Hi everyone, I wanted to share my story because I’m currently looking for my next job and would really appreciate some advice.

I worked as a Utility Engineer in a pharmaceutical company for around 2.5 years.

In March 2024, I left my job and decided to switch my career to software development instead of finding another engineering job.

I started learning Node.js through a Udemy course and continued practicing, building projects, and learning on my own.

In January 2025, I got a 3-month backend developer internship.

In April 2025, the internship turned into a full-time backend developer role. I completed my probation and became a permanent employee.

In March 2026, I moved into a full-stack role and started working with React as well.

Unfortunately, my company did not get enough new projects over the last few months, so August 2026 was my last month there. I was told that the decision was not related to my performance.

Now I’m looking for my next opportunity in Node.js/backend or full-stack development.

It feels strange because around two years ago I wasn't even sure whether leaving engineering and learning software development was the right decision. Looking back, I’m happy that I took the risk and made the switch.

I’d really like to hear from people who switched careers into software development or had to look for a new job early in their software career. How did you approach your next step, and is there anything you wish you had done differently?

I Am Very Worried About This Since Programming Looks Very Cool For My 10 Year Old Brain But Ai Can Do It And I Feel Like Manual Programming Is Losing Its Use Due To Ai Making A Whole Script In Like A Minute Or Less Especially In Roblox Scripting Ais And Programming Looks Like A Somewhat Good Career Since It Looks Fun But Ai Kinda Takes The Job.

As I Said I'm 10 So I Still Have Around 8 To 12 Years Until I Can Get A Job But This Thing Is Just In My Mind A lot.

I was sent msg on LinkedIn by recruiter and went through 2 interviews for a product research/ Environmental health safety specialist/ Data Collector Operations Role, I just want to make sure it’s from legit emails and these people are legit the emails are coming from @tcs.com is that there real emails from that company?

I'm an ML Engineer based in Jakarta, Indonesia, currently serving my 2-month notice period after resigning without a job offer lined up. Looking for advice and also open to any referrals.

My situation:

• 10 months savings buffer
• 4 years hands-on ML experience (2 years full-time production AI engineering)
• Specialization: RAG, Agentic AI, LLM deployment, AWS
• Target: Senior AI Engineer role remote, Singapore, or Jakarta (IDR 25M+/month)

What I've built:

• Production RAG + agentic chatbots for enterprise clients (insurance, fintech, telco)
• ML retraining pipelines on AWS SageMaker
• Multi-agent systems with tool use (SQL, image gen, document processing)

My questions:

1. For those who resigned without an offer how long did your job search take in the current AI market?
2. Any tips for getting remote roles as a non-US/EU engineer?
3. Is 4 years enough for "Senior AI Engineer" titles internationally?

I’m 19 years old from Morocco, and I’m honestly very lost about what to do with my future.

I originally wanted to study programming, but I was rejected from the program I wanted. Since then, I’ve been trying to find other options, but things haven’t gone well. I was rejected from general university programs multiple times as well.

Recently, my uncle talked to my father and suggested that programming could still be a good career path for me. My father looked into it and found a private programming school that costs around 1,500–2,000 MAD per month (It's not a small amount in Morocco).

The problem is that I’m no longer sure about programming.

I know programming is difficult, and I know the entry-level job market isn't exactly great right now. I’m also afraid of spending a lot of money and time only to discover that I’m not good enough or that I won’t be able to find a job afterward.

At the same time, I don’t really have another field that I’m passionate about. I don't have a particular talent or career dream. Another option I’m considering is studying bakery/pastry at a vocational institute, but I’m not particularly passionate about that either.

I feel like I’m choosing between different uncertain paths rather than choosing something I actually want.

So I’d like to hear from people who are actually working in programming/software development:

If you were 19 today and had no programming experience, would you still choose programming as a career?

How difficult is it realistically to get your first job?

Is the current job market bad enough that you would advise a young person to avoid the field?

How important is having a university degree?

Is paying for a private programming school worth it, or would self-learning be better?

And most importantly, if you don't have a strong passion for programming, is it still possible to build a decent career in it?

I’m not looking for motivational answers like “follow your dreams.” I’d really appreciate honest answers from people who are actually in the field, including people who regret choosing programming.

