#TechCareer #SoftwareEngineering #NonCSMajor #INFOmajor #BigTech #SWEroles
Hey folks,
I’m feeling a bit stuck in my current situation and could really use some insight. I’ve always aimed to land a software engineering role in a big tech company, but as an INFO major at UW Seattle, I’m starting to doubt if it’s possible. 🤯
After getting feedback about job market competitiveness and the importance of a CS degree, I’m at a crossroads. Here are the options I’m considering:
– Stick with INFO: Should I start grinding Leetcode to improve my chances despite my major being a potential hurdle?
– Pivot to Data: Data field seems interesting, but I lack knowledge about it. Is it a viable alternative?
– Transfer to CS: Considering transferring to UW Bothell or another state school for CS, but worried about the implications.
I’m a junior with two years left and feeling uncertain about the future. If anyone has faced a similar situation or has advice on what steps I could take next, I’d love to hear from you. 🙏
One possible strategy I’m considering is grinding Leetcode while completing my INFO degree. If I don’t secure a job, perhaps pursuing a master’s program like OMSCS could be a potential solution. What do you think?
Thanks for any insights you can provide! Let’s figure this out together. 🚀
All state schools allow transfer to cs, and you can even apply in spring so you have time
Leetcode is important but isn’t everything, irrespective of major. Your major in cs will give you more chance of getting interviews and leetcode assessment
Transfer to cs
You can transfer to a CS program if your goal is to be a SE. You are not going to get many interviews if you do not have a CS degree, so having a CS degree will improve your chances.
“Information” isn’t a degree related to CS. When employers mention “related degree”, they mean Computer Engineering or Software Engineering degrees.
You have an IT-ish degree so you will qualify more for IT-ish roles.
>I applied to over 150 positions last year and only got a few responses, all of which ended in OA rejections
It seems like you are getting some opportunities to break into SE roles, but you are throwing that opportunity away because you are ill prepared. Why is that?
It doesn’t matter if you apply to 1000 positions and get 10 responses if you are just going to fumble those 10 interviews.
Transfer into CS.
Careers are long. I did a 6 year diversion in biology, before figuring out I wanted to go into CS. Glad I did.
Something I learned being in CS, is that being smart is an advantage. However, hard work is THE essential element to a successful career.
Another vote for you need to switch to CS.
After you graduate you’ll thank yourself if being a dev is what you want.
i would reach out to your fellow info alumni on linkedin for their input and advice. Also reach out to your schools career center. Those advice should be more helpful in terms of you should stick with the major or not.
The problem you’re going to have is the question I’m going to ask, which is: what do you actually learn in your major? Have you learn algorithms and programming?
You’re probably going to get asked that question a lot.
UW is prestigious and msft/amzn love hiring from there, but afaik both companies mostly target the cs department.
I think only active recruiters at tech companies would know if they consider info to be an equivalent degree.
Having a CS degree was always a leg up in most roles, and your friend is right that the current market is terrible…
…but there’s a good chance it won’t be by the time you graduate. There’s signs of recovery in the air a bit right now, and two years is a long time. Two years *ago*, the market was only just settling into its current poor state, and three years ago the market was pretty strong.
That said: your goal is to be a SWE, I can’t see any reason why you shouldn’t just do the degree that is the most obvious path to that. So I guess put me down for team “transfer” too.
Not sure why any one dream about swe at big tech. That dream died before ui even graduate from a top cs college. Just set your expectations accordingly. Is there any way you can take cs classes that actually matter while finishing info on time? Could you pick up a cs minor? If resume is the problem then low key you need to lie to the ATS but be smart about it.
I was a info sys major. Graduated and got a job as tech supp at a BI software company. Went from tech supp to consulting. And then consulting to swe. And now a Sr SWE.
TBH FAANG sucks, why would you base your whole life to work for a mediocre company that doesn’t care about you?