Tech hire freeze | CS Career Hub | Page 1

austere berry Nov 24, 2022, 11:50 PM

#

Hi all.

I'm currently doing a PhD in AI, but I'm very dissatisfied with how it's going, and I'm thinking of changing gears. I'm in the EU, and all my experience is in computer vision, mostly R&D. I'd like to change completely, and work as a SWE. My Leetcode skills are a bit rusty but can quickly be regained. However, it seems to me that with recent news of layoffs and hiring freezes, it isn't a great moment to do this. I'm not entirely sure what I should do. I'll specify that I'm in France, and the tech scene here seems different from the US. Most jobs I see are more like web dev or mobile dev jobs, and very few FAANG-style offers. Any tips ?

lean saffron Nov 25, 2022, 12:00 AM

#

Are you open to relocation? I'm not familiar with tech market in France but there are quite a few openings across Europe

austere berry Nov 25, 2022, 12:27 AM

#

Definitely open to relocation

native kite Nov 25, 2022, 4:05 AM

#

As someone who left their PhD to do SWE, I highly recommend it if you can land a job. My stress levels are so much lower now and I'm much happier

austere berry Nov 25, 2022, 10:18 AM

#

So, any tips about how to search for (junior?) SWE jobs in the EU ? Most are for "[insert language here] developer".

native kite Nov 25, 2022, 11:14 AM

#

I dont know about the EU, but I'd look for new grad positions instead of junior positions

austere berry Nov 25, 2022, 1:26 PM

#

interesting, what is the difference ?

native kite Nov 25, 2022, 1:28 PM

#

New grad pipelines are specifically targeting people fresh out of university with zero experience. It doesn't hurt to apply to junior roles asking for a bit of experience, but I think you'll have better luck with new grad

glossy eagle Nov 25, 2022, 1:35 PM

#

Why not finish the PhD out of curiosity?

austere berry Nov 25, 2022, 1:38 PM

#

I'm not really being pushed enough, and the guidance isn't great. It seems my PhD directors are okay with publications at mid level conferences, but I don't really see what I gain from it.

native kite Nov 25, 2022, 1:39 PM

#

How close are you to defending?

lean saffron Nov 25, 2022, 2:02 PM

#

native kite I dont know about the EU, but I'd look for new grad positions instead of junior ...

I thiiink I'll disagree, it's mostly american companies that have a distinction between new grad and junior

#

So basically you'll have a new grad job posting at google/amazon/meta

#

But not really at local companies, at least from my experience

#

And at my uni a lot of ppl started working part ime in the last year, so they'd call themselves junior at that point

native kite Nov 25, 2022, 2:05 PM

#

lean saffron I thiiink I'll disagree, it's mostly american companies that have a distinction ...

Good thing I prefaced that with "idk about EU" then, huh? 😉

lean saffron Nov 25, 2022, 2:06 PM

#

Yeah yeah, I'm not criticizing, just explaining the differences :)

native kite Nov 25, 2022, 2:06 PM

#

They did say they were open to relocation, so I was offering an American perspective

lean saffron Nov 25, 2022, 2:08 PM

#

As i said, i'm not tryong to criticize you, makes sense to have multiple perspectives

#

(sorry if i came across as such, english is not my native language)

native kite Nov 25, 2022, 2:09 PM

#

I didn't think you were, no worries

austere berry Nov 25, 2022, 2:26 PM

#

native kite How close are you to defending?

About 2 years away

#

But it's very clear it won't be a PhD of good quality, so I think it's probably better to get out now and get some experience

#Tech hire freeze