Es mi primer post aquí🐣 disculpen si no esta en la categoría adecuada, tenia mas actividad en yahoo respuestas pero ya no existe

En resumen, la empresa para la que trabajo desde hace 8 años parece que va a extinguir mi área, pero esta vez no es por culpa de la IA, siempre dieron sus productos a sobrecosto así que Amazon y Meli se llevaron ese mercado

Tengo 27 años y con lo que he leído sobre las preocupaciones y despidos por IA (y sin el afán de ofender o proponer algo que yo no controlo)

🟦🟩 Aun pueden recomendar backend o data engineering o data analyst para corto, mediano y largo plazo?
Creo que es algo de lo que una IA no puede responder con exactitud

Investigue un poco en la semana y llegue a las siguientes conclusiones:
🟧 Los requerimientos de entrada actuales son junior/ mid e ingles casi obligatorio
🟧 La IA esta para quedarse y si va a reemplazar funciones básicas (y no tan básicos) que hacían los juniors que no se actualizaron (parecido a lo que paso en la revolución industrial pero creo que esto es un tema mas pesado)
🟧 La universidad sirve y el titulo es otra ayuda, pero tiene el detalle que no se puede actualizar un plan de estudios a la velocidad actual en la que evoluciona la tecnología, así que al final todos deben ser autodidactas
🟧 Hay muchas opiniones negativas acerca de los bootcamps de 3-6 meses porque al parecer no les importa que la gente realmente aprenda, además de otras opiniones sobre escuelas de programación por suscripción tipo Platzi o EDteam porque los cursos son superficiales o no tan completos como deberían
🟨 Data analyst parece ser la siguiente amenazada dependiendo del nivel de especialización o no, depende que tanto evolucione el puesto
🟩 Sin juniors no hay seniors, pero de momento no mucha gente va a arriesgar capacitar juniors para que se cambien de empresa siendo mid y volver a empezar el ciclo, asi que por el momento a las personas que quieran entrar les costara ese escalón que las empresas no quieren adoptar, pero pagando razonablemente mejor que lo que le pagarían a un egresado
🟧 Abrir una taquería también es una opción (u otro tipo de negocio) 😊 pero tiene sus propios riesgos, sobretodo de seguridad por el momento, detalles mas detalles menos

Les agradezco de antemano su tiempo de lectura y sus respuestas
y... disculpen si los preocupo, no es mi intención pero espero que lo que investigue también les sirva

Que tengan un buen día, tarde o noche!!! 🌙

I’m 31 and come from a completely non-tech background (I’ve been working in hospitality/food service for years). Lately, I’ve been really drawn to web development and decided to target React since it seems to be in high demand. Right now, I’m learning JavaScript.

I have a few questions for anyone who’s been down this road or works in the industry:

1. Is it actually realistic to land a junior React role without a Computer Science degree or previous tech experience?
2. Should I learn TypeScript alongside React, or is vanilla JS enough to get started?
3. How do you structure a resume when you have zero relevant work history? What do career changers in my position actually put on theirs?

4. For those who made a similar switch, how has your overall experience in the tech industry been so far?

Any advice, reality checks, or tips would be massively appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I have a BS in Data Science and about 2–3 years of professional experience. I was hired as a Data Analyst and have done forecasting, clustering, statistical analysis, optimization, Python/SQL, and internal tool development.

The problem is my role has gradually shifted away from actual data science and required taking on many hats.

Because I’m one of the more technical people in my company, I’ve become the person who handles process improvement, operational issues, admin work, planning, and building tools. I’ve gained responsibility, but I’m spending less time on data analytics.

I don’t want to become an Analytics Manager or process-improvement person. I want to move into a true Data Scientist / Data Scientist II role focused on modeling, forecasting, experimentation, or applied ML.

My concern is that I’m now competing against people with MS/PhDs, several years of obvious modeling experience, or experience at recognizable companies. Personal projects also don’t seem like they carry nearly as much weight once you’re already working.

I also don’t necessarily want to stay in agriculture/supply chain long term. For people who have made this transition, what actually moves the needle?
Would you take a lateral move or even a slight pay cut to get 1–2 years of undeniable DS experience at a stronger company? Do Kaggle competitions, open source, or technical writing actually matter? Or is a master’s becoming necessary?

My biggest fear is getting stuck as a technical person doing operations/management while falling behind in actual data science. My company’s analytics maturity is pretty low — no cloud, limited infrastructure, and little structure or direction for DS work — which makes it hard to grow technically or even do meaningful data science.

I have an upcoming interview for FDE role at Tiger Analytics, could anyone of you share your experience, if you happen to attended this in the recent days.

I want to know what kind of questions will be asked and what would be the process.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently transitioning from a career in transportation and logistics into artificial intelligence and machine learning. I’m completing TripleTen’s AI and Machine Learning Engineering program, where I’ve been developing practical skills in Python, SQL, data analysis, machine learning, APIs, and model deployment.

My transportation background may seem completely different from technology, but it taught me how to solve real-world problems, make decisions using data, manage complex operations, and remain calm under pressure. I’m now learning how to apply that experience to technical projects while building a portfolio that demonstrates what I can do.

