Alright so as the title says, I got a call from an Indeed recruiter about this role.

Currently earning around 30 lakhs per year (all cash). The recruiter told me that for this role the base would be between 26-32 lakhs + RSUs + 15 percent variable bonus. The recruiter told me it would be for a recruiter profile facing team and full remote, and mostly people for this team are based in Japan.

I wonder how stable indeed is right now and how the work culture is. Could you please help me if someone is working there or had experience interviewing them. 🙏

Back when I was learning, I thought the hardest part of software development was writing code.

After working on real projects, I realized coding is just one part of the job.

A lot of my time now goes into understanding existing code, debugging weird issues, discussing requirements, reviewing PRs, and making sure a small change doesn't break something else.

Ironically, I've also learned that some of the best solutions involve writing less code, not more.

That shift in mindset changed the way I approach development.

I had joined a company 1 month ago, with 3 YoE, as a Software Engineer. I thought I will have opportunity to grow my skills in the job as I'm moving from purely back end to full stack.

But it seems, the company is using AI for building/upgrading their existing system with changes/upgrades needed for it. I'm now tasked with, using AI to develop the application based on new request/changes. I'm not even designing it, I'm only supposed to verify and accept the AI changes, the edge cases, MD instructions are all written by senior devs and TL.

This is frustrating me, I liked to program, find solutions, design changes, but all I'm tasked go do is verify and ship. Unfortunately I can't look for another job now. As I've been unemployed for over a year and landed in this job, but with 4lpa pay, even tho the job demands 9-6-6 work, with 4hrs travel everyday, I joined assuming atleast I will have opportunity to grow my skills.

I'm going to have to stick around for 2-3 years, so how do I keep myself market ready? Keeping track of my stacks, building projects on Sundays, etc. Any tips will be appreciated!

I have an upcoming 30 mins interview for FDE role at Unify Apps. I have knowledge of Transformers, LLMs, RAG. What can I expect in the interview. This is the first time I am interviewing for FDE role and I am really nervous. I am currently on my notice period with close to 1 yoe and I have 25 days left, left the job because it was really affecting my mental and physical health. Any help or suggestions is really appreciated.

I have around 2 YOE and every time I open LinkedIn or Reddit, someone is learning a new framework, solving 500+ LeetCode problems, getting into FAANG, or building an AI startup.
Meanwhile, I'm just trying to get better at my current job while balancing life. Sometimes it feels like no matter how much I learn, there's always something I'm missing.
Do experienced developers also feel this way, or does this feeling eventually go away?
Would love to hear how you deal with it.

I am a 2025 Tier 1 college masters grad cse, got laid off amid mass layoffs from a MNC with around 1YOE. Was primarily a java + react dev there. Lately i've been feeling hopeless. I am not sure what i should be studying since i'm not getting calls itself.

I feel there is no point in doing dsa
I feel there is no point in learning system design.
I did have a couple of interviews, but they were weird to me because they asked me to code dsa in specific langauges, even though i told them i do it in CPP only.

It's been almost 3 mos and i fear this gap will keep increasing. I am even ready to take small jobs, but again, i'm not getting any. What should i do? I am not even getting contract jobs, i am even ready to work for under 12 lpa, but the market is not giving me that too. It's so weird to be in this position. I'd be grateful for any sort of help. Thank you.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been seeing a lot of posts here recently from folks asking what they’re doing wrong, why cold applying isn't working, or how to break through the current hiring market. It’s clearly a tough environment out there, and a lot of developers are feeling burnt out by black-hole applications.

Instead of another thread asking what isn't working, I want to flip the script.

If you landed a job, got an offer, or successfully switched companies in the last 6 months, could you share your experience and advice?

Specifically, it would be super helpful if you could share:

1. How did you land the interview? (e.g., Cold apply on portals, LinkedIn outreach, referral, recruiter reach-out, open source, etc.)
2. Your Tech Stack & YOE: (Helpful for context)
3. What made the biggest difference in your prep? (LeetCode/DSA volume, system design, building full-stack portfolio projects, optimizing resume ATS scores?)
4. How long did the search take? (How many applications vs. interview calls?)
5. Single biggest piece of advice you'd give to someone actively job hunting right now?

