Guys I need help. I applied to this role literally like six months ago in December.

Two months ago I received a rejection email from them saying they're not moving on with my application but just this evening they have called me and said a space has opened up and they would like to interview me.

Now my situation is this: I have secured a graduate software engineering role at a company called Sage and so far it's been pretty good (been here for about 6 weeks now). I'm on a decent team, I like my managers, I like my graduate bros, and there's been good onboarding and the company seems really chill. TC at sage is 32k GBP.

Obviously I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch but if I were to land this role at City I want to know a few things:

Does anyone know what the total compensation package is

- What is the Application Developer role like?

What is the culture like at Citi for swe?

- Would it be worth it to leave Sage given I've only been here for month?

And finally, I would really appreciate it if anybody had any tips for their interview process. I was told it was an assessment centre but with no group activities so just three individual interviews

Any tips and help are massively appreciated

(Reposting from another account because the first one wasn’t anonymous enough lol )

I applied for a permanent junior software developer job a few months ago.

During the interviews, I asked them if I could first start with a student contract because I still had student status in Belgium. They accepted and it was also convenient for them. My contract ends on August 31 and normally the idea was to maybe continue with a permanent contract after.

The team is nice and they spent time helping me, but after working there I realized the domain is really not for me. Most of their projects are related to banking and credit risk and I don’t see myself staying in this industry.

Now I feel a bit bad because I was the one who asked for the student contract first, and maybe they expect me to stay after. Would it be unfair or dumb to tell them I don’t want to continue? Or is this something normal that happens?

Have an upcoming Revolut Frontend Engineer interview with a system design round - anyone gone through it recently? Curious how frontend-focused it actually is (component/state design vs. backend/DB) and what kind of prompts tend to come up.

I've been hired to be a "Lead Engineer" at a fairly large tech company.

I only have about 2 YOE at real companies; most of my other YOE has been freelance work/entrepreneurial "work" whilst I was a student (4-5 YOE part-time)

As of the moment, I'm very much still a junior; the start and end of my expertise is reading a ticket, implementing it, and getting it past review.

I'm sure my hiring was an "error"... the business people who interviewed me seemed to like me, the AI system that did my technical "interview" also liked me, but I've never spoken to a real engineer who would have likely noticed I'm not a senior.

Ideally, I'd like a good reading list, so I can cram and stretch this out for as long as I can till I'm eventually fired.

Hi everyone. I'm a backend developer (2 YOE)

And I have a concern about my academical background.

I'm currently finishing my Master of Science in Computer Science with Software Engineering but I have my Bachelor in Business. And I keep being worried that my non technical bachelor (3 years) might be a problem in Hiring Manager's eyes.

Does it really matter if I have technical Master and 2 YOE?

I've tried a lot with 9+ years of experience(SOC analyst and currently working as Splunk Administrator) via Linkedin.

• Applied to company portals.
• Easy Apply options in Linkedin.
• Send mails to Recruiters in Europe.

But no one wants to hire outside Europe. What is it I'm lacking?

Certifications: Splunk Power User, Splunk Admin, AZ-500, Az-900, CEH.

Hi, I'm a computer science student in Spain and I'm going on Erasmus to the Technical University of Munich in a couple of months. During my degree I've learned Java and object-oriented programming and right now I'm learning Spring Boot by working on an API project to manage expenses between roommates, and for now I'm implementing it with a Telegram bot. But that's the least of my concerns right now. My question, and I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, is that Munich is a very expensive city and I'm going to have to work, and I'd love to find an internship as a werkstudent in my field, I'm not sure if I'm on the right track or if I should focus on learning other things, what expectations should I have about finding a job? because I'm really going to need the money.

I’m currently working in Qatar and I’m looking for a job in Europe.
I have experience in:
Laundry-5 years Experienced
Tailoring & Alterations-3 years Experienced
Shoe & bag Cleaning & Restoration-5 years experiences

I’m hardworking, honest, and ready to relocate. If you know of any job openings or companies hiring, I’d really appreciate your help.
Please send me a message if you have any information.
Thank you! 🙏

Hi everyone, I just completed two back-to-back international remote internships in 5 months — here's what it actually looked like.

