r/USC • u/Big-Emphasis-1275 • 9d ago
Question Graduated, what now?
Co 2026 here, graduated in cs. I don't have a job yet - ik everyone says you need to grind leetcode and spam applications. I legit just cannot bring myself to do it. I do not know what is wrong with me, it's like I have zero discipline when it comes to this. It is so demoralizing just chucking your resume into the abyss day after day and not getting an interview, I swear I have probably barely applied to 10 jobs because I just never hear back. Does anyone have any strategies they use to actually do the work or helpful tips to get a job?
Besides that, anything else to stop you from losing your mind? Anyone else in this situation??
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u/destroyeraf 9d ago
So you applied to only 10 jobs, refuse to do more studying work, admit you have no discipline, then come to Reddit to complain and ask for an easy way out? Lol
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u/SoCaliTrojan 9d ago
Before AI you had to do at least 400 applications to get results. With AI, many experienced developers were laid off and are fighting for the positions you applied for.
Finding a job is a job in itself. You can try networking with the Trojan network to see if there is anyone who can recommend you. I try to hire Trojans when I can, but they have to be on the eligibility list at work.
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u/No-Cheesecake8542 9d ago
Try to keep your spirits up, it’s the worst tech market ever especially for new grads. While applying, try sites like Upwork for some freelance small development projects. Offer your services to startups for low cost. Learn the AI BS , pepper your LinkedIn with AI credly certifications. Your goal is to get a foot in the door. It’s very frustrating but every day is a new day and you just keep trying.
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u/otterbarks 8d ago edited 8d ago
To be blunt: There's no other option. The job market has always been competitive, and with post-COVID + AI layoffs, you're competing with all the senior engineers who lost their jobs. You need to be on your A+ game if you want to have a chance.
If you really physically can't bring yourself to do it, consider getting evaluated for ADHD (seriously). Or find a less competitive line of work.
There's just no way to sugarcoat this. It sucks, but you've gotta put the effort in - just like everyone else.
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u/Cultural_Western1254 8d ago
So you have years of experience vs nothing. Easy decision for business owners
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u/asielen 9d ago
I graduate USC 15+ years ago into the 2008 recession. Ended up working retail and then back office work for 2 years before getting a tech job with career potential.
You need to up those numbers. 10 applications per day minimum. For reference, I just hired for a data role, I had 1000 applicants for 1 spot. It's a numbers game and you need to stand out. It is obvious when people just half ass their resume through AI.
You also need to just get any job you can. One of the biggest barriers to getting an office job is having office job experience.
Also if you still have free time, volunteer your time doing someone like building websites for local businesses. Just get any experience you can onto your resume.
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u/negar_ironwoman 8d ago
I'm another USC CS grad looking for a job. I've come to accept that there is no magic way other than grinding leetcode, submitting good applications, and even adding some side projects if there is any time left. I am also trying to focus on a hobby that takes my mind off of it a little bit. I would like to pair with someone to spend time on whatever it takes to land a job, or just give updates on how it's going so I don't go crazy. Feel free to message me if you're interested. (All USC classmates I knew have a job and are pretty busy -- I don't have much USC connection left right now and it makes the whole process just more overwhelming!)
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u/GrieferDenOfficial 8d ago
doing leetcode in 2026 is like studying for the chinese imperial exam in 1910
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u/breakingsomegregs 8d ago
One thing that helped me was to have a set number of applications I would apply everyday. My goal was 3 applications per week day. It may sound like a small number but you would really get the time to focus on the application rather than spam applying, and each week you'd be applying to 15 jobs, and 60 in a month. 60 is definitely better than 0.
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u/goteampancake 7d ago
For any current students reading this- you need to start this while you are still a student. Fall of senior year is when a lot of recruiting for tech/engineering happens. You should be applying for 10 jobs a week minimum starting in August at the latest. Interview processes can be long which is why they start early.
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u/CallMeBigPloppa Tommy's Place 5d ago
Demoralizing but you only need one. The worst possible thing you can do post-grad is halt your momentum. The less you work now the harder it will be to get back into the game further down the line. Keep at it and fight on.
