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

Posted by MITthrow123 4/7/2025

I'm a senior at MIT studying Course 6 (EECS), and I'm graduating soon with no job lined up. I've applied to tons of places, done interviews, built side projects, but nothing has landed—and it's not just me. A lot of my classmates, some of the smartest and hardest-working people I know, are also unemployed or under incredible stress trying to figure things out.

It's honestly demoralizing. I came to MIT hoping to build a better life—not just for myself, but for my family. Now I’m facing the very real possibility of moving back home to an unstable and abusive environment while continuing to job hunt. The thought alone is crushing. I’ve even considered staying for an MEng just to avoid going home, but I’m completely burnt out and have no thesis direction. MIT gave me freedom, food security, friends, a bed of my own for the first time. It changed everything. But now that graduation’s here, it feels like it’s all slipping away.

If you've been through something similar—late job search success, unexpected turns that worked out, or just any advice—I’d really appreciate it. What helped you push through when it felt like the system failed you?

Thanks for reading.

215 points | 234 commentspage 8

morninglight 4/7/2025|

Relevant experience is more valuable than a schools name. If your school didn't offer you the opportunity to acquire significant experience in your field, you were cheated. They should at least be able to guide their students into apprenticeship programs upon graduation.

larenspear 4/7/2025||

Thought about a career at one of the national labs? I work at one currently and I quite like my job.

whiplash451 4/8/2025||

I graduated from MIT Course 6 10+ years ago. Have you considered doing a PhD? It's really worth it if you find the right match for a professor. A PhD would make it easier for you to find a job in this competitive environment (an MS alone, not so much).

gloosx 4/9/2025||

EECS is programming? Look for remote jobs all around the world instead of just applying locally, that increases the chances a lot. A lot of companies are doing the same thing to get cheaper workers all the time.

mathgeekdude 4 days ago||

Honestly, I'll say this as someone who goes to Harvard. If you go to schools very prestigious schools like Harvard, MIT, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get a decent job after graduation.

The market is tough, and Harvard and MIT grads might be getting jobs at FAANG and Quant left and right like they did a couple of years ago, but if you do a lot of leetcode and prepare for interviews properly, you should be able to find something decent.

The fact is there's still a good number of companies that will give any Harvard or MIT student an interview as long as they have some experience on their resume. Prestigous internships or not; the school name still gives you an advantage.

The fact that you're getting interviews and not passing means that there's something you could probably be doing.

All we know is that you've built side projects. But especially in the new grad market, companies are working for work experience, not some toy apps that you just built for your friends.

How many leetcode problems did you do? A lot of people are struggling to just even get interviews. If you're getting interviews, and not passing, that likely means there's something you could be doing.

But let me tell you a story. There's a guy I know from a top school (one of Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford) who didn't get their junior internship until May last year. Their internship wasn't prestigious, and none of their internships or jobs during their college career were prestigious. He almost ended up with no internship.

For new grad applications, he didn't even apply with referrals. He didn't get as many interviews as others who did internships at Big Tech/FAANG, but he did get some interviews.

He did 500+ Leetcode problems throughout the summer and fall, and got an offer from Amazon and a unicorn startup. He also got an offer from another big tech company and make the hiring manager round at another big tech company (didn't move forward because he already accepted another offer), which many other students, who had more prestigious internships, failed.

The point is at a school like MIT, you and your friends should be able to get a job. You have access to any new grad job; not just FAANG, but also exclusive startups.

Luck does play a part, but we have to be real.

skirge 4/7/2025||

You are one of the best in history prepared to do your job, with current knowledge etc. and best university in the world, get your colleagues and start a company. You don't need a jerk who barely passed a college to tell you what to do.

alexeiz 4/8/2025||

Don't just complain. Put your side projects on github and show them off.

vivek_sg 7 days ago||

I would suggest taking a break and going for the MEng program. Talk to your faculty members about this decision.

astrastorm 3 days ago||

What is your GPA?

What internships have you done?

poweihuang17 4/11/2025|

If you need help, feel free contact me at pohuan@microsoft.com. I could help refer some if you see Microsoft position. Hope it helps.

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