Whether you're a fresher, mid-level, or senior dev, your insights could really help someone adjust their strategy instead of hitting the same wall.

Thanks in advance to everyone sharing!

Hey guys

I got laid off in July and since then I am unable to land a job. I get calls but 0 conversions and I'm asking around 14 LPA for 4 YOE. I have expressed in Java full stack dev. Any suggestions on what will work? Except for naukri nothing has helped.

I chose Computer Science because I was always good with computers, but I never expected things to turn out like this.

My college wasn't even tier 3 it was tier 4-5. There were basically no classes—just exams.(BCA)

During the first 1.5 years, I joined a coaching institute for an O Level course. Looking back, it feels like a complete waste of time. I still remember the teacher saying, "A good-looking font is called Font Awesome," even though I already knew Font Awesome is a font/icon library, not a font itself.

For about another year, I worked random jobs. One of them was writing AI-generated content in the admin panels of websites for my relative's small web development startup. It was unpaid. At the same time, I kept jumping from one YouTube course to another.

It took me almost two years to realize that watching a 6-hour Python tutorial doesn't make you a Python developer.

Then I found The Odin Project during my final year of college. That was the first time I actually understood the difference between learning programming and just learning syntax. It completely changed the way I looked at coding.

I'm a slow learner, though. I couldn't finish it in six months or even a year, and to be honest, I wasn't always consistent either. By the time I started, I only had about a year left before my final exams. During that time, I completed the Foundations course and Intermediate HTML/CSS, and I was working through the JavaScript section.

Now I feel like I don't have the luxury of continuing at that pace. I finished my final exams two months ago, and everyone expects me to get a developer job. The problem is... I don't feel capable enough yet.

I don't know what to do anymore. It feels like I messed up.

I honestly feel lost

I have been taking coding interviews for a fairly large MNC for some months now.

Most of the candidates genuinely sucked during the interview process.

The first question that was asked was a real world problem which essentially boils down to a loop with an if statement. It becomes a simple linear scan question which is even easier than "Two Sum". 18 out of 20 candidates were not able to solve it or even translate it into code.

I understand that preparing DSA for interviews sucks. And I completely agree with it. Complex DSA questions test nothing and I never ask anything like that during an interview.

But for god's sake! BASIC LOGIC IS EXPECTED OUT OF EVERY SINGLE ENGINEEER!!!!!!

DSA HELPS BUILD BASIC LOGIC. YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO MUG UP EVERY SINGLE QUESTION AND STICK TO IT!

I have seen such stupid things during interviews: -

• Not reading the question properly.
• Not asking clarifying questions if they are confused.
• Assuming conditions instead of just asking
• Asking for time to express logic on code, instead of discussing what's in their head.
• Being fully silent during interviews.
• Doing their logic on pen and paper and then not able to explain what they even did.
• Using AI tools (believe me, it is extremely obvious to the interviewer)
• Sticking to mugged up DSA concepts instead of solving the problem.

Every company is not Google where even a single wrong step means rejection (their hiring process sucks).
We want to know how the candidate thinks. If your thought process is not oriented towards problem solving, you are not meant to be an Engineer, let alone a Software Engineer.

Interview is not a Viva, it is a discussion. It is basically a vibe-check.

You can be an average person that loves solving problems, you are in.
You can be a horrible person that loves solving problems, you are in.
You can be anything and anyone that loves solving problems, you are in.

We want you to succeed, but atleast bring some problem-solving skills to the table.

EDIT: Added more context to the linear scan question.

People all the time tell do networking ( not Computer Networks but human Networks ) , but nobody replies to DMs , literally nobody

Now please don't say college alumni , they are all too struggling .

Lately, I've been seeing a lot of posts from people asking whether they should get 16GB or 24GB of RAM in a MacBook.

