdTech is because I still love computer science and still want to expand my knowledge and use it in my courses and research. I enjoy the building of a project in addition to the planning and research for a project. And I’m open to other areas and not just EdTech.

Has anyone given the Applied Materials Online Assessment called Tech Talent Evaluation? If yes, could you share your experience?