What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Your son graduated six months ago with a computer science degree, but has yet to land his first job in the tech industry. This frustrating situation is compounded by the expectation that so many of us have that a qualification in computer science is an automatic ticket to stable tech employment. Let’s explore why the tech job pipeline has shrunk and what you can do to respond.
A Market Shift, Not A Fluke
The tech job market in 2025 is no longer the gold rush it was in 2020–2022. A lot of companies have retrenched, slowed hiring, or started adopting more selective criteria. The huge supply of newly minted CS grads is running straight up against lower demand for entry-level roles.
Entry‑Level Jobs Are Evaporating
A critical change is that many 'junior developer' jobs are being eliminated, automated, or consolidated. Employers are now leaning toward candidates who can hit the ground running with domain knowledge or special expertise.
The Unemployment Spike For CS Graduates
According to a recent Federal Reserve report, CS grads are seeing unemployment near 6.1 %, well above the average for other majors. Such a number implies that the mismatch is systemic, and not just anecdotal.
Oversupply And Automation Pressure
Part of the problem is one of basic math: there’s more talent chasing fewer roles. A lot of grads are entering the market at the same time, while many companies are starting to use AI tools in development and code generation. Some entry tasks are now handled by AI-assisted coding systems, cutting down on the demand for fresh junior engineers.
Hiring Is Concentrated In Niche Fields
Computer Science as a field is incredibly vast; more targeted roles in AI/ML, data engineering, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure are more resilient. If your son’s skills align with any of those niche areas, or he can shift toward them, he may have a little more luck.
Skills Vs Degrees
A lot of today’s employers are emphasizing demonstrable skills over degrees alone. If your son has built any side projects independently, contributed to open source, or works on AI tools, those will help him stand out.
Interview Standards Have Tightened
Tech interviews are a lot tougher now, with more emphasis on system design, performance optimization, and domain knowledge depth. Some companies eye senior or mid-level hires rather than risking the time and expense of training juniors.
Remote Work Is No Longer The Safety Net It Once Was
At the height of the COVID era, remote roles exploded. Now hiring has gone back to being more regionally constrained. This limits your son’s reach into companies that are only looking to hire people in specific regions.
Bigger Firms Are More Risk‑Averse
Large tech firms facing macroeconomic volatility have put mass hiring programs on pause and are in the midst of re‑prioritizing projects. Startups may hire more aggressively, but they also often demand a lot more experience aside from the risk factors involved.
The Layoff Ripple Effect
Tech layoffs over the past years mean the job market is brimming over with experienced talent. Junior candidates are now competing head-to-head with mid‑level engineers. That raises the bar for entry-level positions by a lot.
Your Financial Lens: Time Is Costly
Waiting six months while being underpaid and/or underemployed has major financial downsides: lost income, mounting debt, not to mention possibly diminishing morale. You son should use his time wisely instead of waiting passively. Encourage him to treat this as an investment phase in terms of building assets (skills, network, visibility) that pay off later.
Diversify The Application Strategy
Your son should be applying broadly: to smaller companies, non‑tech sectors (finance, health tech, energy), contract gigs, or startups. Sometimes 'tech-adjacent' roles can open doors as well. Even roles in data analytics, devops, or QA can give him a foothold in the industry.
Build Visibility Through Projects
Encourage him to launch open source contributions, side projects, or internships (paid or volunteer). These kinds of projects offer tangible proof of his ability. Documenting progress publicly (GitHub, blog, portfolio) can make recruiters notice him more than a blind resume submission.
Glenn Carstens-Peters, Unsplash
Upskill Strategically
He could specialize in recently trending domains: prompt engineering, model fine-tuning, generative AI, security, or domain-specific tooling. Taking relevant bootcamps, getting certifications, or small contract work can bridge the gap between “fresh grad” and “mid-level potential.”
Networking & Referrals Matter More Than Ever
Cold applications now vanish down a black hole to nowhere. Referrals, alumni networks, and personal connections are more promising routes to a possible job interview. Encourage him to attend as many meetups, tech talks, and open-source communities as he can, even if they’re only online. Thes can build relationships.
Consider Contract / Freelance Work
Smaller consulting projects or freelance gigs are a great way to build credibility, income, and references. They show he can deliver and he may even be able to convert that into a full-time role later.
Be Financially Smart in the Meantime
If he’s pressed for money, part-time or non‑tech jobs aren’t failure; they’re survival. The key is to try to conserve savings and keep forward momentum toward his goal. Avoid burnout: consistent small wins are far more sustainable than hanging around waiting for the perfect position to come along.
Monitor Macro-Economic & Industry Signals
Keep an eye on hiring reports, tech layoffs, and domain trends. The job market is adjusting, not falling. Roles highlighting AI and machine learning are sub-fields still in demand.
Be Patient With Positioning
It may take 12–18 months of steady effort before he lands a meaningful tech role, especially since he’s starting in such a soft market. But each project, network contact, and extra skill nudges him closer.
You Are His Financial Insider
You can help by encouraging investment in training, patience in pacing, and measuring progress (applications, interviews, feedback). Your financial, emotional, and strategic support can be a difference maker in turning a rough tech job entry into a durable career. It may seem hard right now, but the longer he stays in the game, the more chance there is that his luck will change.
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