For people with 1–1.5 YOE, are you guys getting callbacks?
I’m keeping my ATS score >85, tailoring my resume for JDs, and applying consistently, but barely getting responses. Does it mostly come down to luck?
Starting to feel burnt out and worried I’ll lose motivation if this keeps going for too long.
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Honest confession: I never really wanted to be a Data Analyst. I took the job because it was an offer, and now after almost a year of doing this professionally, I can say with confidence — this isn't for me.
It's not that the work is hard. It's that neither the tech stack nor the growth trajectory excites me. And when I look at compensation — SWEs and Data Scientists at similar experience levels are pulling significantly more. That stings a little too.
So I've been thinking about switching tracks. Here's where I'm at:
SWE/Development — This is what I originally wanted to do. I'm grinding 1–2 DSA questions daily, upskilling on weekends, mostly focused on development. But I'm starting from scratch on a serious portfolio, and 1.5 years of DA work doesn't exactly scream "software engineer."
Data Science — Interesting space, but I keep hearing that without publications or an MTech/MS, you're at a massive disadvantage for good DS roles. Is that actually true in the Indian job market, or is it overstated? Would projects and Kaggle-type work realistically get me in the door?
Data Engineering — I've explored this a bit and honestly find it more interesting than my current work. Pipeline stuff, working closer to infra and code, feels more "real engineering" to me. Might this be an underrated path for someone with my background?
My current situation:
The frustrating part is I don't know what the "end game" looks like for any of these paths from where I'm standing. I keep doing the work but without a clear direction, it feels like running without knowing where the finish line is.
Has anyone here been in a similar spot? How did you decide which direction to commit to? And for those who switched from DA to SWE or DE — how long did it realistically take, and what actually moved the needle?
Would really appreciate some genuine advice, not just "bro just apply."
Need help choosing between these 2 Java + Spring Boot backend courses:
AlgoCamp Spring Boot (Sanket Singh)
Coding Shuttle Cohort 5.0 (Anuj Kumar Sharma)
Background:
- 2025 grad
- Currently in a analyst role with <1 YOE
- Want to switch to Backend Development
- Know Java basics + SQL
I want a course that is practical, helps build strong projects, and makes me job-ready for backend roles.
From what I understood:
- Sanket Singh → deeper backend engineering concepts
- Coding Shuttle → more beginner-friendly and structured
Which one would you recommend for someone targeting a backend switch in the next 3-5 months?
I graduated in 2025 from a Tier 1.5 college and currently work as a Data Analyst with 1 YOE in a service based company. To be honest, I never really loved this field. I took the job because it was better than staying unemployed, and at that point, stability mattered more.
Deep down, I always wanted to move toward Software Development or AI/ML roles.
Last year (around Oct-Dec), I seriously started grinding ML/AI basics. Built a few projects like:
- A RAG chatbot
- PR reviewer tool
- YouTube-to-blog converter
- Some other small AI-based projects
But then work pressure got too intense. My manager is honestly very toxic, and after work I was mentally drained most days, so I had to pause for a while.
Even then, I never completely stopped preparing. Whenever I get time, I still grind LeetCode and study LLD basics. Initially I was doing LLD in C++, but recently I started learning Java, so now I’m trying to transition fully into Java for backend development.
The problem is: the current market feels brutal.
Breaking into Data Science/AI as a fresher or someone without direct experience already seems insanely hard. On top of that, my resume only shows Data Analyst experience, so I’ve barely received any callbacks for dev roles.
Recently, I came across a Java Backend course that genuinely looks very good, and now I’m seriously considering going all in on Backend Development (Spring Boot, APIs, system design, etc.) while applying for jobs in parallel.
At this point, I honestly feel confused and frustrated.
Should I:
Continue trying for AI/ML roles?
Shift fully toward Java Backend Development?
Try to somehow combine both?
Would really appreciate advice from people who’ve switched domains or were in a similar situation.