TLDR: The tech industry is becoming a winner-takes-all arena. Traditional paths are dying, AI is eating entry-level jobs, and you have about 5-10 years to get rich or get replaced. Stop preparing, start taking.
“In tomorrow’s tech world, you’re either the one building the AI, or the one being replaced by it.”
Let’s cut straight to the chase: the odds are stacking up against junior folks trying to break into tech today:
- Mass layoffs have frozen hiring across the industry, with even tech giants slashing thousands of positions monthly
- AI and automation are breathing down our necks, replacing entry-level positions at an alarming rate
- Hiring managers have become numb to “average” achievements after seeing thousands of identical bootcamp projects
- Global talent pools have exploded with remote work and immigration, turning local competitions into worldwide battles
The tech landscape isn’t just harder – it’s transformed entirely. The bar for junior engineers and career switchers isn’t just higher; it’s in the stratosphere. We’re talking about a fundamental shift in what it means to be “qualified” for a tech role.
Is this a bad thing? On the grand scheme, probably not. It’s forcing people to be more driven, more motivated, more dedicated to succeed. The days of skating by on a basic CS degree are dead and buried. But let’s be real: not everyone with a CS degree is landing that $300K/year cash position at FAANG (e.g. Facebook, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, etc.). In fact, the vast majority have zero shot at such roles straight out of school. And I’m not talking about a small majority – we’re looking at 95%+ of graduates who won’t even get past the resume screen.
People ask me for advice on how to get ahead of these curves. Here’s the unvarnished truth, and fair warning – you’re going to dislike it.
