Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Software Engineers
Matthew advises undergraduates and graduate students looking for entry-level software engineering positions to "not be too picky with [their] first job" and to see it as an investment in themselves, as there's "no substitute for experience," even if the roles involve unfamiliar AI tools and require some career re-architecting. Matthew, who took eight years to get into a Big Tech role despite not majoring in CS, believes "those roles have to [and] will be there," despite a changing landscape, offering a message of opportunity and incremental growth.
Entry-Level Software Engineering, Job Market Trends, Career Advancement, Skills Development, Big Tech
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matthew Gagliardi
Software Engineer III
Big Tech Company
University of San Diego
U.C. Berekely . M.A. mathematics
Mathematics, Data Science, Statistics, Philosophy
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Don't be too picky with your first job; experience is invaluable, even if it takes time to reach your desired role.
2. Entry-level software engineering roles still exist, though job descriptions may now include familiarity with AI tools.
3. Technology is constantly changing, requiring continuous learning and adaptation throughout your career.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might undergraduates and graduate students consider?
There are definitely still lots of companies that need people to write code, get in on the ground floor, and deliver products. That would be my one piece of advice, especially if you want to go on this path. In my case, that's definitely what I did.
Don't be too picky with your first job. It took me eight years before I got into a big tech role. Some people do it faster, depending. I didn't major in CS.
Some people who do major in CS and go to really well-known schools have clear trajectories right into the very desirable companies. But there's no substitute for experience. So when you're looking on LinkedIn or whatever other forum for roles, or recruiters reach out to you, take those calls and do those interviews.
I think your first job is definitely what you'll make of it. You'll make a contribution wherever you are, but you're going to learn a ton. See it as an investment in yourself, even if it's not your dream job.
To answer the question, even though the landscape has changed in terms of what a junior engineer is or what entry-level software engineering roles are, those roles will still be there. Just don't be too picky.
Understand that it might not be the role that you studied for or worked hard for in whatever you majored in. That's okay. It is an incremental journey in terms of getting to work on what you want.
So those roles are there. The job descriptions might be different now, involving familiarity with AI tools and things like that. But that's your homework; you have to start doing it. I'm having to do it now.
I'm having to re-architect my career in certain ways based on new technology. But that's been true forever. That's what happened during the industrial revolution. Technology changes, but there's a huge opportunity there. I think there are going to be tons of entry-level roles still.