Asia Mariah Stewart’s Post

Reflections on Internship Season and Personal Struggles I used to think that “depression” was something that only affected the market – I never thought it would impact me so deeply. But after three years of tech layoffs, hiring freezes, and economic downturns, I haven’t secured a single internship in the U.S. The only tech company I worked for during this time was Uber, but as a driver, not as a tech intern. It’s been incredibly difficult to accept. I remember being told that with a computer science degree, I would have opportunities waiting for me. But reality doesn’t match that promise anymore. Just recently, I read an article where a UC Berkeley professor, James O’Brien, said that even tech graduates are struggling to secure top jobs. It feels like a harsh truth – jobs are no longer guaranteed. As a re-entry student, this hits even harder. My parents are year away retirement without saving, and there’s a constant weight on my shoulders to support them. My mom recently had a financial emergency, and I had to transfer most of my savings to help her out. It’s heartbreaking because I’m trying to stay afloat as a student, but the financial strain is overwhelming. I’ve thought about quitting – I question whether there’s any point in continuing college when I can’t seem to find my way forward. The mental strain has been unbearable. Even small things, like grabbing a Boba with friends, have become a source of stress because of how tight my finances are. And the failures stick with me – I still remember last season I got rejected by Capital One bank. My parents told me it was because I wasn’t as competent as the other candidates. This week, I got rejected by Bloomberg after second interview in-person at school, and that same thought has been running through my mind: maybe I’m just not good enough. I don’t know if I should keep going. The path feels uncertain, and I’m still trying to figure out if this journey is worth it. But I’m sharing this because I know I’m not alone in these struggles, and maybe opening up will bring some clarity.

With layoffs in the tech sector continuing into half a year now, popular posts on here are retroactively claiming the tech sector to be a bull market, criticising bootcamps for selling false dreams, apologising for layoffs like they are a tragic accident, and pondering why anyone thought some experience building sites would be enough for job security. Thankfully, I've been paying attention. The tech sector for nearly a decade now has not been a bull market. Private businesses and government schemes alike had been seeing steady investments. Bootcamps actually did a good job of placing graduates into entry-level roles. People like myself successfully moved up from working class to middle class. Business *was* booming. What's happening now is that many organisations no longer want to invest and no longer want to put out these entry-level roles and paid internships. They are now looking to save money. Our time has come. This is a choice deliberately being made because for all that teams are like families, money comes first. So instead of trying to uncover the mystery that never was, it would be great to see some genuine support for the startups and bootcamps and devs at every level because nobody is truly secure right now. #layoffs #ai #techcommunity #tech #thegreatdepression #ourroaring20s

With news of layoffs in big tech and media, the job market is a point of contention. However, new grads are extremely concerned. Entry-level jobs aren’t quite entry-level anymore and many struggle to land a good job. Our summer intern Luke Atwood breaks down reasons why new graduates struggle (from the employer's perspective) and ways to stand out more as a new applicant. #jobsearch #jobhunt #opentowork #collegeplanning #summerinternship

10 years ago, I remember taking on my first paid role in software. Had done unpaid internships and opportunities for 3 years prior. I remember wondering where this career would take me, as the promises that the university shared seemed to not happen. I remember the long periods of applying, of fear, the early layoffs, the imposter syndrome. Fast forward 10 years. I've held numerous short term contracts, helped cofound a startup, done a couple longer term positions (2 years each), and held titles from engineer, to engineering manager, to architect. There are still days where it feels unreal, as well as days where I question my choices. Wherever you are now, realize you are in the right space for right now, as it is shaping the future you. I recall asking a director in 2016 where they thought I would be in 5 years, and they said, architect. Well, fast forward 5 years. I became a manager at one of the worlds biggest management consultancies. Did that for 2 years. Now I'm an architect. Things aren't always linear. It is your life, write it however you like, and know you have options. Try the flavors, enjoy the journey. It is meant to be an adventure. Remember that even adventures have points of fear and uncertainty. #careerjourney #randommusings