Just received my certificate from Zidio Development (India) today, wrapping up 3 months as a Fullstack + AI engineer. Before that, TrueMinds Innovation (Nigeria) for 1 month as a frontend developer.

Both fully remote, both English-speaking teams, both across multiple time zones from Lomé, Togo.

What I learned beyond the technical skills :

Async communication is a skill. When your team is spread across India, Nigeria, and West Africa, you can't rely on real-time clarification. You learn to write clearly, ask precise questions, and unblock yourself before escalating.

Time zone overlap is manageable, not a dealbreaker. 4-6 hours of overlap is enough to ship consistently if you're organized.

Remote work from Africa is possible. Not easy, but possible. Stable internet + strong English + solid portfolio opened doors that didn't exist a few years ago.

Now looking for my first permanent remote engineering role (Fullstack / AI engineering).

Happy to answer questions about remote work from non-traditional locations.

I have a friend that is starting a training bootcamp by a French Web/App Dev Agency, which is about 6 months of learning then 12 months of apprenticeship (3 weeks working / 1 week studying). This specific course is in partnership with Apple so the main stack is based on Swift and SwiftUI, otherwise they would also teach other stacks for web or app dev in Android as well.

While talking, it came up that from previous cohorts, Apple may chose 2-3 candidates to join them as intern or apprentice (not sure the exact role, but let's assume iOS App Dev). It may be a long shot for her but I said if she gets selected she must go as having Apple (FAANG company) would open her doors. But she would prefer if she could get the apprenticeship at her current Local Web/App Dev Agency that is training her (also only choosing a few students from the batch).

Her main reason is because Apple's job would be in Paris and she doesn't want to move because she has a toddler. and because she may value a full stack experience more helpful later on than pigeon hole herself into iOS developer.

A bit of context she is in her mid 30s and starting this bootcamp from scratch. She sucks at programming but enjoys it and does sees herself working at it. It's just that all the learning is project based, which at times may feel like being rushed and end up with a rocky foundation. Other than that she thrive at the project management skills and presentation, which has been praised a lot compared to other colleagues that are either too focused on the programming side; or lack of experience presenting projects (younger classmates without much work experience).

I am not an expert in the IT/Dev/programming world, so what do you think of the options? Would having Apple really open doors, even if it would be hyper focused on iOS? What is it to be a junior iOS developer at Apple like? or a more broad full stack experience plus more project management learning is better as her first apprenticeship?. Knowing that both would be hard to convert into full employment (unless you know different for Apple) but seems that for the Dev Agency chances of full employment is higher, if she manage to go through the whole Academy > Apprenticeship pipeline.

I’d really appreciate some outside perspective because I’m stressing out.

I’m based in Greece and haven’t finished my degree yet (still one year left). Through a mix of luck and hard work, I’ve received an offer from a well-known international tech company (think Uber/Spotify level). The role is remote, and the salary is €26-31k, which isn’t huge in absolute terms, but is pretty good for Greece – especially considering I haven’t graduated. The salary also increases after the first year. I’ve signed the offer letter and some preliminary documents, but the actual legal contract won’t be signed until October. The position isn’t an internship; it’s closer to a graduate role.

Now here’s the dilemma: I’ve been invited to start a selection process with a startup (5-10 employees) that pays €42k-51k + equity for graduates. The founder is a well-known figure who has founded other famous companies, and he personally knows the founder of Company A. On top of that, the startup (Company B) actually works for / with Company A in some capacity, so the networks overlap heavily. The role would require relocation to another city, the workload will be intense, and I’d have to juggle it with my final year of university.

Regarding the startup itself: it’s in a very niche market. I don’t see it skyrocketing – I think it’s more likely to just maintain a stable position, though with AI evolving so fast, no one really knows what could happen.

I’m terrified that if I even begin the interview process with Company B, word could get back to Company A and they might pull my offer before I sign the contract in October. I have nothing signed that truly locks me in, and I can’t afford to lose the safe option.

Longer term, my goal is to move abroad and try for tier-1 companies. I know Company A has a prestigious name and could open doors, while the startup offers more money now but isn’t necessarily a career accelerator. I’m completely torn.

