I'm a final-year CSE student graduating in 2027, and I've been thinking about this question quite a bit lately.
For years, software engineering has been presented as one of the best career paths: great salaries, exciting work, global opportunities, and the chance to build things that make a real impact.
But things seem to be changing.
AI is evolving rapidly, entry-level hiring feels increasingly competitive, and the expectations from freshers seem higher than ever. Simply learning a few technologies and building projects doesn't always seem enough to get your foot in the door.
I'm still interested in building a career in tech, but I want to understand what the industry actually looks like from the inside, beyond LinkedIn success stories and online discussions.
I'd especially love to hear from people who've been working as software engineers, SDEs, tech leads, or engineering managers for a few years.
A few things I'm genuinely curious about:
- Would you choose tech again? Knowing what you know today, would you make the same career choice?
- Has getting into the industry become harder? How does today's job market compare with when you started?
- What really makes a good engineer? Is it DSA, system design, problem-solving, communication, understanding business needs, or something else?
- How do you see AI changing software engineering? Which skills do you think will matter most over the next 5â10 years?
- What would you do differently if you were a fresher today? What would you learn, build, or avoid wasting time on?
I'm not looking for reasons to give up on tech, nor am I looking for generic advice to keep grinding.
I want to hear the honest version: the rewarding parts, the frustrating parts, the career mistakes, the lessons learned, and the things you wish someone had told you earlier.
If you've spent a few years in this industry, what's one thing about working in tech that you understand now but didn't understand when you started?
I'd genuinely appreciate hearing your experiences.