About to graduate and no job

[Anonymous]

I stumbled upon this forum unexpectedly. I'm on the brink of graduating from UVA with a degree in Computer Science from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, boasting a 3.75 GPA. Despite applying to over 300 positions and participating in five interviews, I haven't secured any job offers yet. Interestingly, some of my high school friends attending Mason and James Madison, also majoring in CS, have already landed jobs, thanks to their stronger networking connections facilitated by their parents. While I did have internships during my sophomore and junior years, they haven't panned out as expected. Reflecting on it now, my college roommate, who's majoring in business/marketing, often advised me to allocate less time to studying and more to playing golf with him, emphasizing the importance of networking. In hindsight, I realize I should have heeded his counsel more seriously. Fortunately, I'm not burdened by student loans, and I'll be living with my older brother post-graduation, alleviating any immediate financial stress. However, the weight of disappointment has me contemplating skipping the graduation ceremony due to my overwhelming sense of depression.

[Anonymous]

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Go to your graduation. Then if you can’t find a job in your field look for other professional jobs. If you can’t find one of those, get a job waiting tables while you try to get your own business up and running.

I graduated into the 2008 recession. I now work in finance but I did not find my first professional job til I was 27. Up to that point I bartended and freelanced.

[Anonymous]

You have no mortgage or kids, you'll be just fine. Enjoy this time of your life.

[Anonymous]

I graduated 2000 from UVA no job lined up for summer. Didn't start working until fall. very jealous of my comm school friends all starting jobs and my now husband with 50 million job offers with his e-school degree. Are you a good writer? What kinds of jobs are you looking for? What industry are you interested in? A CS degree gives you lots of opportunities that other degree holders don't offer.
Are you based around Washington, DC?

Don't skip graduation - in fact, wake up early that day and join the mobs at the biltmore at 6am. Its a surreal day you will want to remember and reflect on.

[Anonymous]

You'll be fine. You have a degree from a good school in a marketable field of study. It's no big deal if it takes you a couple months to find a job. Take the job hunt seriously, but enjoy the time off, too. It'll be another 40 years until you have a similar sense of freedom.

[Anonymous]

This isn't real, lol. This is so obviously crafted by someone trying to make a point.

[Anonymous]

Lol

[Anonymous]

Have you met with your college’s career services?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you met with your college’s career services?

This is OP.

I've sought guidance from the university's career service center numerous times, but in my opinion, it's proven to be entirely unhelpful. Interestingly, I managed to secure those internships independently, without any assistance from UVA's career service center.

Currently, my confidence is utterly shattered.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think this is real, but just in case, let me say, welcome to the world of working adulthood! Hang in there. It might take a while, but you’ll find your way. It might end up having to do nothing with CS.

[Anonymous]

The economy is not good for tech jobs right now. The jobs reports show that healthcare and the government are hiring, but those are not ideal for tech workers. You may need to do some government contractor garbage tech work for a bit until things get better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't real, lol. This is so obviously crafted by someone trying to make a point.

Definitely not real, but I was basically this person who focused on academics and didn’t cultivate a network while at an elite school. But the good anecdote is nonsense, playing with your roommate wouldn’t have helped you land a job, that’s absurd. It’s not like job INTERVIEWS for entry level jobs are on the links!! I wonder what OP motivation is here, some senior trying to convince his parents to pay for golf lessons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The economy is not good for tech jobs right now. The jobs reports show that healthcare and the government are hiring, but those are not ideal for tech workers. You may need to do some government contractor garbage tech work for a bit until things get better.

Tech is never coming back like it was, between the rise of remote work (and hiring out entry level work to Eastern Europe, etc), the huge pipeline of ever expanding CS majors (no AMA or ABA gatekeeping hoarded of employees) AI skill-multiplying developers, and lingering inflation and higher rates thwarting a return to ZIRP and VC bonanza.

And let’s be honest, healthcare == government to a large degree.

[Anonymous]

If it is real... OP you write like an angsty 50 yo woman. So stop doing that.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you asking too much $$$ for entry level positions? are you willing to relocate or commute to work? I've seen lots of college graduates being "picky" about their first job after college.

We had an Economics UVA graduate working for us....first job ever... and he wanted top dollars with zero experience. He only took the job because his parents kept "nagging him" about getting a job. He has moved up to a different dept. after a year but reality sure hit him hard.

You're lucky you don't have any financial stress. You can still join friends/network buddies for Golf or other sports now...you're young. You'll have 40plus years to work like a dog!