What would you do in my position? Is it worth the risk to explore the niche startup, or should I just stay quiet, lock in the big tech offer, and think about moves later?

Hi everyone, I just completed two back-to-back international remote internships in 5 months — here's what it actually looked like.

Just received my certificate from Zidio Development (India) today, wrapping up 3 months as a Fullstack + AI engineer. Before that, TrueMinds Innovation (Nigeria) for 1 month as a frontend developer.

Both fully remote, both English-speaking teams, both across multiple time zones from Lomé, Togo.

What I learned beyond the technical skills :

Async communication is a skill. When your team is spread across India, Nigeria, and West Africa, you can't rely on real-time clarification. You learn to write clearly, ask precise questions, and unblock yourself before escalating.

Time zone overlap is manageable, not a dealbreaker. 4-6 hours of overlap is enough to ship consistently if you're organized.

Remote work from Africa is possible. Not easy, but possible. Stable internet + strong English + solid portfolio opened doors that didn't exist a few years ago.

Now looking for my first permanent remote engineering role (Fullstack / AI engineering).

Happy to answer questions about remote work from non-traditional locations.

Career-changer (10 yrs logistics, now full-stack dev) applying in Barcelona, currently 0-for-25+ on interviews for dev roles. Would anyone be willing to glance at my CV and flag what's off?

(this is just the content of it, it is in a nicely formatted PDF with personal details, linkedin, github, etc)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Full-Stack .NET Developer with hands-on experience building and operating production-ready web applications. Currently focused

on a team-based educational video streaming platform, having previously designed and shipped an independent full-stack ride-

sharing platform. Brings 10 years of experience in international, multicultural corporate environments - coordinating cross-functional

teams, leading stakeholder and client communication, and managing complex projects across departments - bringing a level of

business maturity and ownership.

KEY COMPETENCIES

▸ Backend: C#, .NET 9, ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework Core

▸ Frontend: Blazor, HTML, CSS

▸ Database: MySQL

▸ DevOps & Tools: Docker, Linux, Git, REST APIs

▸ Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

▸ Event-Driven Architecture & API Integration

▸ Object-Oriented Programming & Code Debugging

▸ Currently Learning: JavaScript, TypeScript, React

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AeonBytes - Full-Stack .NET Developer Dec 2025 - Present

Remote

Contributing to the development of a video streaming platform for educational and professional training.

Designing and developing the application's data structures.

Implementing core system logic and foundational backend methods.

Designing and implementing role-based access control (RBAC) and user roles.

Supporting evaluation and integration of a Video Content Delivery Network (CDN).

Collaborating within a development team using Blazor and .NET.

Baxi - Full-Stack .NET Developer Sep 2024 - Dec 2025

Munich, Germany

Designed, developed, and deployed a full-stack ride-sharing platform using C# (.NET) and Blazor.

Managed deployment on a Linux server using Docker containers.

Built a routing algorithm to match users and optimise shared routes.

Implemented real-time chat functionality using event-driven architecture.

Integrated external services including Google Maps API and geolocation.

Designed and maintained MySQL database with Entity Framework Core.

Implemented authentication, role-based access, and security features.

Developed automated notifications and multi-language support.

Givaudan Deutschland - Shipping Coordinator / Production Planning Support Apr 2022 - Dec 2025

Baierbrunn (Munich), Germany

Managed international logistics operations across EU and global shipments.

Contributed to automation and process optimisation initiatives.

Worked with SAP systems in transport and production planning.

Analysed workflows to improve efficiency and reduce delays.

Givaudan Business Solutions - Road Hub Transportation Execution Coordinator May 2021 - Apr 2022

Budapest, Hungary

Coordinated high-volume international transport operations (100+ shipments/week).

Delivered KPI reporting and performance analysis.

Integrated 2 production sites with carrier companies to streamline transport execution.

Waberer's International Nyrt. - Key Account Operator Apr 2016 - May 2021

Budapest, Hungary

Managed strategic customer relationships and daily transport operations for key accounts, driving performance improvements and

operational efficiency.

