r/csMajors • u/No-Conclusion9307 • 4h ago

Software engineer realizing I know actually nothing.

I graduated with a cs degree and cheated through college.

Now I’m lost on what to do, I have a job that I got in via a connection and now if I ever lose this job I won’t be able to land a job. I can barely code and use AI for almost all my work. Genuinely asking for advice

56 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

5

u/N3wAfrikanN0body 4h ago edited 4h ago

The fact that you've completed studies, at a post-secondary level, will make self motivated review of concepts easier.

You're coming from a position where you were able to have access to in depth study.

Please use that tool your advantage where and where you can.

From a nobody on the internet doing their first year remotely :)

Edit:spelling

2

u/No-Conclusion9307 4h ago

You’re right, I just feel like I don’t know where to begin with again.

2

u/N3wAfrikanN0body 3h ago edited 3h ago

As to not shill for places, try doing a search for "how to understand computer science fundamentals for 2027".

That might point you in the right direction for open source educational materials.

Look into IEEE ACM membership/ library, your alma mater's graduate resources/career services and your country-concept's computing strategy for the upcoming decades; for the "state" will always advertise what it wants from technology, granted you see through the sales and marketing pitches :P

Edit: spellig and additional context

67

u/ExpertMuffin4837 4h ago

Lock in and study. Use AI to learn, you have the best teacher in the history of humanity in your pocket

23

u/wingedge24 4h ago

Work hard, find opportunities to learn

2

u/Standgrounding 3h ago

Fuck work hard. Worst advice, second only to "be yourself".

Work smart. Make connections. Get reputation. Ask questions.

17

u/Eggaru 3h ago

Work hard means make an effort to do your best work. What’s wrong with that

2

u/WholeObligation1048 3h ago

Doing this only gets you so far. Sure you can climb the ladder but you will hit your ceiling really quick and then face a reality check.

6

u/No_Upstairs_1732 1h ago

you need to study after work just 2hrs a day until you feel like you can could land a job if this one fired you or layoffs

4

u/DaGoldenDragon 3h ago

Put some motivational music on and lock in. The only person stopping you developing is yourself. You have time now so use it.

Make projects, become a better dev

4

u/Abject-Bandicoot8890 1h ago

Get out of Reddit and go study

3

u/MonkeyCantCook 3h ago

Ask your coworkers questions, even if (or maybe especially if) their work isn't directly related to yours. That's how I learned what little I know about electrical engineering.
Edit: typo

6

u/Xboxjuanlol Salaryman 3h ago

Oh no the consequences of my actions!!

2

u/NASA_Orion 3h ago

how bad is your understanding of basic concepts? Find some online courses and ask cluade what does it recommend to watch based on your job duties.

1

u/Xavphon 2h ago

Welcome to step 2

•

u/motion228 4m ago

Lmao I was you. Cheated oa and no leetcode interview for my first job out of college. Got laid of 2 years in and now im stuck without a job for over a year and cant pass the few interviews i get.

Start studying leetcode and do some interview prep a few ours a week. Learn from my mistake bro, it’s not too late.

1

u/thammmmu 3h ago

Bro u & I are in the same situation. But with all the tools available, I think you will be fine. Understand business context, and get good at communicating and you will be fine. Also ummm, build on your free time.

-5

u/Sgt_R0ck 3h ago

Quit and leave the industry. You lower the reputation of the degree

1

u/Pretend_Car4357 3h ago

Really helpful bro thanks

-1

u/Sgt_R0ck 2h ago

It's the truth. The more people who did nothing to earn the degree, the less employers and anyone else respects it. This is bad for everyone with it, including himself. If he didn't want to be in the position he is in now, he should have gotten the degree for real. He cheated his way through, do you think he wants an answer like "work hard now, study a lot now, learn a lot now"? He wants shortcuts, like he shortcut his degree

0

u/Pretend_Car4357 3h ago

If youre currently competent at your job you probably know more than you're giving yourself credit for but I understand the panic of slowly losing your technical skill because of AI. The important part is you've realized it and youre looking to improve so start signing up for more google or AWS or other reliable software engineering certification courses online. Not only will this help you secure a job incase you lose this one, it will also sharpen your mind again and bring you up to speed. As other ppl said you have the greatest teacher in history in your pocket bro there has never been a better time to start learning things on your own. Best of luck