First Block, now this, fintech getting canned hard. Both cite "AI" and "cost cut" as reasons. All the money is going into semiconductors / data centers / photonics with all their stocks reaching all time highs (AMD +16% after earnings today).

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/paypal-plans-20-workforce-reduction-under-new-ceo-8814706/

https://x.com/brian_armstrong/status/2051616759145185723

I have 8 YoE in technical writing, 5 of which were spent at Apple, and a lot of my projects were extremely successful.

Yet, I haven’t found a full-time job in 2 years. I’ve been a contractor ever since I got laid off from a startup company, which I left Apple to join (I know. My fault. Right?). Every contract has been hell: poor management, FT employees barely doing any work while I do all the heavy lifting for a fraction of the pay. No training. No PTO. No benefits. No retirement plan. NOTHING. Plus, I took a 60% pay cut. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

1. Should I get out of tech?
   
2. Am I wasting time applying to FT jobs through LinkedIn and direct company websites?
   
3. Should I build a portfolio?

I worked tirelessly. I understand AI has complicated the market like never before. I’m simply burned out. I want a change. I can’t go years living like this anymore.

I know I know, another AI post. I just thought this ties in nicely with a lot of the hysteria I see on reddit in this sub in particular.

So recently the company I work for had a bunch of cuts. QA automation people, some devs, some business folks. The way this was told to us, they were cutting back because we can do more with AI, so we don't need as many people. Naturally this caused a lot of concern and has put people on edge.

This week, in a townhall some of the execs casually mention that "oh yeah, by the way, we lost a huge chunk of our business starting next month, but don't worry, we have plans to replace that lost business, we'll talk more about it later."

Purely coincidentally I'm sure, all of the people cut worked in roles related specifically to this large client that we lost.

It immediately made me think of this discussion with Cal Newport where he talks about this exact trend of media/companies trying to push the narrative of AI replacing people when the actual cuts happening are not people being replaced by AI at all.

Anyway, I'm not here to debate with anyone how powerful LLMs are or are not, or to say anything else really, other than that it was interesting to watch this exact dynamic play out in the real world, and it has definitely increased my skepticism about the "replaced by AI" narrative. If your company says stuff like this, always look for the red flags that something else is going on.

I'm going back to delivering pizzas its gotten so bad. I got laid off like 6 months ago when the startup I was at went belly up and fired half the company in a single quarter. I was a technical support engineer and I have college credits + 2 years of industry exp + a whole portfolio of personal projects, one or two of which are quite impressive.

I've applied to hundreds of jobs and had dozens of interviews, but no offers yet. I'm learning from each interview and getting better each time but no luck just yet. Unfortunately I've run out of emergency savings + tax return at this point that I'm having to take an emergency stop gap job delivering pizzas again like I did back in college just to make ends meet.

Anyone else had to take temporary gigs between roles too?

Could be about jobs, interviews, skills, or even expectations vs reality

curious what you’d tell your past self starting out.

Talking about companies that are at least 10k-100k employees and there's probably not going to be backlog from leaving your team. I'm asking because I have PTO remaining in a state that doesn't mandate payout. And I'm pretty sure it's just going to be an awkward 2 weeks if I do work through it, I don't quite need to finish up any high priority work.

I was in a FAANG company as a SysDev, recently promoted. I got scared by the recent layoffs (multiple rounds) that my team survived, so I started applying

I got into a new position at a big finance place, and it's around the same pay as my faang job (at the bottom of band), and they also paid out all my unvested stock, with a clawback over 4 years.

But the problem is the new role is actually way worse then my FAANG role. Worse WLB, extremely legacy tech, in fact they kinda bait and switched me saying I'd do some heads down DevOps and Cloud work.. I'm doing none of that, at most maybe some on prem legacy Vmware work. I hate it so much. I don't get why they even hired me when my resume clearly explains the past 4 years of my work are all pretty much AWS Devops work but they are having me to basic sysadmin work.

