• Software engineering jobs have declined as AI tools have increasingly automated coding tasks.
• Newer entrants in the field are struggling to find jobs and some companies are pausing hiring.
• Some engineers have still found success, and tech executives recommend strong foundational skills.

Working as a software engineer isn’t what it used to be — but those working in the industry have some tips for getting ahead in the increasingly crowded job market.

The software engineering industry is going through a major shift driven by the adoption of AI, which has led to fewer job postings, layoffs, and evolving responsibilities for those still working in the field.

In early to mid-2022, there were three times as many software engineering roles listed on Indeed. This chart shows just how much the opportunity landscape has changed.

As AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot or Replit have become more prominent, a large part of the job has become automated. In Salesforce’s most recent earnings call, its CEO Marc Benioff said the company is seeing a “30% productivity increase in engineering” and won’t “hire any new engineers this year” in the wake of those gains.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in an earnings call in 2024 that over a quarter of the company’s code is generated by AI before being checked by employees.

A manager at Microsoft similarly shared that AI reduced 70% of the time he used to spend on coding, although he noted that his daily workload hasn’t been reduced. That’s because software engineers do more than just code. For newer entrants to the field, though, the opportunities are narrowing, and some have struggled to get the foundational skills needed to move up.

Some recent software engineering grads have said they sent hundreds of job applications with minimal responses. That’s led some to pursue a “panic Master’s” degree to put off the hunt.

There are ways to be successful in the field

It’s not all doom and gloom, though.

Automating coding tasks has increased the demand for developers to leverage their creativity and experience. Here’s some of the advice from industry veterans and tech CEOs on how to improve your odds of getting a job in the field — and success stories from those who have done it.

• Consider majoring in AI at one of the growing number of universities offering specialized degree programs in this field. Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pennsylvania, and Dakota State University are just a few of the schools offering Bachelor of Science degrees in artificial intelligence.
• Google’s head of research says the basics are more important than ever and advocates for learning to code, especially as there will be opportunities to build upon those foundational skills.
• Instagram’s cofounder Mike Krieger said more of the work will revolve around double-checking AI-generated code instead of writing it. Krieger, who is now Anthropic’s chief product officer, said the work will evolve to be more about coming up with the right ideas and learning how to delegate correctly to models.
• Google’s CEO said the company is looking for “superstar software engineers.” He also said those who want an engineering job at the search giant need to be willing to learn and adapt.
• An Nvidia principal architect said young programmers should prioritize writing and math. He also said having an internship every year in college is key to getting an entry-level job.
• One Gen Z software engineer said a comp-sci degree with a focus on AI is one of the best and most valuable degrees at the moment. He added that it’s not for everyone though — if you have a short attention span, don’t like math, or struggle with commitment issues, it might not be the right fit.
• A software engineer who landed a $300,000 job at Google said he would lead with experience instead of skills if he were to apply again. However, he said he’d keep an “interests” section because it helps break the ice in interviews.
• A software engineer who landed interviews at Meta, Amazon, and Dropbox, and got hired at Microsoft suggests focusing your résumé on technical strengths and being concise. He also suggests making it visually stand out, and clearly communicating responsibilities and results.
• One Google software engineer recommends conveying impact on a résumé in numbers and results. He also said highlighting publications and projects can help if you don’t have a lot of professional experience yet.
• A software engineer hired by Oracle said data center experience was mentioned in the hiring process and he was also asked to detail the technical work he previously did. He said an interview he did for a FAANG company was more focused on him being the right personality and fit.
• Three software engineers who landed jobs at Google shared varying résumés, but they all interned at a Big Tech company during college. They also all had at least a 3.6 GPA and studied computer science.
• Four Google software engineers were hired after interning at the tech giant. They suggested starting as early as possible, and applying to internships aimed at underclassmen.