With more announcements of cut backs and layoffs, this week for #WinWednesday I want to contribute to someone else's win. A lot happens when a position is eliminated - panic sets in, you don't know which step should be your first one, you try to think of which direction you want to go, and there isn't an easy solution. With all of these surrounding questions, take some time to research companies and positions that align with your career goals. Reach out to people in your network and get insight on what they do, why they enjoy it, see if now is the time to make a change. As always, if I can help, don't hesitate to ask. Positions I'm currently working on (including internships) are linked to my page! #recruiting #networking #lovewhatyoudo #talentacquisition #opentoconnect #newjobopportunity

Dear Founders, I know that finding the right set of individuals to work with you is tough in terms of mindset as well as cost, especially when you're in your early stage. But, worry not! Many students are well intended to work with you focusing on adding the best value to your Tech and Business needs. Finding the best intended and right-minded students can be a daunting challenge for you. From the Think Digital Community, we're bringing 80+ quality students together, curated for your roles and needs. If you're looking to hire interns, let me know in the comments. I'll help you with more details about the event where you get to meet the right talents for your needs. Once you meet them and interact, opportunities are limitless. Cheers! Happy Hiring!! 🚀

Layoffs and hiring freezes aren't the only reason why job searching is so tough right now. Look at this graph of job applications received for a startup that posted a few engineering positions (via The Pragmatic Engineer). The startup is based out of Arkansas and engineers must work hybrid. Yes - that means you MUST move to Arkansas if you're not already living there. And yet there are almost 500 applications for the SE job after 2 months. For internships - there are almost 1000. Which leads me to prove my point - don't expect to get an interview now unless you apply to at least 100 jobs. If a company interviews 5 to 10 employees for one position. We're talking about a 1% resume call back rate. Keep the effort up everybody. This is the new state of the world. #career #jobs #applications

Sending encouragement to all the interns who are facing #masslayoffs. It's a challenging time, but remember, moments like these can redefine your career journey. Here are three ways to stay proactive and optimistic: 🎯 Utilize LinkedIn: Regularly post updates, articles, and thoughts related to your field to stay engaged with your network. Comment on posts by peers and industry leaders to increase your visibility. 🎯 Adapt: Remain flexible and consider various career paths. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from unexpected places. 🎯 Learn New Skills: Identify skills that are in demand in your industry and pursue online courses or certifications to acquire them If anyone has leads, advice, or opportunities, please share them in the comments to help out these interns! #Internship #RecentGrad #MassLayoffs #InternLayoffs #Tesla

How did someone's 10 minutes of kindness save me from 10 days of frustration? This is about my recent experience when I was interviewing for an internship opportunity. It was my first internship interview, and it proved to be a great learning experience. While I lost the chance to work with a fantastic company, I gained a valuable connection. In these tough times, where mass layoffs are happening and people are let go without being thanked for their contributions to the company, there's this "kind soul" who had the courtesy of writing back to a rejected candidate. It might have taken him just 10 minutes to write this email, but this little note of kind feedback saved me from 10 days of potential frustration. Fortunate are those companies that have such humble senior leaders who are truly grounded and kind-hearted. While I can't significantly help the talented people who were laid off or rejected, I can write these hopeful stories highlighting the "kind beings" who helped me in one way or another and share hope. I believe that in this world of disheartening layoffs and rejections, if we all can share our stories of hope and kindness, it might help people heal and deal better with these tough times. So, feel free to share your stories in the comments and keep the world humane. #kindness #inspiringleadership #interviewexperience #learningjourney ** Personnel and company information were concealed for privacy.

Did you know the average professional goes through 3-7 career transitions before retiring? Interesting fact right? If it's so common, why are there so many barriers to making this transition? I'm working on a project to solve this problem! I'm calling all #CareerTransitioners - I want to learn more about your experience. Whether you have already made a transition, are actively trying to transitioning, or wish to make a transition in the future, I want to chat! Additionally, I want to hear from those who were caught in this onslaught of layoffs. What would lead you to make a career change? Would love to chat and hear your experiences too. Would love to connect with some career coaches as well! Send me a DM if you'd like to connect about this! #careertransition #career #job #opentowork #internship #productmangement #hiring #recruiting #jobchange #entrepreneurship #designthinkingprocess #layoffs #careercoach