Planned CS Major - Despite the Tech Layoffs

[Anonymous]

There's been a ton of news lately on sizable layoffs by the major tech companies. However, there are numerous threads and discussion on intended CS majors.

Why is the CS Major still so popular despite the "doomsday" news headlines?

Is the prevailing theme that this tech layoff news is a bubble that won't have adverse long term impacts for employment?

Thoughts please.

[Anonymous]

How much of our world relies on computers? There will always be a need for people that understand how to make them work.

[Anonymous]

They are laying off useless human resource, contract, marketing, etc employers

[Anonymous]

Tech layoffs are transitory and everyone getting the boot is not a programmer. If your kid really likes CS, major in it. If they’re just doing it to make a buck, it’s too demanding to be mediocre. Find something else.

[Anonymous]

A lot of those companies overhired in the advertising boom during covid WFH boom. A lot has slowed down so the glut has been laid off. I haven't seen any actually hood SW people laid off. Because citizens and good developers, architects are not getting laid off. We are hiring. Fresh out of school or with experience. But its not $200k a year and its in person and you need to be a citizen.

[Anonymous]

Tech is an area that is very dynamic vs. more static. Meaning it is always evolving and those with the most current skills will be in demand and those with skills that are more outdated are SOL unless they put in the effort to keep their skills current. Even students entering the field today - some will make better choices than others in terms of what they specialize in and how they apply it. Yes, it's rewarding, but will always require a lot of work to stay current and in demand.

[Anonymous]

The best software engineers are still commanding $300k+. Enormous demand for their services. If you are actually a good engineer, the sky’s the limit.

[Anonymous]

Everything is cyclical

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everything is cyclical

CS majors will always have a job---it may not be with FAANG but they will always be in demand. The mindset that goes with getting a CS major also means you can branch out beyond Software development if desired.
The current layoffs are not CS majors by and large. It's not the techies---it's the bloat elsewhere in the companies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything is cyclical

CS majors will always have a job---it may not be with FAANG but they will always be in demand. The mindset that goes with getting a CS major also means you can branch out beyond Software development if desired.
The current layoffs are not CS majors by and large. It's not the techies---it's the bloat elsewhere in the companies

ANd google layoffs will get 16 weeks plus 2 weeks for every year of service, healthcare for 6 months, 2022 bonuses and accrued vacation payouts. If any are techies, they should easily find a new job within 4-6 months, most likely way before then. So no real loss of income at all. That's the beauty of a CS degree. Especially now that you can work almost anywhere and live where you want

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everything is cyclical

+1 and what others are saying -- there are still tons of IT jobs available though they aren't all FAANG types with $$$ salaries.

I will say that it doesn't make sense to go into debt to get a CS degree from Stanford or MIT anymore because we have now gone through two downturns in 20 years in the tech industry. I'd be wary of going to serious debt like that and trying to live in a hcol just to work in the tech field.

I worked in SV for 20 years and went through the dotcom bomb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's been a ton of news lately on sizable layoffs by the major tech companies. However, there are numerous threads and discussion on intended CS majors.

Why is the CS Major still so popular despite the "doomsday" news headlines?

Is the prevailing theme that this tech layoff news is a bubble that won't have adverse long term impacts for employment?

Thoughts please.

It’s still a good field. The big tech companies over expanded, this is just a correction. My company is still having problems hiring good people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything is cyclical

+1 and what others are saying -- there are still tons of IT jobs available though they aren't all FAANG types with $$$ salaries.

I will say that it doesn't make sense to go into debt to get a CS degree from Stanford or MIT anymore because we have now gone through two downturns in 20 years in the tech industry. I'd be wary of going to serious debt like that and trying to live in a hcol just to work in the tech field.

I worked in SV for 20 years and went through the dotcom bomb.

This, my spouse, went to a no-name college and is doing as well as some of the Ivy folks. You want to go to a good school, debt free. Get a master's if possible. It's not necessary but helpful, especially when you want to be a manager, and move up.

These companies are always hiring and laying off. It's not a big deal as most job jump every few years anyway as it's the only way to get a raise. Its very rare to see employees who have been at a company more than 3-4 years.

[Anonymous]

There are no golden tickets. But most people chase them anyway.

[Anonymous]

There are definitely still plenty of tech jobs just a good reminder to not focus just on the big, hot companies. If anything, this round of layoffs and nice severance packages may prompt a new round of innovation and start-ups as people who were working at FAANG have the push to try to make something on their own.