How Bad Is It Out There? A Look at My Students One Year Later

I love teaching. I love my students. And more than anything, I want them to succeed.

Every semester, I end my class with a career prep session. We shift from theory to reality: resumes, referrals, applications, and all the unknowns that come next. This year, though, something felt different. The questions weren’t just about tactics. They were about fear. The mood was subdued. Students weren’t asking how to get a job. They were asking if they would be able to.

So I decided to answer the question the only way I know how: with data.

One Year Later: What Happened to Last Year’s Class?

I looked up the cohort that graduated exactly a year ago. These were talented, hardworking graduate students. Most had 1–2 years of prior experience and held a Master’s in Computer Science. Many came to the U.S. on F1 Visa, hoping to convert their education into a full-time role via OPT.

I tracked 30 students. I couldn’t find three more. Here’s what happened to the rest:

• 10 students landed full-time jobs. 3 of them are at premium tech companies—FAANG or similar. That’s just 1 in 3 with a full-time role. I checked the other companies, they looked solid too.

• 10 more were working in some professional capacity. Contract work, staffing agencies. Not always their dream job, but they were building experience.

• 2 had internships. Possibly a stepping stone to something more.

• 9 had no job listed at all. A full year after graduation, and nothing yet on their resume.

The Harsh Reality

The median date when students landed a full-time role? November 24—about six months after graduation. And remember: these aren’t entry-level undergrads. These are graduate students with solid credentials and some real-world experience.

So why are the outcomes so mixed? One major factor: visa sponsorship.

Most of my students need an employer to sponsor their visa after the OPT period ends. In a market flooded with layoffs, budget freezes, and cost-cutting, that extra requirement becomes a major barrier.

A Message to This Year’s Graduating Class

To my current students: I see your anxiety. I understand it. And it’s valid. But I also want you to know this:

Even in a brutal market, one-third of your predecessors made it to full-time roles, and most of the rest are gaining experience that keeps them in the game. You are not behind. You are not alone. And the effort you’re putting in will pay off—if not today, then soon.

It takes time, six months on average, to land a job.

I wish you luck. I hope the market turns around. And I’ll keep helping where I can.

— Itay Sharfi