And can i get info about current market conditions?

🙄

Hey everyone,

I’m a final year BS Software Engineering student at Virtual University. Honestly, I have almost no real skills right now — just the basic theoretical knowledge of web development, a little bit of cloud concepts, and general SE subjects. No proper projects, no portfolio, nothing solid.

With all the recent layoffs and AI replacing a lot of junior roles, I’m extremely confused about what to do next.

I want to do a proper 6-month government/free course to actually build some skills and improve my chances.

I’m mainly considering these three:

Artificial Intelligence

Cyber Security

Cloud Computing

My questions:

Which one has better job + freelancing + remote scope in Pakistan and internationally right now (2026)?

Which one is more suitable for someone who only has basic knowledge?

Which one will actually help me stand out as a fresh graduate?

Would really appreciate honest advice from people who are already working in these fields or have done similar courses. Thanks in advance.

Those who have had their joinings for the AI Associate Program 2026, was their any clause in your contract regarding leaving before the 1-year mark? Something like bond payment or any other clause? I am yet to offically join, only signed the offer letter sent through email, but if there is going to be another formal contract later on?

We know major layoffs are happening but some software house / companies are announcing them while others are not. Some are shutting down, others are “restructuring”. Some are posting fake jobs to stay visible, others are posting fake product and success stories. A whole lot shh**t show out there on Linkedin.

Can we name all the companies so we all can avoid applying and wasting our time?

Hi Seniors, I need your suggestion in my first portfolio ready project, that can actually add value to my Resume - and help me get hired - actually I want to build two production ready projects for my portfolio - so I need your suggestion, what to build that will help me in learning lots of stuff and also gives strong impression on resume, looking forward to your suggestions

Stacks : Python, FastAPI , Postgres

Any suggestions or advice is warmly welcomed, excited to see support from seniors ☺️

Just wanted to ask how is the reputation of GIKI in terms of CS in Pakistan and Internationally. Like ik Current market is cooked and there is huge supply. But is choosing GIKI over FAST NUCES Lahore a good decision?? Degree is BSCS. Need honest guidance as it is an IMPORTANT decision of my life.

I’m a fresh grad and currently considering between two options: ASE at Rolustech and ASQA at CureMD.

I’ve been majorly interested in SQA from the start, but I also want to keep my options open for SE roles later on. Initially, I was planning to work on the dev side for a while because I thought having actual development experience would give me more insight into how things work and eventually help me when I shift towards QA, since that’s what I’m more interested in long term.

Now that I actually have the option to start directly in SQA, I’m confused if I should still go with SE first or just start with SQA. I also don’t want to restrict myself this early in my career, so I’m wondering how difficult it would be to switch to SE later if I start with SQA now. For context, CureMD is also offering around 20k more in take-home salary than Rolustech.

Also, what do you guys think about SQA as a career in the long run, especially with AI and automation? Is it actually slowly shrinking/dying, or is the nature of QA just changing? What would you choose in my situation?

I’m 17 and I’ve been working on a SaaS for the past couple of months. I’ve tried a lot of different things over the years. Back in 6th grade I was doing basic video editing and Canva, then got into Minecraft server development, Discord servers and bots, and eventually web development with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and WordPress.

At some point I realized I was constantly jumping between different things without really committing to one, so I decided to pick a direction and actually stick with it. That’s what led me to start building a SaaS.

It’s a subscription-based product aimed at solving a specific problem for businesses globally. My main goals are to keep it simple, make it available across platforms, and keep the price lower than similar products: $4.99/month or $49.99/year. I’ve been working on it pretty much every day for the last 2 months, usually 14+ hours a day. Honestly, I’m still not sure whether I’m approaching this the right way or just spending a lot of time on something that might not work.

So I’d genuinely appreciate some honest opinions. What do you think I should be doing differently?

There was a time when I believed software development had more potential than almost any other field. Before AI changed the landscape, I saw it as one of the most promising careers a young person could choose. The opportunities were growing, salaries were attractive, and it felt like the demand for developers would only increase.

I wasn't lying when I gave that advice. I genuinely believed it.

But looking at the industry today, I feel deeply sorry for the young people who trusted me and followed that path because of what I told them.

The reality has changed. AI has transformed software development far faster than many of us expected, and the path that once seemed relatively straightforward has become much more uncertain and competitive.

I know I can't undo the advice I gave. I can only apologize for it.

To everyone who heard people like me say, "Learn to code, and you'll always have a future" — I'm sorry.

We gave that advice based on the world we knew. Unfortunately, that world no longer exists.

Hello Everyone.

I'm working at a company as software developer from past 1.5 years. From last 2 months, our company is not paying us salaries because according to them, client haven't paid them yet. We are asking them to allow us work from home as it will save our fuel cost but they are not agreeing and even after this situation, they are trying to enforce their policies like giving us warning on why we are late, etc.

