FWIW my May 2025 college grad from another public VA state school has a job. They applied last summer for an internship from LinkedIn. Got the internship and a FT offer on graduation. My point is - look in unexpected places. I also thinking temping is another good option - both you and the company get a good look at fit.

PS - I have a friend that has a small DOD contractor shop. They are always on the look out for recent CS grads that can get a security clearance. It's harder than you might think.

Anonymous wrote:DS graduated early from Virginia Tech with a computer engineering degree in December 2024, and has been looking a FT position since August 2024. He did internships in his sophomore and junior year. He applied over 1100 positions, received 14 interviews, and two offers. Those two offers were rescinded due to budget cut, and feels so depressed at the moment. Many of his friends who will graduate this week are still jobless who also have multiple internships. I really feel bad for them.

Is he adjusting his resume for each application? Writing thoughtful cover letters? Has he asked anyone to review his resume? If he's been looking since August 2024, that's only about 4 applications per day. That's really low for someone looking for work for so long. I understand it's soul-sucking, but he's got to adjust his expectations.

Anonymous wrote:DS graduated early from Virginia Tech with a computer engineering degree in December 2024, and has been looking a FT position since August 2024. He did internships in his sophomore and junior year. He applied over 1100 positions, received 14 interviews, and two offers. Those two offers were rescinded due to budget cut, and feels so depressed at the moment. Many of his friends who will graduate this week are still jobless who also have multiple internships. I really feel bad for them.

OP. I'm in no way an expert but I have a kid that graduated CS in Dec and is looking as well. He does have an offer from a midwest company where he has interned/worked part-time during college so he's not too worried. He has had several near misses and is finally getting some traction. Last stages (team matching or variant).

I'd recommend the following based on what i'm seeing with my son:
- Reach out to companies your son interviewed with, came close to an offer but they didn't have anything at that time. Things have changed.
- For new jobs, apply only to companies where he (or you guys) have contacts. A referred resume at least gets a look and maybe more.
- Reach out to Linkedin contacts (or establish some) at target companies that have recently switched or planning to switch to RTO. A friend's son works for Intel in CA but moved to NYC because it was remote work. Intel now wants everyone back 5 days a week and he's not going back. Make an aggressive pitch about how you love personal interaction, love working in the office, etc.
- If you know anyone at GMU Engineering, reach out to them and get in contact with CE professors in that department. Last year, when my kid was checking out GMU, they were talking about how many of their students are placed before they finish college and they have to work hard to convince them to complete their degrees. Them profs. have contacts in the local area for CE jobs.

Anonymous wrote:I graduated in 2008. Was also a crappy job market.

That was the global financial crisis. This crap economy, particularly in the DMV area is a Trump induced crisis--teach your kid elections have consequences.

BS Computer Engineering is much more commonly an R&D job and much less commonly IT.

Jobs market for entry level workers is tanking

IT jobs have been decreasing for a few years now

Look at Reddit to gauge what is going on

https://www.reddit.com/r/Layoffs/

According to an article in Newsweek, more than 120 employers have submitted WARN (Worker Adjustment & Retaining Notification Act) notices to prepare for layoffs. If you work for any of these listed companies, brace for impact (not alphabetical order):

The full list, based on WARN notices via WARNTracker.com, includes:

Michael's Cookies
Blue Shield of California
Axient LLC
BHFO
Boston Scientific Corporation
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
RTX
Movate
Portland, Oregon Facility
IDEA Southern Louisiana Idea Innovation
Envision Physician Services
Southeast Service Corporation Services for Education
Durham School Services
Corteva
Northland College
Graphic Packaging International
Merlin Magic Shop
JVS Masonry
Grede
Concordia University
SSC Services
FedEx
Robert Kaufman Co
Transdev
Pretium Packaging
Department of Health and Human Services
Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute
ST. Distributing
SHG
Redemption Restaurants
Classic Beverage of Southern California
Mandarin Oriental
Freedom House
Cornish College of the Arts
Brinker International
Roche Molecular Systems
Gilead Sciences
HSNi
SouthState Bank
VF's Dickies Headquarters
Safeway
Compass Group
American Bar Association
CSG Systems
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Milgard Manufacturing
Block
American Medical Response Ambulance Service
Key Energy Services
SK hynix America
Amentum
Southeast Service Corporation
Niantic
National Distribution Centers
Rem Optical Company
Cruise
CARGO Therapeutics
Wells Fargo
Atara Biotherapeutics
SLS South Beach Employer
Southern California Edison Company
Mattel
All For Kids
Spoonful Management
ICS
Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits of Louisiana
COR Restaurant Services
AT&T
INOAC Exterior Systems
Collins Aerospace
VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering
Jhpiego Corporation
Johns Hopkins University
Pitney Bowes
Penney OpCo
Grocery Delivery E Services
Gate Gourmet
Amazon
Cepheid
Onsemi
Chewy
Country Pure Foods
F&E Aircraft Maintenance
Output Services Group
American Institutes of Research
Cow Palace
General Dynamics
Bell-Carter Foods
Ryder-Hutchins
Centerra
The Cheesecake Factory
SP+, a Metropolis Company
Primo Brands
UPS
Creative Associates International
Royal Palm South Beach Miami
Sodexo
Microchip
RR Donnelley
PT Solutions
Leidos Holdings
Central Garden & Pet
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Stockton Recycling
Ascent Professional Staffing
CBRE
Charter Communications
Northlake Engineering
Tri Cor Direct Incorporated
GEP Administrative Services
Ameri Kleen
Starbucks
Corteva
TL Cannon Management
Miami Mezze
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Burke Williams
F21 OpCO
Catholic Charities of Orange
Frito-Lay
American Freight
US Foods
Barrette Outdoor Living
Atlas Holdings
Evans Bank
Macy's
BetMGM
UNFI
Essendant
JP Morgan Chase

