Your thinking about going against the crowd is exactly right. Pivot either into a niche in CS, e.g. machine learning, or try an emerging engineering field like robotics. Alternatively, consider something like genomics.
Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
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Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#12So would you stop if it were a “bad” career choice? That seems just as disingenuous as you’re insinuating your colleagues to be in switching to CS. And anecdotally, having went to CMU, everyone I knew switched to CS or moved CS adjacent - and many of those that switched are enjoying it to the fullest - not as FAANG engineers but many as CS PhDs.
In undergrad, the crowning achievements you can get are mainly the internships, especially at FAANG companies. Don’t worry about it too much. If it really is about the code and the work, just keep doing what you like doing. Computer science isn’t going to go away any time soon, and if it is, academics will be the last to let it go.
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#13That's something I thought about too, but the fact that most people that I know who are studying it, are producing really bad work like software development, for example, is something you have to have lots of practical experience to get good at it. Well, that's the situation in Germany however and people like me, who really enjoy developing software and bring innovative ideas are wanted much more than anyone completi…
I totally see that but I think smart people will do good work, just for the wrong reasons ($) and this will impact the field negatively. In 5 years maybe things will still be okay, but if the trend continues for 10 years? Will CS become unsustainable hours like working in the quantitive funds or unsustainable competition and workload like in medicine, or both? Will everyone at Google be the same Ivy League student who's more concerned with their GPA and internships than actually learning?
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#14People who are in CS for the money are probably not going to stay in CS long term. There's plenty of ways out for people who don't enjoy the work (management of people or products, technical writing, possibly design).
Certainly some people come for the money and stay for the experience. My best advice for internship applications is try to have some interesting project on your resume --- preferably one of the things you've been working on outside of class, but mention interesting class projects if you can speak to the whole thing. And get the interview basics down -- clean clothes, appropriate clothes (ask recruiter/scheduler what people wear to work and match the fancier end), arrive 10-15 minutes early, try to be relaxed, etc. For video or phone interviews, if you can find a quiet place with no distractions, that's best. It helps to do practice interviews, which could be for local companies you might rather not interview.
You didn't ask for interview advice, but I just mention it because I've interviewed some intern candidates, and it's always unfortunate when the candidate seems very unprepared or having a bad day, but may have been a good fit.
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#15I've heard of people going from a bootcamp course straight into Google and optimizing 100% for the career path. They make embarrassingly more than I do, have been programming for a scant few years, and I couldn't care less. I've been programming for most of my life. I've poured hours into learning 6502, BASIC, 8086, C, C++, Perl, Python, Javascript, Common Lisp, Haskell... to say nothing of physics, linear algebra, g…
How can you not care for people working in the top tech while probably not even knowing half of what you have learned?
Would you say the same thing when you would be another field of work; like medicine maybe?
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#16It's really not a career path you should get into if you're just in it for the money. Your friends will probably wash out within 3-5 years after they figure out they're not actually interested in software engineering.
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#17I think since the 90s it was known that CS offered a good, well-paying career path. My classes were packed with fellow students who were in it for the money. Today, I don't know a single one of them who haven't moved into other fields (albeit often related fields, like managing software engineers). If you love software, you'll always have a job, however many other people enter the field. You'll be the one eager to learn new things at work, memorizing documentation, and earning a rep as the one who sees the big picture, not because you're chasing a career but because you love doing those things. That will lift you to the top of you peer group.
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#18That's something I thought about too, but the fact that most people that I know who are studying it, are producing really bad work like software development, for example, is something you have to have lots of practical experience to get good at it. Well, that's the situation in Germany however and people like me, who really enjoy developing software and bring innovative ideas are wanted much more than anyone completi…
I totally see that but I think smart people will do good work, just for the wrong reasons ($) and this will impact the field negatively. In 5 years maybe things will still be okay, but if the trend continues for 10 years? Will CS become unsustainable hours like working in the quantitive funds or unsustainable competition and workload like in medicine, or both? Will everyone at Google be the same Ivy League student wh…
That's already how it is at other "unicorns" like Uber and Lyft. I know from firsthand experience. Unbearable work environment. Constantly being sniped by your co-workers who are more interested in playing the game the accomplishing something of value.
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#19I started playing with computers in middle school as a hobby and it basically morphed into a career. I've been in the industry since the 90s, well before everyone realized what a lucrative career it can be. And I saw the same thing - the field became flooded with people who were only chasing the money.
My advice to you: don't worry about it.
Do not underestimate the competitive advantage you have if you are passionate about software development. The people that are chasing the money clock out at 5. There's nothing wrong with that, but they aren't trying to teach themselves Haskell on a Friday night just for fun. You will work harder than those people, not because you're scared, but because you love the work. And that experience will lead to career success. It doesn't happen overnight, but skilled and passionate people do bubble up on the food chain (assholes do too, but such is life).
Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?
#20People who are in CS for the money are probably not going to stay in CS long term. There's plenty of ways out for people who don't enjoy the work (management of people or products, technical writing, possibly design). Certainly some people come for the money and stay for the experience. My best advice for internship applications is try to have some interesting project on your resume --- preferably one of the things y…
I'm almost certain I'd never do an internship. It's not a way to optimize for learning and personal growth. And definitely not a whiteboard generic software engineering. Lots of things about internships in the tech field put me off. If it is a startup, I have had a startup, high chance it's a shitshow. FAANG, don't think so. Also what meaningful work can you really get done in 3 months?
I feel like internships are a good way to learn if you haven't already been coding in the real world or on the subject matter and a good resume item, but if you have a good resume already and coding experience there are much better alternatives.