I'm considering studying computer science and pursuing software development, which is genuinely my main passion. I spend a lot of time practicing coding problems and building projects, but constant negative discussions about the job market have made me afraid that getting hired is basically random.
I understand that entry-level hiring is competitive, and I'm trying to distinguish realistic risks from exaggerated pessimism. I worry about spending years and a lot of money on a degree only to graduate without meaningful opportunities. The uncertainty has become overwhelming, and at times it has contributed to suicidal thoughts.
How can I evaluate the risks more realistically, protect my mental health, and decide whether continuing toward CS is a sensible choice?
4 Answers
Online negativity is a distorted sample. People who are happily employed usually aren’t spending their free time writing repeated posts about how impossible hiring is, while frustrated applicants have a much stronger reason to post. That doesn’t make their experiences fake, but it does mean they shouldn’t be treated as a complete picture.
Try stepping away from online career discussions for a while and talk with people at local meetups, conferences, student groups, or volunteer events. You’ll get a more balanced view and may build relationships with people who can give practical advice or eventually recommend you.
The market is definitely more competitive than it was, but competitive doesn’t mean impossible. If software development is something you truly enjoy, keep building your skills: learn the fundamentals, make substantial projects, practice problem-solving, and learn to use AI tools effectively. You don’t need a guarantee of employment—you need to give yourself a realistic chance while keeping your options open.
The suicidal thoughts are much more important than the career question. Please tell someone you trust and contact a mental-health professional or crisis service as soon as possible. Your value is not determined by whether you get a particular job.
You can control more than doomposts suggest: how seriously you study, whether you finish projects, how well you communicate, how you respond to feedback, and how broadly you search for opportunities. Hiring outcomes also depend on timing and the economy, so don’t interpret every setback as proof that you personally failed.
It’s also healthy not to make software your entire identity. Keep developing other interests and relationships so that one career decision doesn’t feel like a judgment on your whole life.
That fear is understandable, which is why it’s worth researching tuition, graduation outcomes, internships, and alternative career options before committing. You can reduce the risk with a lower-cost program, work experience, and regular check-ins rather than treating the decision as irreversible.
There is genuine risk right now. Entry-level hiring has fallen substantially from its earlier peak, and nobody can promise what the market will look like when you graduate. But the downturn may also reflect broader economic conditions, and software work is not simply disappearing. Technology keeps changing, and the profession will evolve rather than vanish overnight.
A degree by itself is not a guarantee, though. Strong fundamentals, useful projects, communication, teamwork, internships, networking, and a willingness to keep improving all matter. Treat CS as a path with uncertainty, not as a lottery or a guaranteed outcome.
The hardest part for me is the uncertainty. With school, I can control whether I study and pass. The possibility of doing everything right and still ending up with major debt and no job makes me feel powerless.