Entry-level software engineering postings dropped 67% between 2023 and 2024. The pipeline that turns students into engineers is collapsing.

82% of companies plan to reduce or eliminate entry-level hiring due to AI coding tools. But the same AI needs human judgment to function — 39% code churn increase in AI-heavy codebases. The pipeline is dying.

  • missingno@fedia.io
    28·
    15 hours ago

    Every position that claims to be entry level inevitably sends me back an email that says “We received many qualified applicants and have decided to move ahead with another candidate whose work experience is a closer match for this particular role.”

    My bachelor’s degree isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on anymore. Experience is all that matters, but I can’t get experience because I don’t have experience.

    • Omodi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      15·
      15 hours ago

      I have 8 years of experience and I get the same emails for entry level jobs.

    • TehPers@beehaw.orgEnglish
      1·
      8 hours ago

      This has always been an issue. From my experience, the best way to get in was through internships, co-ops, and other kinds of programs. Those tend to have lower requirements and count as experience.

      Of course, today, things are a lot different. It’s a lot more competitive, and people don’t care anymore about actual software dev skills, just who can churn out SLOC the fastest.

      • missingno@fedia.io
        3·
        8 hours ago

        I’ve tried applying to internships too, but nearly every internship position I see says they are explicitly looking for current students or graduates within the past year. I think my degree is too old to get in now.

        • TehPers@beehaw.orgEnglish
          3·
          7 hours ago

          For what it’s worth, open source dev can also work. If you can commit some time to a project you care deeply about and make regular contributions, that’s another form of experience, and I see no reason you couldn’t add that as a line to your resume alongside any other work experience.

          • locuester@lemmy.zipEnglish
            1·
            5 minutes ago

            When I hire, this is actually the preferred experience. College degrees go on the bottom of the pile unless they stand out in another way. College is an indication (for me) that you lack the passion to be self taught.