Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 17:24     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My employer has an open position in software engineering, and we received over 5,000 applications. More than 500 applicants graduated from UVA, Virginia Tech, UMD, CMU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, USC, Yale, and other top universities. We narrowed the pool down to eight candidates for in-person interviews, and all eight are qualified to do the job, but we have to select just one.

Of those eight candidates, four have been looking for work since graduating in January 2025, and the other four have been searching since graduating in May 2025. One candidate from Yale told me that getting an engineering job these days is much harder than getting admitted to Yale.

I feel so bad for them.



Have they looked for work at defense contractors, companies are ramping up fo Golden Dome? Pay won’t be big tech money though.


would Golden Dome be the best key word for searches for such openings?


No, of course not.

Pick one of the major defense manufacturers (and smaller ones too) and search their openings. There are so many openings and opportunities.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 16:35     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My employer has an open position in software engineering, and we received over 5,000 applications. More than 500 applicants graduated from UVA, Virginia Tech, UMD, CMU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, USC, Yale, and other top universities. We narrowed the pool down to eight candidates for in-person interviews, and all eight are qualified to do the job, but we have to select just one.

Of those eight candidates, four have been looking for work since graduating in January 2025, and the other four have been searching since graduating in May 2025. One candidate from Yale told me that getting an engineering job these days is much harder than getting admitted to Yale.

I feel so bad for them.



Have they looked for work at defense contractors, companies are ramping up fo Golden Dome? Pay won’t be big tech money though.


would Golden Dome be the best key word for searches for such openings?
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 16:28     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My employer has an open position in software engineering, and we received over 5,000 applications. More than 500 applicants graduated from UVA, Virginia Tech, UMD, CMU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, USC, Yale, and other top universities. We narrowed the pool down to eight candidates for in-person interviews, and all eight are qualified to do the job, but we have to select just one.

Of those eight candidates, four have been looking for work since graduating in January 2025, and the other four have been searching since graduating in May 2025. One candidate from Yale told me that getting an engineering job these days is much harder than getting admitted to Yale.

I feel so bad for them.



Have they looked for work at defense contractors, companies are ramping up fo Golden Dome? Pay won’t be big tech money though.


This. We’re hiring a lot of engineers.


This. They need to be willing to move out of state and live in areas that they may not have considered a year ago.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 14:34     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:I feel just as bad (if not more) for the 40- and 50-somethings who've lost jobs in the last few years and can't get their foot back in the door, particularly those who are supporting families. Interesting how you only focused on young professionals.


Because it ALWAYS sucked for 50 year olds who lost jobs. Nothing new there.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 14:33     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
I feel just as bad (if not more) for the 40- and 50-somethings who've lost jobs in the last few years and can't get their foot back in the door, particularly those who are supporting families. Interesting how you only focused on young professionals.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 14:00     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My employer has an open position in software engineering, and we received over 5,000 applications. More than 500 applicants graduated from UVA, Virginia Tech, UMD, CMU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, USC, Yale, and other top universities. We narrowed the pool down to eight candidates for in-person interviews, and all eight are qualified to do the job, but we have to select just one.

Of those eight candidates, four have been looking for work since graduating in January 2025, and the other four have been searching since graduating in May 2025. One candidate from Yale told me that getting an engineering job these days is much harder than getting admitted to Yale.

I feel so bad for them.



Have they looked for work at defense contractors, companies are ramping up fo Golden Dome? Pay won’t be big tech money though.


This. We’re hiring a lot of engineers.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 13:50     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:My employer has an open position in software engineering, and we received over 5,000 applications. More than 500 applicants graduated from UVA, Virginia Tech, UMD, CMU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, USC, Yale, and other top universities. We narrowed the pool down to eight candidates for in-person interviews, and all eight are qualified to do the job, but we have to select just one.

Of those eight candidates, four have been looking for work since graduating in January 2025, and the other four have been searching since graduating in May 2025. One candidate from Yale told me that getting an engineering job these days is much harder than getting admitted to Yale.

I feel so bad for them.



Have they looked for work at defense contractors, companies are ramping up fo Golden Dome? Pay won’t be big tech money though.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 13:48     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:Sorry it’s hard to feel sorry for Ivy League graduates.

My DC from a non-prestigious school has had a job lined up for months with a F500 but it pays under $100K. Would these kids look twice at it? They think they deserve more.


Until he starts, I wouldn't jinx it. So many grads from class of 2025 have had offers rescinded or pushed back six months. It's only going to get worse.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 13:46     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:Plenty of positions available in service professions.


Healthcare is booming.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 13:40     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Anonymous wrote:My employer has an open position in software engineering, and we received over 5,000 applications. More than 500 applicants graduated from UVA, Virginia Tech, UMD, CMU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, USC, Yale, and other top universities. We narrowed the pool down to eight candidates for in-person interviews, and all eight are qualified to do the job, but we have to select just one.

Of those eight candidates, four have been looking for work since graduating in January 2025, and the other four have been searching since graduating in May 2025. One candidate from Yale told me that getting an engineering job these days is much harder than getting admitted to Yale.

I feel so bad for them.



It’s nice to hear from someone with empathy for others. The rude responses to your post are disappointing.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 13:36     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Plenty of positions available in service professions.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 13:25     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Sorry it’s hard to feel sorry for Ivy League graduates.

My DC from a non-prestigious school has had a job lined up for months with a F500 but it pays under $100K. Would these kids look twice at it? They think they deserve more.
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 13:01     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
Getting a job in software engineering* these days…
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 12:28     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
fix it at the polls
Anonymous
Post 02/16/2026 11:30     Subject: Getting a job these days is much harder than getting admitted into Ivies
My employer has an open position in software engineering, and we received over 5,000 applications. More than 500 applicants graduated from UVA, Virginia Tech, UMD, CMU, UNC, Duke, UCLA, USC, Yale, and other top universities. We narrowed the pool down to eight candidates for in-person interviews, and all eight are qualified to do the job, but we have to select just one.

Of those eight candidates, four have been looking for work since graduating in January 2025, and the other four have been searching since graduating in May 2025. One candidate from Yale told me that getting an engineering job these days is much harder than getting admitted to Yale.

I feel so bad for them.