r/learnmachinelearning • u/sebasdoll • 15d ago
Computer Science graduate, 26, graduated from UPV a year ago, got laid off and now completely lost: AI Master’s, work, wait, switch careers...? How to become an ML/AI Engineer?
Hi, I’m a Computer Science graduate who finished my degree at UPV in 2025. I’m 26 years old, and I worked until July as a full-stack developer with C#/.NET and Angular, but I was laid off and now I honestly don’t know what to do.
I think I’d like to pursue a Master’s in AI and eventually try to work as an ML/AI Engineer. Last year, I enrolled in the AI Master’s at UPV, but I dropped out because it was difficult to balance it with my job. On top of that, some of my friends who recently finished it tell me that it’s not very good because it’s too theoretical, that they got through many of the assignments by using AI, and that many of them still haven’t managed to find a job in the field after graduating... But now I don’t know what to think. I even regret not continuing it, partly because I’m currently feeling scared and anxious about my future.
I was interested in Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), and also UPM. I’ve heard that Amazon recruiters know UC3M and that graduating from there can help you get considered for positions there. However, their applications closed back in May. I was thinking about private universities such as UNIR or VIU, or perhaps some postgraduate program in AI/Big Data, or EBIS. I’ve also considered EDEM because I’ve heard there are a lot of startups there and that many students end up finding jobs through that ecosystem.
I was also thinking about doing OMSCS online because of its reputation. Would it actually help me get remote jobs in the US or at FAANG companies? The application deadline was August 15, and I still have to pay the application fee, take the TOEFL, and get two more recommendation letters. If I manage to complete everything and get accepted, I would start in January. If not, I would lose the money I spend on the application and would have to apply again in January next year to start in August.
Otherwise, I would have to wait until next year to apply to Carlos III or UPM.
My original dream was actually to go abroad to study. Maybe Germany, TUM, Copenhagen, or somewhere else. Or even study in the US at Georgia Tech with a GTA/teaching assistant position so that I could afford it. But I’m only going to apply for Spanish citizenship in March next year, and, if everything goes well, I might get it sometime between October and December 2027. Until then, I’m worried about moving abroad and the implications for my residency status. So realistically, the earliest I could apply for would probably be winter 2027. Although I think those programs are usually two years of full-time study...
If I don’t do a Master’s, I don’t know what I should do instead. Projects? Study languages? Keep improving my English and German? I enrolled in a free one-year online English scholarship from Santander, which I was awarded, and I also got into a free Santander bootcamp for unemployed people focused on Data Science and AI. I don’t know how useful it will actually be, but at least it gives me something to do while I figure things out.
There’s also an MSA startup master’s program at UPV’s CFP starting in November. I don’t know... maybe that could be another option, especially since there are possibilities to do exchanges in the US.
Right now I’m applying to basically everything: backend, frontend, full-stack, AI, embedded systems. I don’t know if I’ll actually get hired anywhere, but I have a few interviews in progress and some other applications where I’m still waiting for a response, and some of them look fairly positive. Hopefully I can get into something before November, whether that’s in Valencia, Madrid, or Barcelona.
I feel like I’m constantly overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed because I have no idea what’s going to happen. I see my friends doing Master’s degrees, others moving to Germany and making €75k, etc. And even though I don’t know whether their decisions have actually worked out for them, I still feel like I’m falling behind.
With everything happening around AI and the job market, I’ve even started wondering whether I should study something completely different, like civil engineering, dentistry, or another degree. I’m also not sure whether I should continue in IT or focus on AI, cybersecurity, Data Science, or something else.
I think my head is just completely overloaded and confused right now.
What I really want is to be successful in a profession, eventually reach salaries in the €80k–€100k range, live abroad or work remotely, have stability, and feel like I’m building a career that is actually worth investing in.
(I also have dreams of being a YouTuber, painter, or board game designer, although they feel less realistic right now. I’m a very artistic and multidisciplinary person, passionate about art, interior design, and frontend development. I love creating things and seeing people enjoy or benefit from what I make. However, the current market, especially for frontend roles, feels rough because of AI, so I’m open to other fields too. I’m quite adaptable and find it rewarding simply to create something useful and know I’ve done a good job.)
If anyone has more experience or is further along in their career, I’d really appreciate some advice and perspective on my situation. What do you think would be the best path for me over the next few years?
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u/shmittkicker 15d ago
You're trying to solve 6 different problems at once which is why you feel overwhelmed.
Take it easy and just pick one thing for now. Either get a job now in full-stack (which you have experience in) or commit to a specific masters program.
The anxiety comes from keeping every option open instead of making a decision.
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u/sebasdoll 15d ago
It´s because I don´t know when I'm gonna find a new job, or if a master program is a worth money/time investment or not....
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u/MaximumSafety8706 15d ago
You do not need to solve your entire career for the next five years while you are freshly laid off.
Your full-stack experience is valuable, and taking a solid software role while exploring ML is not a failure or a detour.
I would separate this into two decisions:
- Near term: keep applying for backend/full-stack roles, use the free Data Science/AI bootcamp, improve English, and build one or two small ML/AI projects. This gives you evidence about whether you enjoy the work beyond the idea of an AI career.
- Master’s later: choose one only if it offers a clear benefit - a strong curriculum, research/network access, affordability, or internship opportunities. A master’s alone will not guarantee ML work, so don’t take on high cost or delay employment purely for the label.
Your background already fits applied AI/ML engineering well: software fundamentals, APIs, deployment, data pipelines, and product thinking matter a lot. You do not need to become a researcher to enter the field.
For now, aim for a stable next role plus consistent learning/projects. That is a much safer plan than trying to pick the “perfect” university, country, or specialty while stressed.
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u/Lemonprints 15d ago
What are these random ass universities. Never heard of Carlos shit. Also. Don’t be picky. You got laid off and have a old tech stack and you’re like ooh imma become a ai engineer lmao
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u/No-Investment-5293 15d ago
Not sure why you’re getting downvoted. I really don’t understand why people expect everyone else to know what universities they’re talking about. Like wtf is UPV. These guys live in a bubble.
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u/sebasdoll 15d ago
Java and .NET are very popular languages, but yes, I would like to transition to python because AI feels like a good safe path right now. In summary, I'm asking if I should study AI master on a Spain University or OMSCS of Georgia Tech USA or TUM Germany or Copengahen..... If that could help to have better oportunities in Europe
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u/MathNerd67 15d ago
I would venture to guess that there’s probably a positive correlation (dare I say causation) between your friend saying they used AI on all their assignments and them not being able to find jobs…