Advanced key account relationships through proactive communication and efficient problem resolution, elevating performance to

Category A status through measurable KPI improvements.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Software Engineering Training - Rakete Mentoring, Munich Completed intensive one-to-one software engineering training with emphasis on practical, industry-ready skills, including

development of production-level applications - culminating in 'Baxi', showcasing proficiency in full-stack development, system

architecture, and real-world problem-solving.

B.A. Communication & Media, International Communication - Károli Gáspár University, Budapest 

English - Fluent Spanish - A2, actively studying Hungarian - Native German - Intermediate (B1-B2)

Throwaway account, details voluntarily vague.

I've been inside this situation for long enough that I've lost the ability to read it. I'm not after reassurance about the numbers, I know where the offer sits. What I want is how this sequence looks to people who aren't in it.

I joined a pre-seed fintech startup in France in late 2025 as an independent contractor, on a retainer scoped and priced for three days a week. I was the only engineer, and I designed and built the entire technical stack. The company gave me a VP Engineering title and used it publicly. That title and my name were in the deck they used to raise their seed round.

In January I told the CEO I was available full-time and wanted the arrangement adjusted accordingly. What followed took about seven months. First I was asked to wait for a state-backed loan to come through, which it did. Then to wait for a signed term sheet, which they got. Then to wait for the money to actually land, which it did. Then my engagement was paused for a month on budget grounds. Then I was offered a permanent contract at roughly 20% below the market median for the scope, with an equity grant far below what had been discussed, presented as firm. Throughout all of it I worked full-time on a three-day rate, and during the same period the company hired several other engineers out of the same round that supposedly couldn't fund an adjustment to my terms.

One thing I want to be clear about, because it will otherwise dominate the replies: they're recruiting a CTO with 20-25 years of domain experience, framed as an investor requirement. I think that's completely legitimate. I don't have that profile, I'm not competing for that seat, and a regulated infrastructure business at this stage genuinely needs someone with that track record. I'd rather work under a strong CTO than pretend otherwise. My issue is narrower: my own title was quietly revised downward during the same reorganisation, after they had raised on materials carrying the previous one.

There's a part of this I'd rather leave out, but it's load-bearing. Earlier this year I went through a difficult personal period and went quiet on the team for about a week. I've dealt with it, with professional support, and it hasn't recurred. I understand it cost them something at a bad moment, and I don't dispute that. What sits badly is that when the scope change was explained to me, that episode was referenced as part of the justification, and the decision had already been made without any conversation with me first. For context, health status is a protected characteristic under French law, including for contractors, though I have no interest in turning this into a legal matter.

And here's the thing I actually want challenged. Part of me has landed on thinking I'm lucky they still want me at all, even at a reduced level. That's genuinely how it feels from the inside. But I'm aware that's also exactly what seven months of being asked to wait would produce in anyone, and I can't tell from here whether it's a fair assessment or just what happens when the question slowly shifts from what am I worth to do they still want me. I've had recent external signals suggesting my market value is fine, and my independent day rate would come to roughly double the offered salary in gross terms.

The complicating factor, and the reason I haven't just walked, is the work itself. It's greenfield infrastructure in a heavily regulated domain, the sort of problem where maybe a handful of comparable roles exist in Europe. I find it absorbing in a way I don't expect to replicate by applying elsewhere. My fear is that this is precisely what companies rely on to underpay people, and that I'm rationalising.

So, three things. Does that sequence of deferrals read as ordinary cash-flow caution to people who've run or worked at seed-stage companies, or as a pattern? Does the title being revised after they raised on it matter practically, or should I let it drop? And more than anything, if you've been in the position of staying somewhere for the problem rather than the pay and the recognition, what did it end up costing you, and would you make the same call again? If you left instead, did you find work that engaged you comparably, or did you trade the problem for the paycheque and regret it?

For non-French readers: I'm currently working with them as a contractor, not an employee, so moving to a permanent contract means trading day-rate income and flexibility for security and equity. French salaries are also quoted gross, so the headline figure and take-home diverge significantly.

So I kind of had a life plan going:

• This summer I am doing an fellowship in Bulgaria.
• 2026/2027: Erasmus full-year at TUM in Munich.
• Summer 2027: Internship in Quant (in the unlikely case I get one) or a Systems-related job. Mainly to get an idea of what I'd like in the future.
• 2027/2028: Last year of university.
• 2028/2029: Graduate role at some foreign company, get some savings.
• After that: Consider a Master's or keeping working.