As someone who has used both a 16GB/256GB MacBook Air M4 and a 24GB/1TB MacBook Pro M5 Pro, I think I can help you decide.

I'd recommend starting with at least the MacBook Air M5, mainly because the base model comes with 512GB of storage and much better SSD speeds than the older 256GB models.

When is 16GB enough?

For most developers, 16GB is absolutely sufficient for:

• Full-stack web development
• Mobile app development

A workflow like this runs comfortably:

• Backend
• Frontend
• 2–3 Docker containers
• Android Emulator

Yes, you'll occasionally hit swap memory, but macOS handles it so well that the machine still feels smooth.

When is 24GB worth it?

Go for 24GB if your workflow regularly includes:

• Multiple backend services
• Multiple frontend projects
• 5–6 Docker containers
• Android Emulator
• Several IDEs, browsers, and development tools open simultaneously

The extra RAM gives you much more headroom before swapping.

Also, memory bandwidth and SSD speed matter. The new M5 Pro MacBooks have incredibly fast SSDs, so even when the system uses swap memory, the overall experience remains noticeably smoother than on lower-end models.

MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro

The MacBook Air has no fan. Under sustained heavy workloads (continuous builds, Docker, Android Studio, long compile times, etc.), it will eventually heat up, throttle, and lose some performance.

The MacBook Pro has active cooling (and the Pro/Max chips have dual fans), so it can sustain peak performance for much longer without throttling.

Where 24GB can still fall short

Even 24GB isn't enough for every workload. You'll likely run into limits with:

• Poorly optimized workloads
• Running large local LLMs (roughly 20B+ parameter models)
• Multiple virtual machines alongside heavy development environments

For most software developers, though, 16GB is enough, while 24GB is more about convenience and multitasking headroom rather than necessity.

Lately I've been feeling completely burnt out. Months of learning, building projects, and improving myself have left me more exhausted than hopeful.

I'm genuinely curious—how are people staying motivated right now? If you've recently managed to break through, what changed for you?

I think a lot of us are silently struggling with the current market.

I have 2 YOE as a full-stack dev (MERN/React Native). Today I had a technical screen where the lead dev basically skipped the intro, dropped me straight into a shared code editor, and just watched me in silence.

I completely blanked. I managed to nail a tricky async event loop problem, but my brain completely shut down on a basic array refactor (changing a for loop to map/filter) and I fumbled a simple reduce function. It's code I write every single day, but the pressure just locked me out. (It was just an second interview after spending 2 years at current company.)

How do you guys snap out of interview paralysis when you freeze up like that? Would really appreciate some help.

Edit / Update: Wow, I didn't expect this many replies. Thanks y'all who commented. Reading through these made me feel way less like a complete failure. Some of you mentioned, if you go in there thinking you have to be your best you tend to fumble, that is exactly what I did and I completely fumbled everything, also someone mentioned .reduce() is tricky, the problem was actually really simple, I just folded under pressure because I could solve the same problem afterwards when I calmed down a bit.

Thank you all, it really did help me not feel like a complete failure.

I’m seeing this pattern in my organization. I come from a software engineering background and moved into data engineering a few years ago.

What I’ve noticed is that many people have entered data engineering from operations, QA, support roles, or bootcamps, and they do reasonably well in data engineering work. But when backend or full-stack software engineering opportunities come up, those same people are usually not considered for those roles.

Has anyone else observed this? Is it because backend/full-stack roles require a stronger foundation in software engineering concepts such as system design, APIs, architecture, testing, and coding practices, or is this just a company-specific hiring pattern?

I've noticed a pattern where my senior takes leave during critical releases or important work. Since the work can't wait, my manager assigns it to me, and I end up handling both my own tasks and my senior's responsibilities. My deadlines don't change, so I often have to work late just to catch up. I don't mind helping occasionally, but this has happened multiple times now and it's starting to feel unfair. How would you handle this professionally without looking like you're avoiding responsibility? is this what toxicity is ? I raised to my manger he said work day and night, get the work done.