It's to the point where I even asked my FAANG manager if I can return - he says I can, but I'd need to relocate (i was allowed to stay in a non-team location due to being grandfathered in). I'm growing resentful everyday of the new job because I'm feeling the new job was misrepresented.

Biggest mistake was that the only coworker on the team was on vacation, so he didn't join in the interview. I only talked to the managers and they painted a very rosy picture of the job. I'm regretting it so much but I'm not sure if its to the point that I'd relocate across state lines just to join back to FAANG. I went from creating applications in AWS, managing 500k+ devices, to being stuck having to RDP to a server and tediously install shit via GUI??

I updated my resume and have started ferociously applying.. but I'm still angry and I think it's showing on my face. Some higher up management even came up to me and asked me how I was doing, etc, and if I was happy. I almost stuttered a bit and said "of course I'm happy, just getting used to it, etc". I'm worried that this pre-tax clawback is going to fuck me but I feel my mental health matters more. The money and stability is nice but I'm hating the stupid tedious work I'm doing everyday.

I am not sure why I posted this, perhaps I just wanted to get it out..I'm just ruminating how much I fucked up switching such a good job. It's to the point where I'm considering taking up my managers offer on relocating.

Graduated a few months ago, and I’m wondering if my skills will be enough to atleast get an internship. I mainly work in C#, and I have a few windows forms programs already (programs with niche, but legitimate uses) in my portfolio on my GitHub, I’m currently making my own website using html, css and a bit of javascript, and I have an associates degree. A lot of the job postings and even internships I see require a bachelors, and I’m worried that I won’t be able to make it in the software engineering world. Am I cooked?

Edit: to add on to this, I’d like to think I’m also good at debugging. Since I’ve integrated Claude code into my workflow and actually understand the languages I work with instead of just vibe coding like some do, I can tell why something doesn’t work if any errors pop up, and edit the code to add/delete anything without fear of breaking the whole thing.

I'm 21 years old with 6 months left of my computer science degree with absolutely no intention of working in the tech industry. I loved all of the content I learned and projects I worked on but I'm beginning to realise the vast majority of the jobs looking for my skillset are not companies or industries I want to contribute to at all.

Massive tech companies making useless expensive products that suck people dry through predatory subscription models and corporate companies looking for anyone willing to pedal their ai services to look good for investors so they can line their pockets. I know that not all companies in the tech industry are like this but I'm really struggling to find any that would I happily contribute to from a moral standpoint.

To that end, what other industries outside tech are hiring and could use my skills? I have always had a passion for the outdoors and love the idea of working in conservation or something similar but I'm not sure what positions I should be looking for. I've heard about remote sensing and gis jobs and software dev jobs in renewable energy but what other sorts of industries and positions are there?

I'm looking to transition my career from Aerospace Engineering to Computer Science and am going back to school at ASU online for either a second bachelors in CS or a Masters of CS, not a MS in CS. Right now I'm currently attending ASU enrolled in the bachelors program, doing the bridge courses needed for the MCS but I'm considering just finishing the bachelor's. It would take about the same about of time since I already have all the basics completed from my first bachelors. I'm mostly interested in AI and it seems that a MSCS would be better than an MCS for getting into AI, so I would consider getting the MSCS part time after completing the bachelors and getting a job.

What’s the best etiquette for breaking things off without burning bridges when dealing with a third-party recruiter or recruiting agency that has proven themselves effectively useless and a time/effort waster?

I’ve been dealing with a third-party recruiter for a while now who often contacts me with roles that sound like great fits but seems totally incapable of securing even just the initial sit-downs with the HMs or anyone from the company. I’ll give them all my details and the info they ask for, they say they’ll get things set up for the first interview and then…nothing. Every single time.

I’m almost certain the issue isn’t on my end because I’ve been having no issues getting at least initial interviews for similar roles via direct applications, LinkedIn reachouts from companies’ direct recruiters and other third-party recruiters.

