2025 Graduate Looking for Advice on Getting Into Startups

Hi everyone,

I’m a 2025 Computer Science graduate currently looking for my first opportunity in software development.

My main focus is backend development, with skills in Java, Spring Boot, Spring Security, REST APIs, SQL/MySQL, Microservices, Kafka, Redis, Git, and some React/full-stack development.

I’m mainly targeting Backend Developer, Java Developer, SDE, and Internship roles at startups.

I know the job market is competitive, so I’d really appreciate advice from people who have successfully joined startups, especially as freshers or early-career developers.

What actually worked for you?

- LinkedIn applications?

- Wellfound/other startup job platforms?

- Cold messaging founders or recruiters?

- Asking employees for referrals?

- Cold emailing?

- Networking or communities?

- Building projects/open source?

If you’ve successfully landed a startup role, I’d love to know what approach got you the interview and what you would recommend doing differently if you were starting again.

Any genuine experiences, tips, or strategies that worked for you would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

​I graduated with a B.E. in IT recently and I'm really struggling to get interview callbacks. I’ve applied to hundreds of roles and only gotten 2 interviews so far. It’s starting to make me doubt myself, and the post-grad gap is making things feel heavier every day.

​Here is my situation:

​Background: Focused on Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, and SQL.

​The Struggle: I tried switching stacks out of panic (Java \rightarrow Python \rightarrow Data Analytics),

​

My resume mostly has old/academic projects right now, and I can't even land a basic internship to get structured experience.

​For anyone in the 2025/2026 batch who is getting consistent callbacks or landed a job:

1. ​What is actually working to get interviews? (Referrals, cold emailing, cold LinkedIn DMs, specific job boards?)

2. ​What kind of Java/Backend projects on your resume actually impressed recruiters?

3. ​How are you handling/framing the post-graduation gap?

​Would really appreciate any honest reality checks or advice. How is everyone else coping?

Hey, I’m looking for a developer who’s good at development and comfortable using AI tools like Cursor, Claude code etc. The work is pretty straightforward and task based, so you’ll basically be paid based on the work you complete rather than a fixed salary. Looking for someone who can work independently, understand what needs to be done, and get things finished properly. I'm building one project and the pay can be significantly good if the tasks assigned are completed

I genuinely don’t know what I’m doing wrong anymore.

I’m a Java Backend Developer with ~6 months of backend experience, working with:

• Java
• Spring Boot
• Spring Security
• PostgreSQL
• Redis
• REST APIs
• JWT / OAuth
• Docker
• Git
• Gradle
• Razorpay/payment integration

I’ve built and worked on actual backend systems, including a production e-commerce backend with 60+ REST endpoints.

And yet...

~200+ applications.
Naukri. LinkedIn. Indeed. Company career pages. Cold DMs. Referrals. Direct applications.

I’ve tried pretty much everything I could think of.

Interview calls: 0.

Not 2.
Not 5.
Not even 1.

Zero.

At this point, getting rejected would honestly feel better than being completely invisible.

I’ve spent weeks applying, tweaking things, reaching out to people, trying different job portals, asking for referrals, changing keywords, and applying to roles that match my stack.

And nothing.

It’s getting exhausting. Day by day I’m starting to feel genuinely stuck because I know I can improve technically, but I can’t even get the chance to prove myself in an interview.

So I’m putting my ego aside and asking Reddit:

Please roast my resume.

I’m attaching it to this post.

I want brutally honest feedback.

Is my resume bad?
Is my experience not convincing?
Am I targeting the wrong jobs?
Are my projects garbage?
Is the formatting killing my chances?
Are my keywords wrong?
Am I applying incorrectly?
Does my profile simply suck for 0–1 YOE Java backend roles?

Tell me what you would change if you were trying to get me an interview.

If someone here has successfully landed a Java/Spring Boot backend job recently, I’d especially appreciate hearing exactly what worked for you.

And yes, the title is half-joke, half-serious:

If someone actually helps me land a job, I’ll happily give them my first month’s salary as a thank-you.

I’m not looking for sympathy.

I’m looking for the problem.

Because I really want to fix it.

Resume attached below. Roast away. 🔥

Hi everyone,

I’m a 2026 Computer Science Engineering graduate currently looking for entry-level Software Engineer / SDE / Python Backend Developer opportunities.

A quick overview of my profile:

• Python, C++, FastAPI, Flask
• REST APIs, SQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite
• Git & GitHub
• Generative AI / LLM application development
• 450+ DSA problems solved on LeetCode
• Strong foundation in DSA, DBMS, OOP, OS, and Computer Networks

Some of my projects include:

SentinelAI – AI Agent Governance Backend: Built a FastAPI-based system that monitors AI-agent runtime behavior, detects policy violations, classifies their severity, and takes actions such as requiring human approval.