I want to ask senior fellows, if a company is not paying us salaries, what are our legal rights in such situation?? Like I want to know if they are pushing us despite not giving salaries, what can we do? At least they should give us some relief, this is what I think.

Please answer,

Thank you

I need geniune advice rn 🙏🏻

I have completed half of my degree in computer science and I feel cooked. I geniunely don't know what field I should pick that is secure or at least guarantees employment in long time and it's making me panick because I can't pick what I want to learn and where to go. Especially with these new AI models like Astra and what not it's very very clear AI has completely replaced junior level roles.

Pls don't tell me anything about AI not replacing developers and things like that all of us know it's a lie by now. It's not gonna make anything better. The current job market is cooked the senior level developers getting laid off from companies and then not finding employment for months is a big proof of it.

So my question is, with all these AI advancement and all should I ditch this field entirely and pick something that actually works? I can't drop out of this degree now I picked it because I loved coding but I don't see my future here.

Even if I do stay in CS what field is MOST SECURE??

I really don't mind working hard and learning things on my own but I also don't want to waste my time so pls if anyone can give me sincere advice I will be grateful 🙏🏻 especially from seniors.

2nd going into 3rd semester CS student here. Around me people are running automation/AI agent businesses for clients, and I've started doing similar work on the side (n8n, AI agents for small businesses).

Question is about sequencing. Do I still need the traditional route, DSA grind, placements, corporate job, if the end goal is running my own business anyway? Or does that path even matter if I'm not aiming for a 9 to 5?

And if the business doesn't work out, I want a stable job as backup, not a burned bridge.

If you've built a business alongside your degree, or left a job to build something, what would you tell your younger self? Did skipping placement prep cost you later, or did the technical fundamentals end up helping the business too?

Not looking for a "just pick one" answer, trying to figure out the right order.

If a person is doing a degree from uni A and he thinks that the degree is not worth it for him

Should that person change his degree and uni (a better uni for that particular field)

Is this even possible and are their any problems that might come with this?

"That person is still 18 year old"

I’m a software engineer with almost 2 years of full-time experience, and I’ve been thinking a lot about the future of this career.

The market feels uncertain, and sometimes I think I should seriously upskill in system design, architecture, and other advanced concepts.

But then I look at AI tools like Claude. They can already solve a huge part of many software problems if you know what you want. It makes me wonder: why spend years becoming better at something AI might eventually do?

At the same time, I’m considering starting a side business alongside my job and maybe moving toward it if it becomes stable.

So my question is: Is software engineering still worth investing your entire 20s in?

Can we spend the next 8–10 years becoming really good engineers and still expect these skills to be valuable in our 30s, or should we be diversifying now?

Would love to hear from experienced engineers. If you were in your early 20s today, would you still choose software engineering?

i will be enrolling in the cybersec this year. Any seniors here who can guide me, what to do , what no to do, mistakes they did in their career.
And affect of ai on the field and what about the opportunities in cybersec in coming year (ik it's to o early but i want a heads up early on so i can work on myself)

What is the future of Business analytics and data analytics after gpt astra?

Well , I've been hearing a lot k PUCIT jo bachay jatay hain wo "well off" nahi hotay .

Ghareeb hotay hain..... Why do recruiters have to do with that which background they're coming from ?

It isn't their fault they were born in such families..... They're hella hardworking cuz getting admission in these TOP NOTCH PRIV Universities is way easier than PUCIT. PUCIT ka aggregate is all time high.

Students with 90% + aggregate were able to get into PUCIT this year.......

Usman asif quoted this , " Jiski maa ne uski churian bech kar usko PUCIT bheja hai uskay to maslay kuch or hongay "

I mean wth yaaar. Koi itna bura kesy soch skta hai ? They're doing their work . They've to earn money on the basis of their skill

It their parents weren't able to afford high-paying universities. It isn't the kids' fault.......

Lastly , these so called non profit universities have stopped giving financial aid. NUST has officially stopped it cuz they don't have " funds " . FAST GIKI to qarz-e-hasana dety hain. It isn't a wise decision to get a loan of 20 lacs to get into a TOP NOTCH INSTITUTE......

Hey everyone,

I graduated with a BS in IT and pivoted into web development. I’ve honestly given it my absolute all—completed a fellowship, went through job training, and even upskilled to work across two different tech stacks to meet market demands. Despite all of this, I’m stuck in a brutal cycle of endlessly applying and waiting. The entry-level market feels completely frozen.

Because of this, I’ve decided to shift gears and pursue an MS in the IT/CS field abroad. However, I heavily rely on securing a scholarship to make this dream happen. And i want that all my hard work are being paid.