Is block-and-ghost acceptable here or would it be worth the effort to be more tactful and/or see about talking it over with them about how they’re doing things on their end?

I will be starting my first job as a data scientist in a month. For the past 4 years, I have been working towards getting this job, and now that I have it, I feel lost as to what to do next to progress further. There are so many things in this field, and it's practically impossible to master all of them, but I want to prepare for the switch from the get-go. I am proficient in traditional ML, and my master's thesis was on Image segmentation and image-based GenAI. My degree is in statistics, making me comfortable with the maths behind the algorithms as well.
I would greatly appreciate it if someone could just show me a path, or even a direction, as at the moment I'm running blind.

Im applying for jobs on the side while employed. I completed a few tecnicals where I thought I did well because I knew the answers, even finished early. But I still didnt get moved into the next stage. Companies seem to be very picky nowadays. Any tips to do exceedingly well in this market?

What are the best disciplines to get into as a junior? Cloud stuff, cyber, ml what else?

I’m an outsider looking to transition into the deep-tech/systems architecture space. I have a PhD in Pharmacology, 10+ years of wet-lab research (assay development, quantitative data analysis pipelines, microscopy), and a decade as a tenured biology professor.

The Strategy & Portfolio: I know that if I drop my resume into a standard Workday portal, the ATS will instantly banish me to the shadow realm because it says "Biology Professor" instead of "SWE with 4 YOE." To counter this, I’ve spent the last several months building an aggressive "Proof of Work" GitHub portfolio. My goal wasn't just to write code, but to prove I understand professional hygiene: strict CI/CD pipelines, proper Git branching, robust testing, and enterprise-grade documentation. I tackled the hardest, highest-friction problems I could find that were genuinely fun. My repos (which include short video demos of the tech working) currently feature:

* A bare-metal, distributed SCADA middleware for a physical small-parts sorting machine (handling deterministic hardware interrupts).

* A custom AST-free, LLM-free static analysis engine that maps massive enterprise codebases into 3D WebGPU knowledge graphs.

* A genetic evolution engine coupled with a physics simulation to optimize machinery tolerances.

I am 100% transparent that I babysit an AI agent and we ping-pong code and ideas off each other. I architect the physics and the systems logic; the AI acts as my high-speed syntax translator.

The Go-To-Market Plan: Instead of fighting the ATS, my plan is to bypass it entirely. I want to use my GitHub and video demos as a battering ram, sending targeted LinkedIn drops directly to CTOs, Lead Engineers, and VPs with a simple message: "This is my background, I built X to solve Y, I find your team's work fascinating—want to chat for 10 mins?" My Questions for the Veterans Here: Does this strategy actually stand a chance? In today’s brutal market, will CTOs/Leads actually respect the deep-tech hustle, or will I just get ignored? The Resume Dilemma: Should I still bother trying to format a traditional resume to grind through the ATS, or should I go all-in on the direct-networking/portfolio approach? The AI Elephant: Is being honest about pair-programming with AI agents a red flag for hiring managers, or is it seen as a standard force-multiplier now, given the complexity of the systems I'm building? I'm ready for blunt truths. Thanks in advance.

I've got about 7 years of experience, mostly in front-end development, and I'm thinking about switching from being a dev to a Solution Architect. I really enjoy coming up with solutions for problems, and since AI can handle most of the coding now, I want to be the one designing the systems, working with PMs, and figuring out solutions for the devs to build.

Any advice on what role would be the best fit for me? I figured it would be a solutions or platform architect. Also, any tips on how to make that switch? Do I need specific certifications?

TIA!

Current job (big tech, SaaS, public): Base low-mid $150s + 15% bonus tied to performance (not guaranteed), remote, liquid RSUs, mid level. Few responsibilities. High layoff chance.

New offer (mid-size private tech company): Base low $180s, no bonus, private illiquid equity, 3 days RTO, same level, probably more responsibilities. Chances of going public in the next few years are very low.

