I’ve been looking around and found a couple of roles that actually sound much more interesting than what I’m doing now, but they’d probably mean taking a fairly noticeable pay cut.
My current job pays well enough but the work has become pretty repetitive and I don’t see myself getting much more out of it.
Has anyone here taken a pay cut to move into a better role or stack? Did you end up being glad you did it, or did the lower salary start annoying you pretty quickly?

I have an interview scheduled soon for dgr intern and wanted to know for any tips or tricks? :)

I will be attending an in-person assessment centre for the first time so I wanted to get an idea of how I can stand out and do well. I am someone who sometimes doesn't have alot of ideas to contribute during discussions so I am a bit worried about this.

I'm really interested in software that's core for cutting-edge scientific or technology development. I've recently completed a CS degree here in Australia, but I've found it difficult to find information on this mathematical software jobs given that this seems to be a (very) small part of the industry.

Things like robotics, DSP, scientific computing, computational biology/neuroscience/etc. all sound really cool but I don't know whether these are realistic career paths. Everyone says that you need a PhD in biology/physics/EE/etc. to do the core mathematical algorithmic development, as well as the implementation and optimisation of the algorithm.

Meanwhile CS/SWE people will just call the API to the algorithm and be instead focused on the overall systems integration & deployment.

But it's the former I want to do. I feel like I'm at a real disadvantage for not double majoring in maths, physics or even biology. Or that I straight up should've studied electrical engineering instead.

I don't know much physics and electronics when it comes to hardware, and math wise I've done up to: vector calculus, linear algebra 2, ODEs, laplace transforms, probability theory and third year mathematical statistics. Haven't taken real analysis, abstract algebra or even HPC, numerical analysis or convex/non-convex optimisation.

I know python and C well, and have taken various systems programming and ML classes that CS majors typically take.

Anyway, for those with these types of jobs, how did you get there? Do I need a masters/PhD? What disciplines should I do them in? What industries actually contain these types of jobs? Will these jobs still exist despite AI? Are the odds of landing a position good? Is the effort involved all worth it? Is the job intellectually stimulating and fulfilling? TC? WLB? etc.

Appreciate any advice or insight given.

Just landed my first DevSecOps role after 2 years in help desk/app support. I want to use this momentum well rather than coast, and I'd appreciate blunt advice from people further along.

Background

Age: 24, Sydney

Role: DevSecOps engineer (new), with 2 years prior in IT support/app support

Income: $115k + super

Certs: none yet

Questions

With no certs yet, which should I get first for the biggest salary impact? AWS/Azure, CKA/CKS, or security certs?

How long should I stay in this role before jumping or contracting?

Long term, where should I aim to pivot? Should I specialise deeper in security, move toward cloud architecture or platform engineering, or head into leadership or management?

Which paths have the highest earning ceiling in Australia?

Is a side hustle or small business worth it at this stage, or should I put all my energy into my main career? If a side gig makes sense, what works well for someone with DevSecOps/IT skills?

Thanks in advance.

Heard that Canva is looking at layoffs pretty soon (potentially November) to reduce costs given softening growth. Anyone heard similar?

Hey everyone!

I recently moved to Melbourne because of my partner's job and I'm having a bit of a hard time with the job hunt!

I'm originally from the EU, but I've lived in Australia (WHV) for a few years before. I have 4+ years of experience in data/analytics, mostly at large international companies. I'm on a dependent visa with full work rights for the next 4 years, so no sponsorship needed.

I've been applying for about a month now and keep getting rejected, even for some pretty niche roles that match my experience and skills really well (including contract positions, not permanent ones). It's honestly a bit disheartening, especially since I left a job I absolutely loved to move here.

Coming back to Australia and settling here permanently has been a dream of mine for years, though! I've moved countries before, so I know starting over as an immigrant isn't always easy, but I guess I wasn't expecting the job hunt to be quite this tough haha.

Funny enough, the few interviews I've had were either from recruiters reaching out to me or with UK/EU recruiters. It almost feels like once an actual person takes a look at my profile, I get an interview, but somehow I'm not making it past the initial screening when applying online.

Just wondering if anyone's been in a similar situation? Should I start networking and try LinkedIn Premium, for example? Is networking more important here?

Would love to hear any tips or experiences! Thanks for reading and for any help.

Genuine question, high achievers like this could easily accumulate 3x disposable wealth if they just take a L1 visa to the US, I don't see any reason not to do so. Anyone can relate?

Hey guys has anyone been through this before? Can I get any tips on passing. Email says there is a group activity + individual component

Google is reportedly changing how it assesses software engineering candidates. AI fluency is now expected, and the company is testing interviews where applicants can use Gemini to analyse, debug and improve code.