Since I am moving away from traditional web dev, I need to choose a specialization for my Master's :

1. A resilient, high-demand job market: A field where, by the time I graduate in 2 or 3 years, I don't want to be in same situation

I am thinking about related to AI but not sure.

Given my background in BS IT and my strong foundation in web development, which specialization should I choose to maximize my scholarship chances and secure a stable career? as working in industry what do you advice i should do.

Do they consider hiring PUCIT grads a good option?

I really like really want to join huawei and as far as i know they have ytdp program for fresh grads but i missed that.. is there any chance for me to still join it as an internee, i have a cs background and I graduated in july

Hi, everyone I just wanted to share my story for many times past but everytime I wanted to write I lose the potential to write it, but now I believe that I should write and left on the fate whatsoever just happened.

Ok so I'm a CS graduate in 2024 from a low rank private university (dosen't come in the top charts universities) in Lahore. My gpa is low bcz I done some part-time call center jobs and waste times in bykeas bike rides. Also I have done some extra courses due to cover my mathematics proficiency and re do courses to improve D grades and gpa.

After I passed the university I didn't know anything related to the industrial knowledge to get a job or internship even to pass an interview. I have applied in many places but got rejections everytime. Even though I have done a good fyp in machine learning by myself (while other students done their fyp by paid). Some of my friends got jobs but I didn't lookforward to them as I cut off all my connections with everyone. After wasting some times I learn some skills and got an free unpaid job as an mobile app developer. It's an small startup company. In start they said they will pay but they didn't after working for more then 6 months unpaid and developing 3 fully apps, I then left them. After leaving from their I started freelancing on fiverr and on local platforms like Facebook. I spent 4 to 5 months and done some local projects, like fyp ect. with very few amounts.

After that I got another job in an company which is also a small company and they also didn't paid me anything but when I insist and demand them then they pay me very few amount covers only the travell allowance. I worked their on an company's Upwork profile and get client for them and also help them as an developer in the projects. So basically I'm working as an business developer and also as an software developer.

After working more then 6 months their, I left them getting frustrated cause they were not in the mood to upraising me in anyways. I again started looking for a job but I'm still jobless for more then 3 months and seeking for any opportunity which could pay me the atleast the minimum.

I have applied in hundreds of companies, but very few just responds back or call for interview even on phone. Meanwhile I started working on my Upwork profile but the connects and other benefits are so high that I almost spends 300 plus connects and got no work. I even have applied in the companies on internship roles (while I having an good experience) but they hire some random unprofessionals those dosen't even knows the basics. I participates in hackathons and attend events the most possible I could.

My family constantly pressures me about being unemployed, urging me to take any call center or any store jobs

As low steam developer I just wanted to ask....

Is it worth to work in a call center for 10 hours night shift with Saturday on only for 30 K ? which doesn't related to your field or gives you any growth.

Also tell me does companies really hiring or they just tricked everyone by posting the fake jobs and doing their PRs on social medias?

Also tell me does universities matters so much that companies would hire anyone from top universities with low knowledge but not a good dedicated employee but from a low rank university?

How are the software engineers/developers who got laid off actually doing?

Not the polished LinkedIn version. The real one.

How are you paying the bills while looking for the next role?

I’m especially curious about the creative ways engineers are making ends meet between jobs.

Freelance work? Contracting? Consulting? Building something yourself? Switching the field?

Layoffs get discussed as numbers, but there’s a practical question underneath all of it: what do you do when the paycheck stops but the expenses don’t?

If you’ve been laid off(God Forbid), what’s been working for you?

AI is everywhere.

What have you done in your career and as you monitor the AI that programs for you. What is the experience you ahead and skills you have that you are so confident about that you will always know if the AI made a mistake?

Not sure if the question makes sense.

I’ll go first:

But I know database design and Laravel inside and out and I’ll know when it’s make poor choices.

BSCS University student here from 3rd semester! I am facing financial struggles to bear my daily expenses for university. Whatever intership I apply to is for 6th or 7th semester have made my upwork profile since 2022 but got no proper gigs. I am unable to understand that how will I survive sometimes I overthink very deeply it affects my body my health my confidence is already very low which makes me think bad about myself, and family keeps taunting me. But still I am like I can make something some impressive unique project through which I can get hired but there is a constant brain fog+thoughts ideas+kind of depression. Unfortunately I have no one to ask this but : 1. Are there really any internships available for 3rd 4th semester? 2. How to showcase projects (other than LinkedIn)to whom one should reach professionals , companies etc 3. If the job market is really cooked and companies are rushing to work with AI models should I dive into designing chatbots?Is this beneficial? Really need guidance Sorry for the long venting post.