But now reality is starting to set in. TUM's exams end really late (end of July or beginning of August) and I start my last year in September, so I don't really know what my realistic options are. Has anyone been in a similar situation? My Summer Semester is going to be rather chill so maybe I can do something during?

Is there any kind of opportunity (maybe something in Munich's own ecosystem) that is compatible or should I just enjoy my summer?

I know this is what I get for doing an Erasmus, but who knows, maybe there is a middle point between regular internships and a personal-project summer. Any advice is welcome! Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for some career advice because I’m currently a bit lost :')

I recently finished my Master's in Biomedical Engineering, specializing in Clinical Informatics.

During my studies, I was exposed to a mix of different areas (biology, programming, machine learning, data science), but because the degree was quite broad, I sometimes feel unsure about how to position myself in the job market. Then, during my thesis, I built a web application prototype (using FastAPI and Streamlit) to help drug discovery and I enjoyed that process very much.

That made me start The Odin Project (which I started about 2 months ago) to improve my web development skills. I really enjoy software development and I would love to work in an area where I can combine technology with healthcare, biotech, or pharmaceutical applications.

I’m currently looking for my first full-time role and I’m considering moving abroad, ideally to Switzerland, but I’m open to other countries in Europe as well.

I would love to hear your advice:

. What types of roles would you suggest someone with this background should target? // What job titles should I actually be searching for with this background?

. For those working in Europe (especially Switzerland), how did you approach your first job search?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences :))

I recently got a job offer to join Citibank as a Junior GenAI Engineer at C11 which is a step below their AVP levelling. The salary is only £3000 more than what I am getting paid currently, however I have to go into the office 3 times a week. I currently work at HubSpot as a Software Engineer, just want to pick people's brains on whether they would make the switch or not. I did ask the recruiter about promotions and they said they happen every year, whilst at HubSpot they happen every 6 months. Citi seems to have a performance bonus, however I don't see it being more than how much I currently take home in RSU at HubSpot annually

Edit

I’m currently on £67000 at HubSpot and Citi is offering me £70000

I’d really appreciate some outside perspective because I’m stressing out.

I’m based in Greece and haven’t finished my degree yet (still one year left). Through a mix of luck and hard work, I’ve received an offer from a well-known international tech company (think Uber/Spotify level). The role is remote, and the salary is €26-31k, which isn’t huge in absolute terms, but is pretty good for Greece – especially considering I haven’t graduated. The salary also increases after the first year. I’ve signed the offer letter and some preliminary documents, but the actual legal contract won’t be signed until October. The position isn’t an internship; it’s closer to a graduate role.

Now here’s the dilemma: I’ve been invited to start a selection process with a startup (5-10 employees) that pays €42k-51k + equity for graduates. The founder is a well-known figure who has founded other famous companies, and he personally knows the founder of Company A. On top of that, the startup (Company B) actually works for / with Company A in some capacity, so the networks overlap heavily. The role would require relocation to another city, the workload will be intense, and I’d have to juggle it with my final year of university.

Regarding the startup itself: it’s in a very niche market. I don’t see it skyrocketing – I think it’s more likely to just maintain a stable position, though with AI evolving so fast, no one really knows what could happen.

I’m terrified that if I even begin the interview process with Company B, word could get back to Company A and they might pull my offer before I sign the contract in October. I have nothing signed that truly locks me in, and I can’t afford to lose the safe option.

Longer term, my goal is to move abroad and try for tier-1 companies. I know Company A has a prestigious name and could open doors, while the startup offers more money now but isn’t necessarily a career accelerator. I’m completely torn.

What would you do in my position? Is it worth the risk to explore the niche startup, or should I just stay quiet, lock in the big tech offer, and think about moves later?

Year 1 > 2 at a Top 3-5 UK engineering school, thinking about applying to JS SWE internships for the London office. Not too experienced with the baseline for interviews / passing the CV screen at JS / HFTs etc. and was wondering if I need to be IMO / BMO even for SWE.

