u/Mediocre-Low2871

Hey everyone,

Honest question from someone who's tired of polishing a resume and not getting real answers.

I graduated this year with a CS degree. I've built real systems from scratch — not tutorial projects — and published research preprints along the way. Technically, I'm solid. The job search, however, has been a masterclass in humility.

Here's what no one tells you in college: you can be good at building software and still realize it's not what drives you. What I actually love is the upstream work — defining the problem worth solving, understanding why users behave the way they do, making prioritization calls, bridging engineering and business. Structured thinking over syntax. That realization pulled me toward APM, Product Analyst, Tech Associate,Tech Consultant and Product Strategy roles — where technical fluency is a foundation, not the ceiling.

What I don't know yet:

• Do companies actually hire fresh grads into product roles, or is every job description quietly asking for two years of PM experience?
• What does a strong early-career product profile look like to an actual hiring manager?
• Is this pivot an asset or a liability with a pure CS background?

I'm open to remote or hybrid, and I want fair pay — but right now I'm optimizing for the right room, not the right number.

If you've hired for these roles, made this transition yourself, or have blunt feedback on what I'm probably getting wrong — I'd genuinely love to hear it.

Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone,

Honest question from someone who's tired of polishing a resume and not getting real answers.

I graduated this year with a CS degree. I've built real systems from scratch — not tutorial projects — and published research preprints along the way. Technically, I'm solid. The job search, however, has been a masterclass in humility.

Here's what no one tells you in college: you can be good at building software and still realize it's not what drives you. What I actually love is the upstream work — defining the problem worth solving, understanding why users behave the way they do, making prioritization calls, bridging engineering and business. Structured thinking over syntax. That realization pulled me toward APM, Product Analyst, Tech Associate, and Product Strategy roles — where technical fluency is a foundation, not the ceiling.

What I don't know yet:

• Do companies actually hire fresh grads into product roles, or is every job description quietly asking for two years of PM experience?
• What does a strong early-career product profile look like to an actual hiring manager?
• Is this pivot an asset or a liability with a pure CS background?

I'm open to remote or hybrid, and I want fair pay — but right now I'm optimizing for the right room, not the right number.

If you've hired for these roles, made this transition yourself, or have blunt feedback on what I'm probably getting wrong — I'd genuinely love to hear it.

Thanks in advance.