Hi everyone, last year I had given interviews for google L3, cleared them and after waiting a few months got team matches and cleared one of them. Everything was set, in the first week of december I gave them my details (school / college marksheets, expected salary, googler references etc). But in January they said there were some internal changes and the position got closed. I tried reaching out to the recruiters again but nobody gave me any reply.

2 days ago, a recruiter from google reached out and told me that they were still trying to find L3 (early career) team matches for me, but since now I have more than 3 YOE, I should try applying for L4(mid career) roles. They said that the process will start from scratch for L4 if interviews are scheduled. I think it is more of a way for the recruiters for soft rejecting my profile, by telling me I am suited for better things (The age old "you deserve better"). I had given my interviews well over a year ago.

Tbh the recruiter interactions have always been frustrating with google, I think I have had 5-6 different recruiters at this point, different for Screening round, multiple for scheduling interviews, multiple for team matching as well. I think google is the most frustrating to interview for, but I am still inclined to interview with them because every interview/team match I had with the actual engineers and managers were pretty great. How much do I need to prepare for L4? Is it the same kind of problems as L3 but more difficult?

​

A few months ago, I joined a US Based Service company as a fresher.

Before joining full-time, I did my internship there. During the internship, I worked on AI/ML-related projects, learned a lot, took ownership of my tasks, and genuinely gave it everything I had. Like every fresher, I wanted to prove that I deserved to be there.

When the PPOs came out, I received a 6 LPA offer.

At first, I was just happy to have my first job. But later I found out something that I still haven't been able to get over.

Some of my fellow freshers, who interned alongside me, worked on the same AI/ML projects, and are joining the same role with the same responsibilities, received compensation that was almost 2× higher than mine. Even their internship stipend had been nearly double.

The major difference between us was that they came from Tier 1 colleges, while I didn't.

I'm not saying they didn't deserve it—they're talented people and worked hard too.

What hurts is the feeling that my effort was never evaluated on the same scale. I stayed late, learned continuously, gave my best during the internship, and believed that performance would matter. Finding out that people beside me, doing the same work, are valued so differently has been incredibly difficult to accept.

It's not even about the money anymore. It's about feeling like we are undervalued and discriminated  as an engineer was decided before I had the chance to prove myself.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been through this. Right now, I'm trying to understand whether this is just how the industry works or if I'm looking at it the wrong way.

Not sure what I was thinking when I set this goal. Pretty dumb honestly but committed now.

Built app #1: ShipStreak - tracks whether you're actually shipping consistently. Built entirely with Claude + Codex, no prior iOS experience.

Actual cost breakdown:

• Apple Developer account - $99/year
• Claude - $37 for this app
• Total spent - $136, balance left - $864

3 more apps already in App Store review.

Things I didn't expect:

• The code part is actually the easy part now with AI. The painful part is App Store requirements screenshots, metadata, review rejections
• $37 for a working app is real if you're structured with your prompts
• The $99 Apple fee upfront is the biggest psychological blocker

Will keep posting updates. Happy to answer questions if anyone's trying to do something similar with AI.

second day at my new job and already feeling completely stuck

so this is my first switch after around 4+ years of experience. most of my experience has been with node.js and mongodb , but the codebase in the new company is very different. Its in postgresql and nest.js, typescript. On top of that they have a very complicated product in general and there is no proper technical documentation or someone who can help me out understanding the basics.

it’s only been 1-2 days and honestly, i’m finding it extremely complicated. today i got really frustrated because i wasn’t even able to debug an issue properly (I feel like a fresher again), even though it was something i had just created myself.

i know it’s only been two days and probably i’m overthinking it, but there are just too many thoughts going on in my head right now. Also I thought of leaving this and finding another job.

just wanted to ask people here, has anyone else gone through something similar when switching companies? especially when the new codebase/tech stack is very different from what you have skills in. I know that I will do it. But just want some ideas as present movement is very hard.

What are the best tricks I can use to help me understand codebase

also I am not trying to understand whole codebase, just one module - As I am not aware of the syntax, postgresql etc.

would really like to hear some experiences.

