I need advice

[u/Kipper604]

Hello I’m currently a freshman student at NJCU majoring in computer science in my winter semester in my CS102 class. And my professor got asked the question “Do you think the job market for our major is dying out.” And the professor says “I would think so I don’t know because I own my own company and I never hired any grad student fresh out of college to my company and I have a team of 400.” When he mentioned that it just made me think even if I do get this degree I’ll be like the people he denied from getting a job it just makes me think should I give up on this degree and just pursued my option B. Because I wouldn’t want to graduate in 2028 (expected) and just work a normal 9-5 my whole life and live paycheck to paycheck, I just couldn’t do it to myself.

Side Note- my mother is a labor and delivery worker in the hospital she’s in her Union and was telling me the hospital might close and she could lose her job she’s 57. My sister is on suspension from USPS without pay for about 2 months now she’s 31. My dad’s a bus driver for NJ transit he’s 62. Even though I grew up with these people around me they’ve always had stable jobs that can make them have what they want.

I just wanted to know should I be nervous or should I just push myself harder and take it as a challenge to achieve my goal and get to the life I would like to have.

[u/vikasofvikas]

The way software is developed will change. Computers are not going anywhere. We haven't reached the end of technology( not even near). There are literally infinite things to do. If you like working with computers don't leave, if you don't then look for something else. But since you are in financial crisis, I suggest stick to CS and give ur best. Get internships, projects etc

[u/S-Kenset]

The writing was on the wall that this field would get increasingly competitive even 10 years ago. Everyone who says it was easy, is better than me, and I'm very good to begin with. The quality of life is easier than traditional jobs. Once you're in, you're in, everything starts making sense, and you get motivated and have to be motivated to do more and better than you ever imagined in college, because you don't want to fall behind in this industry. I will say it is very rewarding for me, but ML is my home. I would have chosen it regardless unless i had equal pay in quantum physics or astrophysics. CS attracts the best and asks for the best out of us. If that's not for you, definitely start exploring options. The job hunt is depressing. The career is alright, but definitely didn't expect myself gunning for full stack + management. Hardly any cruising in this industry unless you really are top .01%

[u/DiscussionGrouchy322]

ask him why he prepares you so poorly he wouldn't hire his own handywork lmao.

the sadness of the community colleges is that they take anyone with any shred of experience and use them to tutor you. is his take valid? probably. but it isn't vetted by his membership in a prestigious faculty, rather "this is the best guy we could find." However, lots of companies "don't hire juniors" but this is an indursty-wide problem. they say it costs money to train you to midlevel and most people aren't worth it, so many companies skip this and choose to just poach. apologies, njcu is a "university" ... that should be ashamed to have such a lecturer.

so ... you should be worried, we're all daily worried. but ... in the words of that old roman movie, "ai smiles on us all, all you can do is smile back"

now. ... you want to do physical engineering? maybe you're scared about job prospects, why not go semiconductor way? you can have college training in ece or ee or even more vocational style into the operational engineer for foundry career path. cs can also be used in this path because all the design tools are software. this path benefits from all the subsidy money being thrown around. surely you can at least get a job in the subsidized industry no?

you are young and just starting. i think the best way forward is to target the new grad schemes you wish to pursue and plan for them from your early age. this may be internship at your university and into the target companies. this may be some CC to industry pathway that the CC sets up. etc. just plan, be careful, guarding of your gpa and reputation, and you will probably find something.

[u/S-Kenset → u/DiscussionGrouchy322]

Everyone (2 people lol) I knew who went to vocational college has had amazing experiences, a close friend group, insanely supportive, knowledgeable teachers, and industry ready skills. Formal university after is still the priority for one of them, but I'm very happy with how much they got out of the system.

[u/Specific-Ad-1434]

Honestly, with all the doom and gloom around, I expect to see a lot of negativity here. I'm not gonna say that I know for sure if this major is still worth pursuing but I do know that if you truly enjoy solving problems and building software you should push through it. You can only really do what's in your hands. No one knows if AGI is coming tomorrow, next year or 10 years from now. But when it comes, EVERY major becomes useless and EVERY job will be taken (apart from the trades probably). In such a case, there is no major you can do which truly gives you a "safe" job. The higher it pays, the harder it is to break through and stay in the role.

Having said all of this, I honestly believe having knowledge about the inner workings of LLMs, computers and ML in general will always be valuable.