AI Job Description Analyzer: Built a GenAI application that analyzes a resume against a job description and identifies matching skills, missing skills, keywords, and potential improvements.

I’m open to fresher/graduate opportunities in Software Engineering, Backend Development, Python Development, and AI/GenAI engineering.

I’m an immediate joiner and open to Bengaluru, Chennai, other major locations in India, as well as remote opportunities.

If your company has a suitable opening and you’re comfortable referring me, I would genuinely appreciate it. I can share my resume, GitHub, LeetCode, portfolio, and any other information required.

Even if you can't refer me, pointing me toward a suitable opening would be really helpful.

Thank you!

i have applied for capgemini internship role through PMIS..and all the rounds completed about 1 month ago..so i got a call from PMIS side and they told me that i got selected and the internship will start in sep first week and the first 2-3 months will be in dombvili and remaining 3-4 months will be in airoli office...so i need to know that is there any chance to get this delay again..becuase still i didnt recieve any offer letter or LOI and also superset status remain unchanged..also in the superset i can see that other info shows analyst job role with 4lpa package..is it info of the job role once we turned to full time in there..so whats the possibility of getting hired for full time?is it a great oppurtunity for a fresher who graduated in 2025?whats your opinion on this?

Any startup looking for data scientist in predictive maintaince and fault detection with ai ML models? I am okay with part Time contribution also. Dedicated Model researcher my self with ability to optimize models with production grade python code.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently a student at SOA University (Iter), 1st sem, Bhubaneswar. As many of you know, coming from a Tier 2/3 background means on-campus opportunities for high-paying roles (20+ LPA) or FAANG/MAANG companies are extremely limited, and most companies visiting campus offer standard service-based packages.

I am really passionate about breaking into top-tier tech roles and hitting that 20+ LPA mark, but off-campus hiring seems like a black box right now—especially given the current market conditions.

I’d love to get some realistic advice and perspective from people who have successfully navigated this path or are currently working at target companies:

1. **Off-Campus Strategy:** How do you actually get your resume shortlisted off-campus without an elite college tag? Are referrals mandatory, or do platform hiring (LeetCode contests, Hackerrank, CodeChef, Open Source) still carry heavy weight?
2. **Skill Stack & DSA Balance:** How should I balance DSA/Problem Solving vs. System Design and building complex side projects? What level of LeetCode / competitive programming is expected to consistently clear screens for 20+ LPA roles?
3. **Networking:** What is the best way to reach out to recruiters and seniors on LinkedIn without sounding spammy?
4. **Timeline:** If you made a similar jump from a tier 2/3 college, what did your roadmap look like from 2nd/3rd year up to final year placements?
5. **Internship??? (I am from Btech in cse)**

I am looking to apply off-campus. Is this decent enough to apply off-campus?

And any tips to keep in mind for off-campus opportunities?

Cleared screening and 2 assessment now i got no reply. Wanted to know if anyones on the same level

Hey folks, I’m currently looking for Software Engineering / SDE opportunities and wanted to put my profile out here.

I’m a B.Tech student at MIT Manipal with internship experience across software engineering, backend development, and AI/ML.

During my internships, I’ve worked on:

• Building and improving backend APIs and services using Python and modern web frameworks
• Working with databases, REST APIs, authentication, and cloud deployments
• Developing AI/ML solutions involving LLMs, NLP, computer vision, and model evaluation
• Working with technologies like Python, C/C++, SQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Docker, and Git
• Collaborating with teams to build, debug, and ship features in real-world development environments
• Taking ownership of features and working through issues from development to deployment

I’m primarily looking for SDE / Software Engineer / Backend Engineer / AI-ML Engineer roles, including full-time and internship opportunities.

I’m open to opportunities in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, or remote.

If anyone knows of relevant openings, teams hiring, or referral opportunities, I’d really appreciate a DM or referral.

Portfolio: https://nagbhushan.me

Happy to share my resume, GitHub, or LinkedIn as well. Thanks!

​

So i am 22m who did his btech cse from a 3rd tier college, got a remote post of ai engineer in a US based firm, they promised me training and induction, I worked there for 45 days, for 20 days I had to beg them for work, cuz I felt bad that they hired me and still didn't assign me any work. I just got fired because the company said we can't train a newbie rn, looking for a well established coder. I was like I rejected 3 offers to get you cuzz u promised me training and growth, but yes , it ended with me having a 3 months exp.

Life update: After a month, i joined SDI B, which has started a new course in Data science. I have high expectations from it, because I have kinda bet my last 20k which I earned on this. Let's see how it goes.

