Stick with my current full-stack background or pivot to mobile for side projects / job search?
Hi, I last posted here: https://www.jointaro.com/question/cDRnq7HznIAyJBpcKnoJ/how-can-i-go-about-getting-back-into-the-industry/ . I’m a junior since I have 1-2 YOE and my bachelors in comp sci from NYU is outdated from 2019. Some people think I should go for a masters maybe in AI / ML or security or some other specialization to try to get back into the industry. Since I mainly worked with JavaScript / TypeScript and React and some Python / Ruby on Rails, do you recommend sticking to that stack or picking up something new altogether like mobile (I prefer iOS over Android) when it comes to implementing my ideas? I recently completed some free hire train deploy program over 10 weeks that uses Java SpringBoot mainly in order to land a job via one of there clients. I last worked at Civis Analytics, a data collaboration company from November 2021 to December 2022 before getting laid off due to company downsizing using JS / TS on the frontend and some Ruby on Rails, Docker, and AWS on the backend. As a web dev at West Point, I utilized tech such as Vue and Flask but I didn't get to do much as they didn't have version control set up so I quit after working on some mocks after 6 months. I haven’t really been getting interviews since failing the Meta L4 interview. Thanks.
Discussion
(1 comment)- 0a day agoAI/ML Eng @ Series C startup
Hm. I graduated at the same time too. With all the data points you've given, I don't think this is even a tech stack issue. You're using bootcamps/degrees as an intellectual crutch.
Like,
- more bootcamps/degrees won't help you feel smarter
- switching tech stacks won't help you build cooler things
You still need the core SWE job search things like writing a great resume and passing the interview rounds. But doing the same thing everyone else has been doing... phoning in for a 9-5 isn't going to cut it anymore.
If I were you, I would
- Find a meaningful open-source project that you'd be willing to commit to every single day for ~2 months
- Write a killer resume. If you're not getting any callbacks after 15-20 applications, it's a dud. Every line should be a banger.
- Practice interviewing, once you start landing at least 2-3 a week. Your resume isn't an effective hook until then.
You can do it. If you need some help, we can set up a much more granular action plan to get this done. You're in a much better situation than I was in mid 2023 (MS dropout, no CS degree). Ping me on Slack or Linkedin if you need to
Personal Anecdote
You're in a bit of a hole, but that's fine. I've been in a similar situation before. It's never too late to turn it around. My brutally-honest resume is:
- Graduated 2019, bombed maybe 30-40 interviews (including Confluent when they were $1B valuation)
- 2020, got wrecked by pandemic + worked some odd jobs
- 2021 - 2022, played mobile games on my iPad + did CS courses
- 2021-2023, went through the motions doing a Master's in CS
- 2023, dropped out and did open-source
- 2024, finally got an AI job after I got tired of working in a restaurant (tips were good though)
Not the optimal path. But hey, at least I have fun building things now. And I washed dishes really fast after Thanksgiving dinner.