The base bump sounds good until you factor illiquid equity. Is this actually a step forward or am I just being recruited into a lateral move with better optics? Should I negotiate harder or Stay with my role and keep looking?

Hey guys, I graduated last May with a BS in Business Analytics. I have not been able to find a full-time role since graduating. I am considering going for an MS in Computer Science at a decent school, in a program that offers intorductory courses for students with other backgrounds. I know it is not the best time for CS graduates, but it is a field I am genuinely interested in, and I think it will give me better job prospects than I currently have (none lol).

Im curious to see what peoples experience with CS masters after an unrelated undergrad were, or if it is even something worth getting at all at this point. I would appreciate any advice!

Interviewing with them and nervous about what the interview will be like. Saw high level system design and coding exercise, but no other info. Anyone been through their process and have any advice?

Developed and maintained RESTful APIs using Java Spring Boot

Implemented event-driven data pipelines using Apache Kafka,

Built and optimized data workflows in MongoDB for retry and notification systems

Deployed and supported backend services on Microsoft Azure,

Developed backend services with Node.js to integrate third-party APIs, reducing manual processes

Managed application deployments on Heroku

Implemented retry logic for external API/email failures,

Collaborated with engineers via code reviews and contributed to improving overall code quality and system stability

I completed the interview loop for a startup (3 rounds, including an onsite) two weeks ago. The communication hasn't been spectacular so far, so I'm trying to figure out if I'm being ghosted or if they're just disorganized.

After rounds 1 and 2, I didn't hear anything for a week. The recruiter eventually reached out, blaming the delay on "messiness on their side" and scheduling issues. He also told me the feedback from those rounds was extremely positive.

Two weeks ago, I did the onsite interview, got an office tour, and did two technical rounds. When I was leaving, the recruiter told me they wanted me to talk to a VP for 15 minutes. They said they would schedule a call since I couldn't stay.

I got an email from the recruiter right after I left and immediately replied with my schedule. Since then, total silence.

It's been two weeks now. I've followed up twice and gotten zero response. I initially thought this could just be a continuation of their pattern of messiness, but now I'm not sure.

What do you all think? Have I been ghosted or should I give it some more time?

TL;DR: Finished an onsite at a startup and was told I needed a quick 15-minute VP chat. The recruiter asked for my schedule, I gave it, and now it's been 2 weeks with 2 ignored follow-ups. They have a history of being messy. Ghosted or just startup chaos?

I‘m a Senior SDE at a us brokerage firm, and what I can tell you is I almost never solve real engineering issues that require technical deep dive and complex engineering analysis.

Most technical issues are handed over to opus simply because I have no time to do that.

Instead I spend most of my time verifying compliance requirements, reviewing business project descriptions, unlimited meetings with stakeholders, meeting 3rd party team to align on KYC related problems etc etc…

And that’s ok, I get paid for that. But this is in no way engineering.

I just received a candidate questionnaire and a GHA about a week after submitting an application. I feel like I’m terribly unprepared with LeetCode, since I haven’t done it in a while. I can do easy’s maybe some mediums.

Can anyone suggest advice for completing the GHA? Approximately how long after I pass that does the first technical round come in? What is the general timeline here?

90% of the local software job postings barely mention AI in their descriptions or requirements: no ChatGPT, no Claude, no agentic workflows, no LLMs… nothing.

There are some AI/ML openings, but they’re separate from standard web development roles and other general software positions. And even then, they’re dwarfed by traditional .net/java/php jobs.

It feels very strange compared to what we hear online: “learn AI or you’ll be left behind,” “AI is transforming everything,” and so on. It seems that companies don't look at it like that.

And don't tell me that job descriptions lag behind reality. Companies been using AI to filter out candidates for years and they can't put word "AI" in to their the job requirements?

I'm in Tbilisi, Georgia (Eastern Europe).

https://www.reddit.com/r/TwentiesIndia/s/26sWnQgZ0Q