Even though there is a civil service hiring freeze, the DoD budget overall is not being cut. The many local DoD sites are being forced to hire contractors because they cannot hire civil service right now.

DC's advantage is that he is looking for an entry-level salary not a salary for someone with 20 years experience.

There is a small trick to applying. Write a cover letter (paper and USPS, not email) and include a resume. In the cover letter, write that you are willing to consider either government or contractor positions. Also say that you are flexible about what you will work on. The government can give your resume to their contractor if they are interested in your skill set.

In the resume, be certain to explicitly say "US Citizen" if you are. They cannot legally ask sometimes, but they only can hire US citizens. If you do not say this, they likely will not act on your letter.

Local options include at least Naval Surface Warfare Centers ar Carderock or Indian Head, DISA at Ft Meade, NSA at Ft Meade, ARL at Ft Belvoir, NGA at Ft Belvoir north site, and Naval Sea systems command in DC.

Hi Op, has he apply to places like CA or Seattle?
Some of them have better in salary than here.
What kind of internship he had?

Here is a similar UsAF option:

"https://www.airforce.com/careers/specialty-careers/cyber-direct-commissioning"

For USAF, initial training might be at Ft Meade or in San Antonio. Important to get the right job designator string written on the paperwork and signed by the recruiter.

Same caveats as for Navy recruiters apply to USAF recruiters.

Anonymous wrote:Has he talked with any military recruiters to see how he can apply the computer engineering degree as an officer? If he's in good health, he might qualify to join the military, which gives him a guaranteed job.

Here is a Navy officer job that has a shortage of qualified BS Computer Engineering candidates (don't let a recruiter tell you otherwise):

"https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Detailing/Officer/Pers-47-IWC/Cyber-Warfare-Engineering/"

He serves 4 years, qualifies as a veteran with veterans benefits, and would leave having highly valuable job skills. Odds are that his first assignment in that job would be to 10th Fleet at Ft Meade

If you do this, make sure the recruiter specifies this precise job designation on all the paperwork, instead of leaving it blank or writing unrestricted line officer or such like. If the recruiter refuses to guarantee the job designator, then walk out the door.

Also, consider applying for a reserve officer (not active duty) position with the same job.

Anonymous wrote:What kind of job does he want and where is he willing to move to work?

+1

There are still silicon valley job openings - and his big plus is that as a new grad he is cheaper than someone who is 45.

I can try to help.

What specific upper level CS/ECE electives did he take?

Does he happen to know either Verilog or VHDL?

US citizen and clean record?

Approximate GPA.

I hired during the 2008 downturn. I second, third, etc. the piece about volunteering. The issue is that depending on how long things take to turn around, there will be a whole new crop of graduates right around the corner. And, when looking at a resume of someone who graduated months or years ago and a brand new graduate, the former will be at a disadvantage unless he or she can show they did something/anything with that time.

One practical possibility - can he tutor? In addition to the non-profits, Wyzant is an online tutoring platform. Maybe consider tutoring in classes he did well in while he looks for a job.

Has he talked with any military recruiters to see how he can apply the computer engineering degree as an officer? If he's in good health, he might qualify to join the military, which gives him a guaranteed job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He needs to actually leave the house or talk to people to be looking in a hard job market.

How many people has he met for coffee, gone to drinks with, at least have a Zoom meeting or phone call with?

OP here. He leaves the house everyday to meet new people for coffee, and via zoom meetings, and still no such luck. He is willing to work anywhere, in-person and/or remote. He is very flexible because the tech job market is terrible rn.

He could try dating HR Girls!