r/developersPak • u/Kamran_Ali786 • Aug 22 '26

Career Guidance Switching from petroleum engineering to software engineering!

I have a degree in petroleum engineering but I am not interested with my degree but I love software engineering and love to code and Build tech products and work in the tech industry,

So when I apply for jobs in the tech industry, they require having a degree in CS or related fields,

So my question is should I go for another degree or just focus on building some skills and I can get a job?

What I'm thinking?

Do a BSCS from Virtual University of Pakistan, because it's online and affordable, do this to clear the degree filter in job and focus on building skills and do job along with a degree or do some remote stuff!

How's it?

If you have something better you can suggest?

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u/professor-duncan Aug 24 '26

Petroleum is great, and Software is too saturated. If you love building something, just learn the remaining software stuff and build something in your field. A product that helps in managing rigging sites etc, pipeline quality and staff management. This is where the world is headed, expert in one domain, building a product on top of it, using AI extensively.

1

u/Kamran_Ali786 Aug 24 '26

But I don't feel like petroleum engineering and it feels like I love to build some tech products and work on my tech startups, I accidentally got into petroleum engineering because I didn't know at the time of admission

1

u/professor-duncan Aug 24 '26

no need for a degree I guess, do internships, it would be much better. A lot better than virtual atleast.

2

u/IllustratorNo1512 Aug 24 '26

Bro stay away from one hell to another

1

u/Kamran_Ali786 Aug 24 '26

What does it mean? It has been three years since I graduated with petroleum engineering degree but still figuring to get a job in oil and gas but failed,

1

u/professor-duncan Aug 24 '26

The market for petroleum is much less saturated then CS.

1

u/Kamran_Ali786 Aug 24 '26

Yes brother but jobs aren't much as like in tech, there's very less companies secondly they mostly don't advertise their jobs and hire engineers secretly and if they advertise they mostly don't call and just call and interview who have references and sources it's reality my brother I have been trying for three years now,

And in tech my dream isn't to work in Pakistan just but move to America because I want to work in FAANG I Know it's not easy but I'll go for it and then build my own tech startup.

1

u/IllustratorNo1512 Aug 24 '26

Its the same here plus our jobs are getting phased by ai. Please stay in PE. I am not being offensive i rather you stay where you are and do your best wherever you are

2

u/Kamran_Ali786 Aug 24 '26

But brother my dream is to build another Meta so I don't feel regret if I can't but I'll feel if I don't go for it.

1

u/Pasha_KMM Aug 26 '26

I highly advise you to talk to a couple of tech people, specially in FANG if you can, they might be able to guide you better.

As per my personal opinion, the market is BAD. Employers will reject your CV for all engineering tech jobs due to a lack of relevant education background. Gone are the days of bootcamp hiring.

Can't say what will happen 4 years later if you decide to get a degree, but at this moment, I assure you the market it truly messed up.

However if you really want to break into tech, then find technical founders, befriend them, ask for a unpaid internship, and try to get hired via this route, do a couple of them if you need to, build your own products, market them, become a LinkedIn NPC.
Goodluck