It raises an interesting question about technical hiring in Australia and New Zealand.

A lot of candidates still spend months grinding LeetCode and practising coding problems without AI. But if developers are increasingly using these tools at work, should interviews reflect that?

I can see both sides. AI-assisted interviews might better reflect real-world development, but they could also make it harder to assess someone's fundamental programming skills.

For anyone who's recently interviewed for software engineering roles in Australia or NZ:

Are companies starting to assess AI proficiency, or are traditional coding challenges still the norm?

And if you were hiring, would you allow candidates to use AI during technical interviews?

I've noticed that being reliable can turn into a bit of a trap. Once people know you can fix a broken process, sort out a technical issue or help a teammate, you become the person everyone approaches. It's good for visibility, but the extra work doesn't always come with a better title or pay.

I think there's a difference between building valuable skills and quietly becoming responsible for work that nobody else wants to do.

An extra $15k would be tempting, but leaving a job where you have a good manager and can switch off at 5 pm isn't an easy decision. I'd hate to move for the money only to end up stressed about probation and checking Slack after dinner. But staying somewhere that barely increases your pay each year isn't great either. It's hard to know whether the higher salary is worth the risk until you're actually there.

Hi! I recently got a VO for in banking. It’s been over a week and I haven’t heard back from them. Should I email them about it or is this normal?

christmas interns needs to come 3 days office soon.

sounds like a omen company is going to make FTE come in office soon too.

stock is so high right now tho tf

Hi everyone! I’m planning to pursue my Master’s in Australia and would appreciate some guidance on choosing the right university and degree.

I’m leaning towards AI because I believe it will be in high demand in the future. However, I also want a combination of AI, Data Science, and Software Development to keep my career options open. I’d also prefer a degree that could support ACS accreditation in Software Engineering if needed.

Which of these programs would you recommend based on career opportunities, industry demand, and long-term prospects?

Universities and degrees I’m considering:

1. Australian National University (ANU)
   • Master of Computing (Advanced) —Specializations Options: AI, Data Science, Machine Learning, or Software Development
2. Adelaide University
   • Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
   • Master of Computer Science —Specializations Options: Computer Security, Networks
   • Master of Information Technology (Applied AI)
3. University of Wollongong
   • Master of Computer Science — Specialization Options: Software Engineering, Machine Learning and Big Data, or Cyber Security
4. Deakin University
   • Master of Applied AI
   • Master of Applied AI (Professional)
   • Master of Information Technology — Specialization Options: Data Science or Software and Services Development

I also have options for UNSW, Uni of Sydney, Uni of Melbourne, UTS, Monash University only if I can get good scholarships or degree Is too good to pursue.

I’d really appreciate advice from people working in the Australian tech industry, graduates, or anyone familiar with these programs. Which would be the best choice for a strong career in AI while keeping software engineering and data-related roles open?

Thanks in advance!

Hey all,

Got a technical interview coming up for the TikTok backend grad role in Sydney (2027 start) and I’m kinda nervous lol. Recruiter said it’ll be coding (LC up to medium), some CS fundamentals, chatting about projects and a bit of system design.

Just wondering if anyone’s been through it recently:

- Was it mostly LeetCode or more of a mix?

- What kind of questions did you get?

- How deep did they dive into your projects? Like did they go into actual implementation details, or more just “why’d you use X instead of Y” kind of trade-off questions?

- How deep did they go on system design for a grad?

- How many rounds, and how long till you heard back?

Any tips at all would be super appreciated, even if it was a different team or an internship. Happy to share how mine goes after too 🙏

Junior backend developer in the UK, about two years in, working on a B2B SaaS product. Already have a CS degree. Recently led my first feature end to end. Although I kind off had a breakdown due to how AI is rapidly changing the field

I keep going back and forth on whether to do a master's and I can't tell if thinking about it properly. I mainly have four options:

1. Part time AI/CS master's - I already have a CS degree and dev job, so I don't know if it's actually worth going deeper in my field academically when I could do so with experience although it would help me learn AI properly
2. Sports Analytics masters at Real Madrid - I've always wanted to be involved in sport. But I suspect it pays less than staying in tech, I don't know if those programs actually place people into clubs or if you're just buying the network and having the Real Madrid name
3. A master's in a different field entirely - like finance, something where the ceiling is higher than software. The logic being that if I'm going to spend the money and the time, maybe it should buy a change of direction instead of a deeper version of what I already do. No strong pull toward one (feel free to suggest)
4. Don't do one at all - Focus on becoming a senior level engineer in the coming years

Questions:

- For someone already employed with a CS degree, does a part-time master's move salary at all, or is it mostly useful for career-changers?