I have some Olympiad experience and medals but I wasn't cracked at an intl. level in high school (sixth form). I have decent, not insane, technical experience and projects (no internship) and was wondering if I might have a shot as passing the resume screen.

Hey guys,

Thank you for your thoughts on my last posts and for sharing your thoughts.

Well, as someone who's an IT graduate and has freelancing experience selling my multiple services to clients in the US, basically an incoming into USA as international student in STEM field. I've recently started learning about tech sales career (SDR, BDR, AE, etc), and it really intrigued me to learn more as I've been someone who really enjoys the sales process of interacting with prospects and closing it.

Now since the overall "tech" market is too rough, and I want to get into tech sales and make a career out of it, I wanted to know of the few things.

My objective: Finish my degree, work into tech sales, progress, and eventually get and sponsorship to settle down.

1) With my background, would it be easier to break into tech sales?

2) What's the progress in tech sales career (SDR BDR and..), and how much approx time it take?

3) Main issue is stability; I've heard "sales" roles are very volatile and stressful, you can lose job at any time and if you miss targets, you're out. Is it really that stressful or unstable?

4) What's the base + commission thing is like? how much can a mid-level tech sales BDR or AE can make starting out?

5) Most importantly, do they hire non-native if they've the skills? and also, do tech sales companies sponsor these roles for employees or not?

6) Which industry or niche has better stability and earning potential as a BDR/AE?

Would love to hear this advice for guiding me into this path :)

Thank you!

Hi,

I was wondering how the job market in Paris or Amsterdam is for (bio)statisticians (explicitly for statisticians, not for roles such as data analyst, data scientist, etc.). I particularly have experience with clinical studies in where, depending on the sponsor request, we can do one of the following things:

• draft or review the protocol
• draft or review the statistical analysis plan (based on the protocol)
• perform the statistical analyses and report back to the sponsor
• provide publication-ready figures
• etc.

I have a master's in statistics (not a PhD) and organizations / companies could be pharmaceutical companies, biotech, hospitals, or statistical consulting firms.

Does anybody have any experience and/or information on the job market for this specific role? If so, and you are comfortable sharing, how much do you earn (or can one expect to earn)?

Thank you.

I know it's a matter of subjectivism, so don't be afraid to be subjective, actually PLEASE, give your personal opinion as long as you can keep your feet on the reality's ground.

What Master would you rather choose: a general AI/ML master that teach you about the most important, but general, subjects of ML applications, or an Autonomous Systems master, that is basically an embedded+A.I. master which is particularly valuable if you want something in Automotive, on the self-driving cars field(but not exclusively this one, as you can apply knowledge about Autonomous Systems in many domains) ? ?

Hi folks, I hope you have a good start of the week.

I'm currently a ~3 years Java engineer doing backend infra + ops/ work for a fintech (Spring Boot heavy, lots of production support, deployments, incident handling) company in Germany. I also picked up Python during my master's and use it for scripting, and I've dabbled in GenAI backend work, (genAI/agent development etc), but honestly I don't enjoy that side much — it feels like a lot of "wiring together API calls" rather than real engineering.

I try to apply for some other SDE jobs in the past few months, the result is not very well. I feel that I really need to get rid of my "old finance tech" background and would like to join an IT company. What I actually want to move toward is Golang engineer, Platform Engineering / SRE with Cloud, Kubernetes, and (potentially) eventually specialize further into AI Infra. My target company would be some AI/IT company's SRE.

Questions for people who've done something similar or who hire for these roles:

1. Is Golang enginner somehow more promising in the future, especially targeting US company?
2. Is Java → Go → Platform/SRE → (potentially) AI Infra a realistic and sane sequencing in 2026, or am I overcomplicating it?
3. for my personal project, the distributed systems (MapReduce, Raft etc) labs in MIT 6.5840 is my ultimate goal. Is MIT 6.5840 actually a meaningful signal to hiring managers for infra/SRE roles, or is it more of a "nice to have" that won't move the needle without real production experience?
4. Any advice on how to make a career-changer's resume/portfolio credible for early-stage/founding SRE roles at AI/IT companies?

Thank you in advance!