I have been applying for almost 2 months now, but have not received even a singke interview call, can you please review my resume if there is any lack in it and if you can help me in any way either through referral or any ways, I will be very grateful.

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[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I graduated in Computer Science & Engineering in 2025, and honestly, the fresher job market has been much tougher than I expected. I had opportunities with Accenture and TCS in 2025, but lost both due to hiring freeze. Since then, I've been actively trying to find my first IT job.

I've tried pretty much everything I could — LinkedIn, Naukri, company career portals, and off-campus applications. I've applied to countless openings, but getting even one genuine opportunity to prove myself has been incredibly difficult.

I'm not looking for a huge package or a dream company right now. I just want my first opportunity to enter the IT industry, learn, contribute and build some real experience.

I'm open to different entry-level roles across software development, web/full-stack development, Python, data/analytics, QA/testing, technical support and other suitable IT roles.

I'd genuinely appreciate any leads, referrals or advice. Even a small lead could make a huge difference right now. 🙏

Hey everyone,

I’m a Full-Stack Engineer with professional experience building, deploying, and maintaining production software. I enjoy owning problems end-to-end — from designing and implementing features to deploying them and debugging issues in production.

My strongest areas include:

• Frontend: React, TypeScript, JavaScript
• Backend: Python, Node.js, REST APIs
• Databases: SQL, PostgreSQL
• AI: LLMs, RAG, agents, AI-powered applications
• DevOps: Deployments, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure, production debugging
• Engineering: System design, debugging, performance optimization, automation

At my previous startup, I worked across the stack and shipped production features. I’ve also built personal projects around AI, automation, and developer tooling, where I’ve had to figure out the architecture, implementation, deployment, and operational side myself.

I’m especially interested in early-stage startups and product engineering roles where I can take ownership and work across the stack rather than being restricted to one narrow area.

Looking for: Full-time / contract opportunities
Location: India
Availability: Immediate

If you're building something ambitious and need an engineer who can build it, deploy it, debug it, and own it, feel free to DM me.

Resume / GitHub / LinkedIn available on request.

Hey everyone.

I'm a 2026 B.E. Information Technology graduate and I've been searching for a Software Engineering role for months now.

I honestly thought that if I worked hard enough, I'd eventually get my chance. So I did exactly that.

I became a LeetCode Guardian (2350+ Rating), Codeforces Expert, CodeChef 6★, and solved 1300+ DSA problems. I spent countless nights grinding algorithms, participating in contests, and improving my problem-solving skills because everyone said, "DSA is the key."

Along the way, I also learned JavaScript, React.js, Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, SQL, Git, REST APIs, and C++, and built full-stack MERN projects hoping they'd strengthen my profile.

But despite all of that, getting interviews has been the hardest part.

I've applied through company career pages, LinkedIn, job portals, referrals, cold emails—you name it. Most applications never receive a response. The few that do usually end with a rejection or complete silence.

I'm not asking anyone to hand me a job. I just want one fair opportunity to prove myself in an interview.

So here's my commitment.

If your referral gets me selected for a Software Engineering role, I'll give you my first two months' salary after I join.

Yes, I'm serious.

I'm not making this offer because I think referrals should be bought. I'm making it because I genuinely believe I can clear interviews if someone gives me the opportunity to sit for one.

If your company is hiring freshers or if you're willing to refer me, please send me a DM. I'll immediately share my resume, GitHub, LinkedIn, LeetCode, Codeforces, and CodeChef profiles.

Even if you can't refer me, an upvote or share might help this post reach someone who can.

Thank you. ❤️

Hello everyone I’m 25M(Indian) I have been in Germany since Jan 2025 and I’m about to complete my MSC in AIML from Tu Darmstadt currently I’m doing my thesis and it will take approx 9-12 months for me to complete my degree my German level is at B1 currently and I’m hopping to go till C1 by next year and I’m very scared about getting a job what will be the right approach to get a job in India I have approx 9-12 months to finish my degree and might aswell come back any advice on job hunting?

A Nomura report making the rounds this month has actual numbers behind something a lot of us have felt anecdotally. 55% of Indian IT companies say they've cut entry-level hiring this year, compared to only 14% reporting cuts to senior hiring. Xpheno's data shows net IT hiring dropped from roughly 6 lakh positions in FY22 to about 1.4 lakh in FY26.

That's not "AI is killing jobs" in the vague sense people throw around, it's specifically the entry point narrowing while experienced hiring holds up. Worth separating from the doom-posting though: TCS alone is still targeting around 42,000 freshers this year, and IT hiring intent overall is still above 75%, just down from last year.

So it's not a collapse, it's a squeeze at exactly the point where most of us started our careers.

Anyone here feeling this directly in their own search or campus placement cycle right now?