Hi everyone! I'm a 21-year-old female engineering undergrad and I've been trying to navigate the tech world for about four years. Honestly, I never planned to join this field; it sort of happened due to my parents' influence. While I enjoy some aspects of technology, especially full-stack development, I find myself lacking direction and feeling overwhelmed right now.
I've completed internships and freelanced for a year, but I struggle with Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA), which seem crucial for getting job placements. I've made several attempts to improve in this area, but every time I just feel burnt out and defeated because I can't solve even simple problems without assistance.
I also have a background in UX/UI design and I'm exploring opportunities in that area, but like my development work, I lack a solid portfolio to showcase my skills or any practical experience, aside from hosting a couple of workshops. I'm aware that I really need to build up my portfolio, and I'm currently working on it, but I'm feeling very discouraged. All my peers seem to have landed jobs, and while I'm happy for them, it's tough not to compare myself to their successes.
It's hard living with my conservative parents who have high expectations for my career success before allowing me more freedom. I feel stuck and am considering giving up on this path altogether, but I have ideas I want to explore if I could just find some direction. I'd really appreciate any advice, ideas for job roles I could apply for, or just general thoughts on navigating this experience. Thank you for listening! 💖🙏
5 Answers
I felt like giving up too at various points, but I learned that persistence is everything! Just remember, the right opportunity will come when you least expect it. You’ve got time on your side! Keep working hard, and don't hesitate to share your projects on social media—it definitely helps get noticed!
Hang in there! Sometimes, it takes a bit longer to find the right path, but keep your spirits up. Just remember, you only truly fail if you stop trying. You got this!
Thank you for the motivation! I really appreciate it!
Hey, I totally get where you’re coming from! I was in a similar spot about a year ago. I had been learning full-stack development for a while and couldn’t get any interviews despite my efforts. It was a rough time! I decided to take an unpaid internship that prioritized problem-solving skills rather than DSA. It was tough, but I eventually got offered a full-time role shortly after. Things can turn around more quickly than you might expect! Don’t give up!
Wow, that’s really inspiring! Thanks for sharing your experience!
You’re still super young! Remember, it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed. Moving out might really help you find your own path and work on those ideas. And don’t compare yourself too much to others—focus on your journey instead. Just keep building and showcasing your projects online; it’ll help you gain visibility. One opportunity is all you need!
That makes a lot of sense. Moving out is something I really need to consider. Thanks for the encouragement!
You don't need to get everything right away with DSA. It’s more about learning the fundamentals and understanding how to apply them. Try working through the Blind 75 problems until you have them memorized. You’ll find many of the job interview questions are just slight variations of these problems. Trust me, consistency is key!
I definitely feel like I’m struggling with algorithms, but this helps! I appreciate the tip!
Thank you! I’ll definitely start posting my work online.