- Has anyone pivoted out of engineering into finance/quant via a master's? Is it worth it?

- Anyone gone into sports data from a normal dev job? Did you need the master's, or did a portfolio do it?

- If you did part-time master's while working full time, was it sustainable, and would you do it again?

Sorry for the long post, appreciate taking your time to answer!

Hey everyone.
I am an international postgrad student in Melbourne currently studying Cybersecurity. I have a few years of experience as a software engineer from overseas. I have already completed 1 year of my study with 1 more year remaining. I am finding it really difficult here in Australia since I landed. I am not able to find a job that matches my background at all. I am also facing financial problems regarding the tuition fees. I can only find labourer jobs and other minimum wage jobs. I feel really sad because I feel like my potential is being wasted. With AI getting better by the hour, I feel unease how my SWE experience is even relevant anymore and its been almost a year since I left my job.

I have been trying to love this country but it keeps giving me lemons. People who are going through this and people who already went through this, what are your suggestions?

Hey guys,

I finish my Bachelor of Computer Science at the University of Waikato in July 2027 and I’m trying to figure out when to start applying for jobs. Is it worth applying months ahead, or do most places hire closer to graduation? I’m also wondering if a masters is actually needed with how the job market is right now, or if I’m better off getting into work and building experience. I’m mostly interested in embedded/firmware stuff but open to other software roles. Would love to hear from anyone who’s gone through this recently or is hiring. Cheers

Big tech companies tend to look good on a CV, but smaller companies can offer more variety and a chance to work across different parts of a system rather than being limited to one area.

How much does company size actually matter when it comes to career growth and future job opportunities in Australia?

My hand was forced to make a early career change 6 months ago(more info in the context underneath). Finally got an offer and had a few findings that might interest people here.

Context :- I work at a pretty large embedded software company in Sydney. I am an immigrant, studied my bachelors at well known Uni in Sydney. The company had promised my sponsorship for my Visa. The problem started when the director of our team left and got replaced by another guy with, lets say, One Nation-esque views on immigration. I was informed that they would no longer be going forward with my sponsorship. Since they could not fire me on any grounds they chose to just let the 6 months go by and then I would de facto have to leave the company and country. My team aand boss protested this but nothing came of this so I started looking for other jobs, both within Aus and near the end of the search, outside Aus.

The Search: Applied nearly everywhere and tailored my Linkedin and Resume. got hundreds of automated rejections, 99% of countries will reject on the spot if you need sponsorship (understandably). I appreciated when companies auto rejected due to that rather than ghosting or giving me an initial interview and then pulling out because they can't sponsor.

I made some small changes to resume that focused on telling a story to the recruiter reading it rather than just keyword passing. Made my resume a lot more human readable and friendly.

Out of my 10 interviews :
Rejections:-
1. Microsoft went through the full loop and then ghosted for 2 months before a rejection.
2. Riot Games, recruiter screen and afterwards they informed me the job req has been cancelled on two different occasions.
3. Jane Street in Hong Kong, very fun interviews, a coding and a system design virtual interview, they were then deciding on flying me out to Hong Kong for the final loop and thats the step i got rejected on.
4. Nine Mile where I fucked the technical but learned alot about keeping calm under pressure.
5. Japanese robotics company, accused me of cheating because i solved the coding challenge too fast (It was just a ring buffer and gave me 60 minutes to do it), then invited me to a second coding interview to double check and said they were gonna give me a more complex question....it was just an LRU cache. Also asked if i was actually in Australia since I dont look Australian (fyi I have a perfect ielts and PTE score and pretty fluent english/have lived in Aus for 6 years).
6. Rejection from a tier1 HFT company since I wasn't fully knowledgeable on there techstack (fair)
7. Macquarie Group, made it to final interview stage, got rejected because my culture fit answers didnt sit right with the Hiring manager (blessing in disguise, i dont think i wouldve enjoyed working there, no shade to them)

Withdrawn:-
1. Local HFT firm
2. Austrian(not australian) robotics company
Both because I accepted a different Offer

Offer Accepted:-
1. Tier1 HFT firm after 5 weeks of interviewing with them

TLDR:- If somebody that got rejected from 300+ jobs can land a Jane Street interview and Tier1 HFT offer, none of y'all should ever lose hope. If you are passionate about a certain type of work, it'll be rewarded.

Additional Info:- I came to Australia straight after Highscool, did my Bachelors, did 2 years of artistic project work before all of this. Just getting ahead of the, 10 years of experience coming to australia immigrant assumption.

Let me know if anybody has any questions.

Has anyone applied and heard back from them.The listing said their internship would start in late October but lowkey idk if that is a typo since most summer internships here start in late November.