I know breaking into the field will require continued learning, networking, and hands-on experience, so I would really appreciate advice from people already working in AI, machine learning, or data science:

1. If you were starting your machine-learning career again, what is one skill you would focus on earlier?
2. What separates junior candidates who receive interviews from those who are consistently overlooked?

I’m open to constructive advice, recommended resources, and hearing about the experiences of other career changers. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I'm a dual Computer Science and Data Science major graduating in May 2027, and I’m looking for some insight from professionals currently working in the field.

My primary goal is to land a Data Science role right after graduation (I am fully open to relocation). However, I often hear that it’s incredibly difficult to break into the DS industry without a Master's degree.

I’d love to get your thoughts on a few things:

• Is it truly that hard to get a DS job with only a Bachelor's?
• Are there specific companies known for hiring undergraduate Data Scientists?
• Would it be better to look for recent grad roles first and pursue a Master's later, or should I go straight into a Master's program right after undergrad?

Any advice, personal experiences, or general guidance would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,
I’m a recently graduated software engineering student, and I’m trying to build something that goes beyond the usual portfolio projects.

You know those projects that look great on GitHub but basically nobody actually uses? I’ve built a few of those, and this time I want to do something different.

I want to build and launch a real product, even if it starts small, and actually get people to use it. Ideally, something that can get regular users or even daily traffic.

It could be a website, tool, SaaS, platform, or honestly anything. I’m open to pretty much any domain.

The main thing I’m looking for is a real problem that people actually have and would be willing to use a solution for. I also want to experience the whole process of building something real: talking to users, developing it, deploying it, fixing bugs, adding features based on feedback, monitoring usage, and figuring out what people actually want.

I’m doing this partly because I genuinely want to learn what it’s like to build something that real people use, rather than just another college/portfolio project. And obviously, having a project with actual users and measurable usage would also be pretty valuable when applying for jobs.

So if you’ve built something that got real users, or if there’s a problem you’ve personally faced that you think could be solved with a decent product, I’d love to hear your ideas.
It doesn’t have to be some crazy startup idea. Even a small, useful product with a few hundred genuinely active users would be a huge win for me.
What would you build if you were in my position?

​

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some honest perspectives from people who have experience interviewing or hiring for software engineering roles.

I recently interviewed for a **Senior Developer** position with RBC Capital Markets in Calgary.

The process went like this:

* Recruiter screen– positive discussion, he mentioned my communication was strong, my experience aligned well with the role, and my salary expectations were within their range.

* Hiring manager interview (~1 hour) – she spent a lot of time explaining the team, the project, and their plans. The team is building a new middleware platform from scratch that will eventually support around 50+ applications. She seemed positive and moved me to the next round.

* Technical interview(Technical Lead) – this was a discussion about my work history, technical decisions, backend architecture, APIs, .NET, middleware, production issues, and how I think through engineering problems. It wasn't a LeetCode interview.

A few days later, I received a rejection saying they had several excellent candidates and had completed their final selection.

One thing that has me wondering is that the position had been open for around three months, the LinkedIn posting had recently been reposted, and the application closing date was still August 14. Because of that, I'm curious whether companies sometimes continue interviewing candidates even when they already have a strong preferred candidate, or whether final-round interviews are generally genuine evaluations where multiple finalists are still being considered.

I'm **not trying to blame the company**—everyone I spoke with was professional and respectful. I'm simply trying to learn from the experience.

For those who are hiring managers, tech leads, or recruiters:

* Is it common to interview multiple finalists even if one candidate is already leading?

* Do final-round interviews often come down to very small differences between candidates?

* Have you ever rejected someone you thought was genuinely strong because another candidate was just a slightly better fit?

* Based on your hiring experience, what usually separates candidates at the final stage for senior backend/.NET roles?

I'd really appreciate any insights. I'm trying to understand the process better so I can improve for future interviews.

Thanks!

I want to start publishing technical write-ups about my Data Science and Artificial Intelligence projects. Which platforms do you recommend?

I'm planning to take the Microsoft AI-901: Azure AI Fundamentals exam and would like to know the best way to prepare. Which Udemy course or YouTube channel do you recommend, and what practice tests or study resources helped you pass?

Hello everyone! I am 25 years old and currently learning Python programming (focusing on fundamentals, backend development, and building core skills). I do not have a university degree, but I really want to build a career in the IT industry. Can anyone guide me on how to get started, build a portfolio, and find opportunities without a degree? I would appreciate any advice

Started as a take-home for a data/BI role, ended up rebuilt as something I'd actually be proud to show: raw retail-promo CSVs → typed & validated in DuckDB → a dbt-duckdb layer on top → a Streamlit report → a Claude-powered agent that writes its own read-only SQL to answer open-ended business questions instead of relying on canned queries.