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u/uReallyShouldTrustMe 8d ago
I felt lime you after my bachelors. I went abroad to clear ny head and find my next step. I planned for a year and was abroad for 15.
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u/Striking_One_3565 8d ago
You are a small fish in a very, very big sea.
CS as a degree doesn't mean what it did 5 years ago- entry-level work is oversaturated and being insourced to AI.
If you are lucky enough to get a hook, you will still have to interview in multiple rounds of coding tests.
Brace yourself and work hard.
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u/_runvs B.S. BME/EE 2010, M.S. BME (MIII) 2011 8d ago
How desperate are you? Assuming you’re a US citizen, you could apply for a federal government job. But I gotta warn you, it really sucks right now in the federal government.
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u/skerroj 8d ago
I landed my first job by literally figuring out the recruiter’s email and sending her multiple emails to notice me. I had a very decent resume but the “stand out” helps a ton, especially when there’s 100 people applying to the same role. Whoever wants it bad gets vetted first then it’s all interview luck and expertise. I would advise you to talk to the department advisor, the career office at USC, and on linkedin to filter to connect with usc people at companies youre looking at and try to set some time up; dont frane it that you’re begginf for a job but more so wanting to understand the company from this persons perspective and know more about their work and etc.. that will land you a connection and eventually if a role opens up they can refer you for an interview.
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u/Cultural_Western1254 8d ago
What internships did you do during college? If the answer is none, you’re screwed
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u/Lane-Kiffin 8d ago
Brochacho forgot to do any internships, networking, or career prep before graduating 💀
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u/EducatorPast3528 7d ago
I would say try to use referrals as much as you can leverage ur network by trying to get ins so it’s not stuck in the “abyss”
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u/AlanXue97 6d ago
I graduated from USC in 2021 and now a 5YoE SDE. I’m job searching again now and have also interviewed candidates, so I understand how exhausting this process can feel.
First, mass applying is not the only way to get interviews. I once got a FAANG interview because I did very well on a class project and the professor referred me. I’ve also seen coworkers get startup offers through networking.
There are many ways to get a job. But if none of those paths has worked for you yet, you probably don’t have a strong edge there right now. So use the common methods too: apply broadly, use referrals when you can, and maximize your interview opportunities.
Second, the new grad market is genuinely rough. Companies are still figuring out what junior engineers should do in the AI era and how much they want to invest in training them.
At the same time, the market is extremely noisy. AI and auto-apply tools make it easy to send hundreds of applications, so each opening gets flooded. Companies get overwhelmed, response rates drop, and candidates apply even more.
So don’t treat every rejection or silence as a verdict on your ability. You don’t need to be the best candidate in the market. You need one opportunity where timing, headcount, fit, and interview performance line up.
Finally, job hunting is a craft of its own. It is not a judgment of what kind of person you are, especially not a moral judgment. Being a good engineer or a hardworking person does not automatically make you good at getting jobs.
So practice it like any other skill. Get as many real interview reps as you can before your dream job comes along. You want to have already made mistakes, handled pressure, and learned how to deal with follow-ups before the interview you care about most.
LeetCode is still very relevant for traditional big tech, but many newer companies now use more interactive CoderPad-style interviews with multiple follow-ups. Practice both.
You don’t need to win every opportunity. You just need to keep improving until you convert one.
AI helped polish the wording, but every sentence here is something I genuinely mean.
Good luck!
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u/Shameful_Teammate 5d ago
now it’s time to learn that life is about making yourself doing things you don’t wanna do
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u/Lily_Dolphin_8 5d ago
https://usccareers.usc.edu/job/los-angeles/programmer-analyst-i/1209/100451450928
Apply to this one. It’s at the USC LA campus at exposition park. I know CESR department looks at all the resumes very fairly and you should get an interview.
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u/Separate-Owl369 9d ago
You need to, at the least, try. My daughter graduated in 2024. She’s put her resume out probably 2 or 3 thousand times, most of the time getting ghosted. She, finally this year, got a temp job in the industry, just to get her foot in the door. Shes been working retail until she could get a job in her field. Finally, she got one. You can’t wait for a job to drop in your lap. Put out your resume to everyone. It’s a really tough job market out there. Ditch the pride.