Ask HN: I'm an MIT senior and still unemployed – and so are most of my friends

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Economic Context & Historical Parallels

  • Many compare the current market to 2001 and 2008–2010: new grads then often took months to a year+ to land field-related work.
  • Some say 2008 “wasn’t that bad” for STEM/CS specifically, while others insist it was brutal outside a STEM bubble and worse in 2009–2010.
  • Several believe this downturn feels more structural (AI, higher rates, big-tech saturation) than a simple cycle; others push back and say downturns always feel “different this time.”

“Any Job” vs Long-Term Career Damage

  • One camp urges: take any job (even non-tech or low-paying) to stay afloat and avoid demoralization; you can pivot later.
  • Another cites research that underemployment and low starting salaries are “sticky” for a decade, arguing to hold out longer, double down on internships, networking, and targeted searching.
  • Some reconcile this: survival comes first, but once employed, aggressively job-hop and upskill to escape the underemployment trap.

MIT Prestige, Elitism, and Reality

  • Debate over how entitled/insulated MIT students are: some claim most expect HFT/FAANG/AI labs and “won’t work for Raytheon/Fidelity/Amazon”; others counter with examples of MIT grads at ordinary firms, in defense, or taking service jobs.
  • Thread contains resentment from non-elite-school grads who feel overlooked and “failed by the system,” contrasting with confidence that MIT credentials still open many doors.

Networking Over Portals

  • Very strong consensus that online applications are near-useless in this market.
  • Recommended: lean hard on alumni, professors, weak ties, meetups, HN job threads, direct emails/DMs, and in-person events.
  • Internship → full-time is repeatedly called a “cheat code.”

Alternative Paths & Tactics

  • Suggestions: stay for MEng or PhD (with funding), join national labs or hard-tech startups, consider trades, military, overseas roles, or unpaid/low-paid work to gain experience.
  • Practical advice: tailor resumes per job, broaden targets (QA, support, PS roles), build or contribute to OSS as a portfolio, and keep skills sharp while weathering a potentially long search.

Mental Health & Identity

  • Many acknowledge the demoralization and warn against doom-scrolling.
  • Recurrent themes: you’re not “owed” a job, but the situation isn’t your fault; timing matters; focus on what you can control—skills, effort, and relationships.