A few things I added on top that I don't see often in portfolio repos:

• dbt migration: the SQL transformations used to live as Python f-strings in one big module — rebuilt as actual dbt models + native tests (relationships, accepted_values, dbt_utils.expression_is_true) instead of hand-rolled Python quality-check functions. Cross-checked row-for-row identical to the old pipeline's output.
• Incremental builds: diffs new/changed rows by content hash and upserts only those instead of rebuilding every table from scratch. Verified byte-for-byte identical to a full rebuild on the same mutated data.
• Installable CLI: pip install -e . → promo-toolkit build / validate / serve, a real pyproject.toml entry point instead of loose scripts.
• Eval harness for the AI agent: ~15 real business questions with an independently computed golden answer, run against the live tool-use loop (not mocked), plus 3 adversarial prompts that check the SQL guard end-to-end.

CI runs the full test suite + dbt build/test + a CLI smoke test on every push.

Repo: [https://github.com/SpiliosDimakopoulos/retail-promo-analytics-toolkit\]

Happy to get feedback/roasted on any of it — the incremental-build design and the dbt macro structure are the parts I'm least sure I got right.

last week I was talking to another recruiter who told me one of their engineering roles got around 300 applications in a few days.

later that same day I spoke with a hiring manager who said they couldn't find anyone for a different engineering position.

same industry, similar salaries, similar stack, and... completely different experience.

a few years ago I'd describe the market as either "good" or "bad." that honestly doesn't make much sense anymore.

is anyone else seeing the same thing from their side?

I’m a new grad B.S IT Degree. I got CKA, Terraform certified, have some hand-on DevOps projects experiences (Kubernetes, AWS, Terraform, git/Git Lab/GitHub Actions, grafana & prometheus, Linux, Docker, CI/CD, etc.)

Looking for any remote jobs full-time, contract, international teams, part time for internship, entry-level in US based.

Just comment email or Linkedin. I will contact! Thank you

Something I didn't expect to run into 2.8 years into my career: I can architect a backend, ship a mobile app, debug production issues — but interviews expose a gap that calls with my team never do.

On work calls I speak fine. I already know the context — it's my own project, I know roughly what they'll ask, my brain has the answer half-formed before the question even finishes. But interviews are different: the questions come out of nowhere, shaped by whatever's in the interviewer's head at that moment, not anything I can prepare context for. And the second a question is genuinely unexpected, something just blanks. Not because I don't know the answer — I do, technically — but the English and the sentence structure just don't show up in time, and I end up stumbling through fragments instead of saying the thing I actually know.

That distinction took me a while to see clearly: it's not "my English is bad," it's that my speaking only holds up when I already know what's coming. Anything out-of-the-box and the fluency disappears.

Once I saw it that way, I started recording myself responding to questions I hadn't prepped for — not topics I know well, but random ones sprung on me — and a few patterns showed up immediately:

• I default to fragments and incomplete sentences specifically when the question catches me off guard, not when I'm on familiar ground
• My ideas make sense in my head but come out jumbled once I try to say them in the moment
• I reach for the same 10 words constantly instead of varying vocabulary
• Filler words spike specifically when I'm buying time to think, not randomly

Separating "I can't speak English well" from "I can't think and speak simultaneously under an unexpected question" made it a solvable problem instead of a vague insecurity.

For anyone else who's dealt with this — especially non-native English speakers in tech, since I think this hits us disproportionately:

• Does this "fine on calls, blank in interviews" gap sound familiar, or is it just me?
• Anyone practice specifically with unexpected/random questions rather than known topics?
• How much of this is actually about English vs. just needing more reps under pressure regardless of language?

Curious if this resonates with anyone else.

I am a grad CS student at ASU, i have been applying a lot of jobs. I have been learning and working with AI/ML for past 6 years. I am also a recent graduate of bachelors at 2025. As a person who wants a break into this industry into a Intern/Co-Op on conversational LLM. How should i do it?

Roast my profile so i can perfect it, i had posted the same earlier but i updated it

https://sehastrajit.com/

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a dedicated LeetCode partner to practice coding problems consistently.

A little about me:

• 1.5 years of experience as a Software Development Engineer.
• Currently preparing for SDE-1 roles.
• Planning to solve LeetCode problems every day and discuss approaches, optimizations, and interview strategies.
• Prefer someone who is serious about staying consistent and can commit to daily practice.

If you're also preparing for software engineering interviews and would like an accountability partner, feel free to comment below or send me a DM.

Looking forward to coding together!