Mia: Okay, so let's talk about this elephant in the room, right? Big Tech hiring... it's like, totally flatlined for the last few years. We're talking Google, Apple, Meta... the whole shebang. Zero net headcount growth! That's gotta mean something. So, is that dream of landing that sweet entry-level CS job officially, like, toast?
Mars: Pretty much. Think of that Big Tech hyper-growth era as this massive, like, *huge* wave that just... crashed, you know? From, say, 2018 to 2021, it was a freakin' tsunami—hiring everywhere. Now? Nada. These giants *have* hired people, sure, but with all the layoffs and re-orgs, they end up right back where they started.
Mia: Wait, so they're hiring, but also firing? So, the headcount is just stuck? That's like... refilling a bucket with a massive hole in it! What's the point?
Mars: Exactly! Picture a game of whack-a-mole, right? They open, say, 500 roles, then close 500 roles. The net result? Zero. Meanwhile, you've got thousands of these fresh grads out there, swinging their networking swords, and the doors just... aren't opening. I feel for them, I really do.
Mia: Ouch. That's gotta sting for new CS grads. I mean, I had this buddy who applied to Google, like, three times last year. Ghosted every time! I thought maybe it was his cover letter—he's a bit of a crybaby, haha—turns out it was just the market.
Mars: Totally. And it's not just Google, either. Meta's been hovering around 60,000 employees for years. Apple, Microsoft, Tesla—they're all in, like, freeze mode. Even Nvidia, which is booming in AI hardware, isn't hiring enough to absorb all these new grads. So, yeah, it's a tough landscape.
Mia: So, that golden ticket of get a Big Tech job right out of college... is that kinda gone now? I mean, is it just a pipe dream?
Mars: It's more like you need that golden ticket *plus* a secret handshake. The street is just flooded with talent—bootcamp grads, self-taught hackers, interns piling up. Even a top-tier CS degree doesn't guarantee you an on-ramp anymore.
Mia: Man, that's rough. So, what's the play here? Should grads be aiming for smaller companies? Or should they just pivot to other roles entirely?
Mars: Definitely broaden your playbook. I tell my students, Don't *just* stare at Google or Meta. Look at scale-ups, fintech, biotech, government jobs, even non-tech industries that need in-house developers. Oh, and open source contributions—build a portfolio you can actually show off!
Mia: Makes sense. It's like, you wanted that hottest new restaurant reservation, but now you gotta go explore those hidden gems in the neighborhood, right?
Mars: Exactly! The Big Tech buffet is temporarily closed for renovations. Meanwhile, all those smaller eateries are still cooking up opportunities.
Mia: Alright, so to wrap this up: Big Tech's headcount has flatlined, meaning the hyper-growth party is over, and entry-level roles are scarce. New grads need to get creative—think outside the Google-plex, beef up those portfolios, and lean into those niche firms. So, the dream isn't dead, it's just... changed shape.
