Myths and tips for navigating the current tech job landscape

If you’ve been following tech news for any length of time, recent doomsday headlines may remind you of the ones that proliferated back when the so-called dot.com bubble burst, and funding for information-age ventures dried up. This time around, it’s tech jobs that are the focus of the panic, with journalists warning of mass layoffs and hiring freezes.

Those headlines may sell papers (or, more likely, online subscriptions), but they don’t convey the reality of the situation, which is more nuanced — and a great deal more hopeful — than described. According to Dean Jelena Kovačević of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering; Assistant Dean of Student Life & Services Jolie Woodson; and Gracy Sarkissian, the Executive Director of NYU’s Wasserman Center for Career Development, the news stories should be taken with a grain of salt, and a STEM degree remains an excellent investment. With focus, flexibility, and a little perseverance, graduates can find rewarding jobs that leverage their knowledge and skill sets. 

A lot of people, including Tandon students, are seeing headlines about tech layoffs and wondering about their future. What’s your take on the current job landscape?

From Jelena Kovačević
Dean, NYU Tandon 

I would tell students not to worry, that technology and engineering is still in huge demand. The media is reporting on layoffs at large tech companies as though it is representative of the tech industry as a whole, and that is simply not true. While the headlines are focused on layoffs, which gives the impression of a shrinking job market, the reality is that jobs are still growing across sectors, including tech jobs. 517,000 new jobs were added in January, and unemployment is at 3.4%, its lowest since the late 1960s.

Even among the big companies, this is not a downturn; this is a market correction for explosive hiring to meet explosive pandemic demands, now that people have returned to pre-pandemic behaviors. And another thing that gets buried in the news is the broader context for job growth despite layoffs. Look at Microsoft, for example. They reported 221,000 jobs in 2022, compared to 181,000 the year before, and 144,000 in 2019 pre-pandemic. So from 2021 to 2022 they added 40,000 new jobs, and now they are planning to shed 10,000 — that’s still growth of 30,000 jobs year over year. That’s what we should be focusing on.

I would also say, even if there weren’t a correction happening, it’s wise to look beyond the obvious “Big 5” name-brand tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Twitter who can only hire so many students even in a good year. 

From Gracy Sarkissian
Executive Director, Wasserman Center for Career Development, New York University 

The headlines about layoffs are certainly unsettling, but students should remain confident. The good news is that tech and engineering roles still exist and are even increasing in new sectors. This is an opportunity for students to expand their options and explore fields they may not have considered in the past. Just last week Handshake revealed that compared to last year, government agencies are looking for 36% more entry-level software workers and the construction sector is looking for 28% more. We’re also seeing growth in the tech industry in new regions across the US.

What advice would you give Tandon students and grads in the current job market?

From Jelena Kovačević
Dean, NYU Tandon 

For the computer scientists, software engineers, and data & analytics-interested students who may be most alarmed by the headlines these days, I would say to make sure you aren’t limiting yourself unnecessarily by looking only at large companies or tech companies, vs. technology and engineering-driven roles at smaller firms or in other industries. There is active hiring in the small to mid-cap tech companies, particularly for software engineers, full-stack developers, data scientists, cloud architects and other similar, highly specialized roles at those companies that didn’t overhire as much as their larger competitors. And demand for tech workers at non-tech businesses outpaces demand at tech businesses for the first time. 59% of all tech jobs are in verticals like healthcare, banking, education and many others. Workers with experience in Web3, AI, data science, cloud computing, and cyber security are highly sought after. 

For students in other areas of study, I would say the outlook is equally optimistic. As an example, chemical engineering employment is projected to increase by 14% over the next decade, much faster than average for other careers, and biomedical engineering is projected to grow 10% in the same period. UX & UI designers and game designers are in high demand. 

I would also say that regardless of your department or major, you should be creative in your thinking about how your degree can be leveraged for a successful career. For example, civil engineering employment is projected to grow 7% between now and 2031, but even that is just for traditional civil engineering jobs. Civil engineers don’t just construct buildings or bridges; you can think about a career in urban planning, or even in project management or financing for large construction projects. The same is true of the demand for mechanical engineers, which is projected to grow over the next decade, particularly given the diversity of mechanical engineering applications, including in the fast-growing biomedical sector, which is our incoming MAE Chair’s area of expertise.

I could go on, but all this leads me to: stay focused and stay confident. The engineering and tech-focused degrees you get from Tandon will be useful for years to come in a number of industries. 

From Jolie Woodson
Assistant Dean, Student Life & Services, NYU Tandon

My advice for job seekers always starts with, “be focused, but flexible,” and that continues to be applicable in the current market. This means that job seekers should have a clear idea of what types of roles they want so that they can take a proactive (rather than reactive or passive) approach to their search, but also be flexible and open to new positions, employers, and industries that they may not have actively considered before. Proactive job seekers prioritize tapping into their network — which, at Tandon, includes a community of 600,000+ NYU alumni —  and actively pursuing their interests rather than simply reacting to what is posted on job boards. They demonstrate curiosity and eagerness to learn and grow as part of the job search process, not just once they get the job. An effective job search strategy involves real-time conversations with people, not just sitting at a computer firing out resumés. These conversations could be with professional contacts, mentors, friends, collaborators, and more, and can be helpful to job seekers in many ways — supportive communities can help job seekers stay motivated, point them to new opportunities and resources, and help them practice communicating their skills and experiences with confidence. 

What can someone with an engineering degree do to give themselves the best shot at a great job right now?

From Jolie Woodson
Assistant Dean, Student Life & Services, NYU Tandon

There are many things students can do to boost the likelihood of interviews and offers. Acknowledging that an effective job search takes more than just a strong resumé is the first step — many job seekers focus exclusively on their resumé and overlook other important aspects of the job search, like proactive networking, as I mentioned above; attending events; and more. In addition to all that, if possible, people seeking opportunities in tech should keep their technical skills sharp and pursue personal projects to deepen their skills and knowledge while searching. This not only helps candidates cultivate their skills, it ensures that candidates have current experiences to speak about during networking conversations and job interviews. Here at Tandon, that could include participating in opportunities like VIP projects, Summer research projects, and more. Candidates should also be organized and document all job search activities — employers of interest, applications submitted, networking discussions, and relevant takeaways, etc. This can help them follow up in a timely manner and provide a roadmap for continuing to identify new opportunities. 

From Gracy Sarkissian
Executive Director, Wasserman Center for Career Development, New York University 

Candidates who are seeking tech opportunities now should be open and agile. Instead of limiting their job search to a narrow set of roles and industries, they should be open to opportunities across various fields that will allow them to leverage their degree, expand their skills, and make a meaningful impact. Networking with technology and engineering professionals from diverse industries will expose them to roles and organizations they may not have considered in the past. The Wasserman Center for Career Development and Tandon Career Hub are here to partner with them as they seek a great job now and throughout their career journey.

What advice would you give someone considering an engineering degree or a career switch into tech in the current market?

From Gracy Sarkissian
Executive Director, Wasserman Center for Career Development, New York University 

Continue to pursue your passions. Gain experience in and outside of the classroom. Grow your network by connecting with NYU’s diverse and accomplished alumni. Utilize the vast resources available to you through Tandon Career Hub and the Wasserman Center for Career Development. Attend career education and networking events to connect directly with professionals in the field. Meet with a career coach who can help you articulate your strengths and develop a comprehensive job search strategy. Be intentional about the jobs you apply to but don’t limit your search to a handful of big tech companies. New tech opportunities are emerging daily in a variety of industries and Tandon students bring skills that are in high demand.