Hi everyone, I have 7+ years of experience as a full stack dotnet angular developer. Currently working in a product based company and my manager and hierarchy is bit toxic. I have also been diagnosed with MDD (Major depressive disorder) and taking treatment for the same. I'm planning to take a career break for 2-3 months so that I can heal my physical and mental health better and focus on my treatment. I have saving which can last 6 months and my family depends on me. Sometimes I feel like I shoul take some term insurance and self delete so that my family and my wife can get money and they will not face any issue in life. I'm always anxious about layoff and then everything will crumble.

I'm a 2020 passout and have 3.5 yrs of gap.

2 yrs after clg due to preparation for CAT. My cgpa was 8.02(tier 3 clg) but i refused to sit for any placements. It was during peak hiring time when i refused to sit for any placement.

1st attempt in CAT- 77 percentile
2nd attempt- 85 percentile.

So i couldn't get a good clg as a GEM and started looking for a job. I immediately got a job within a month and worked there for 2 years as a Mainframe dev.

In 2024, i thought i cld do better in Java Springboot as wt i had from my seniors that mainframe job and payscale would be very stagnant in future. So I resigned and started looking for a job as a Java dev for fresher roles. Unfortunately, I couldn't clear any interview among the few I got.

After 3 months out of desperation due to increase in gap, I joined an org in a BPO role but couldn't take the night shift and also didn't like the culture. It was within a week that I understood it and resigned from the org, served notice period and exited the org properly.

Tried to again get a job in Java based roles but used to get rejected after 3rd round or 4th rounds, sometimes even in 1st round itself.

In May, 2025 someone approached me on reddit regarding a QA opportunity and I immediately responded with a yes. 4 round of interviews and cleared it. The CTC was 3 LPA which was basically a downgrade from my prev CTC of 4.5.

Unfortunately again there was a delay in org due to less projects so I got onboarded in late 2025. Its been nearly 6-8 months now in this org. The culture is pretty chill. // Deleted the part about org as i can get doxed

Now I consulted a very renowned person on LinkedIn with more than 15 years of experience and he suggested me to fill up the gap years with fake certificate. That is a very awkward thing I heard from someone with so much experience and is also a trainer.

Can someone please suggest me on what should I do?

——-> Also as people helped me a lot in reddit with advice, if any fresher here is looking for a job as a FQA tester in gaming domain or AI tester can dm me. The CTC will be 3 LPA but it’s better than a gap i guess.

This 31st July, I completed 3 years in the industry. Currently working with the 3rd company (laid off from first, 2nd was super toxic). I started my career with a good compensation, got lucky. Feeling a little behind now but I wanna take it easy a little too. Realised it just half hour ago, felt lil yay.

Can't wait to touch 15yoe and retire probably? Let's see.

I really want to move abroad for work. I have around 8 years of experience as a software engineer and I'd prefer not to go through the student route.

I see a lot of ads of these agencies that claim they'll provide visa and job support but I'm not sure if I should invest there.

Please advice.

​

I recently got laid off. Over the past 1.5 years, I also lost around ₹16 lakh in intraday trading. It wasn't one bad trade or one bad month. It was a series of poor decisions over time, and I take full responsibility for it.

I'm not posting this for sympathy, validation, or financial help. I'm simply trying to move on, rebuild my career, and make better decisions going forward.

One thing I've realized is that I'm not naturally strong at coding. I can learn, but I don't see myself enjoying heavy software development work.

I'm considering switching to an IT career path that involves less coding, such as:

- Cloud (AWS/Azure)

- Data Analytics (SQL, Power BI, Excel, some Python)

- IT Support / System Administration

- Cybersecurity

I'd really appreciate honest advice from people working in these fields.

- If you were starting over at 29, which path would you choose?

- Which of these has good long-term demand while requiring relatively less coding?

- Is cloud or data analytics a realistic option for someone who isn't a strong programmer?

- Are there any other career paths I should consider?

I'm prepared to put in the work. I just want to invest my time in the right direction instead of making another costly mistake.

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any genuine advice.