Why Your CS Degree Might Be Yesterday's News in Tech

Ok wait because this is actually insane. Jiaona Zhang, who's been around the tech block from Airbnb to Linktree, is practically waving a giant flag: your computer science degree might not be your golden ticket anymore.

The Shift in Tech

Remember when CS grads would strut into companies with $120K starting salaries? That's old news. Over the last two years, that easy pathway from CS major to cushy tech job is getting, well, obliterated. Those juicy entry-level offers? Drying up faster than spilled coffee on a hot day. Students are flocking to startups or going all-in on entrepreneurship instead.

And it's lowkey because AI is stepping in to do a lot of the grunt work. The tasks that used to keep junior software engineers busy? Now done by AI. No cap, you can whip up a product without being a tech wizard. Entrepreneurs are capturing insane value at lightning speed.

The New Tech Heroes

So what are companies like Laurel looking for now? Builders with a capital B. Curiosity and drive are the new must-haves. Bestie, your portfolio needs to hear this: don't stress about mastering every AI tool. Instead, get good at spotting opportunities.

Jiaona's got a hit class at Stanford where she teaches students to understand users and find that golden market insight. That's where the magic happens. When she's hiring, she wants to know what candidates are building and how they use AI to kill off boring manual tasks.

Curiosity Over Code

Here's the tea: it's not just about coding anymore. It's about being a proactive builder. Do you've the curiosity and drive to go for it without waiting for a green light? That's the secret sauce for the next-gen tech landscape.

So, if you're still clinging to your CS degree like it's a lifeboat, maybe it's time to rethink. What are you going to build next?