Should You Learn to Code or Pursue a CS Career in 2025? A Wake-Up Call for the AI Era

#ai #discuss #career #beginners

It's 2025

You’ve just graduated with a Computer Science degree — or maybe you're self-taught, having put in countless hours on LeetCode, bootcamps, and personal projects. You believed in the dream: that tech is the future, that software engineers are in demand, that maybe you’d build the next big thing.

But now?

Layoffs are everywhere.
AI writes code.
Even “entry-level” jobs want 3+ years of experience.

And you're left wondering:

“Did I mess up? Should I have even learned to code?”

If you’re feeling confused, frustrated, or just uncertain, you're not alone. Many people are struggling to find a job right now, even if that is an internship or entry-level, and if they do find work, they’re not sure what AI will do or improve tomorrow, as layoffs show no signs of abating.

Let’s take a step back, breathe, and figure out what’s really going on and how we can move forward with clarity, purpose, and confidence.

🕰️ A Look Back: When Machines Replaced Humans… or Did They?

Let’s rewind to the 19th century.

Back then, skilled textile workers in England and the U.S. — tailors, seamstresses, weavers — made clothes by hand. Their work required talent, precision, and years of practice.

And then what? The Industrial Revolution.

The invention of mechanized looms could do in minutes what took humans hours. Fear swept through the workforce. Jobs were at risk. The Luddites even smashed machines in protest.

Sound familiar? It should — because it's the same narrative we hear today from tech CEOs, news articles, and podcasts. AI is advancing rapidly, they say. It’s reshaping industries, automating tasks, and yes, replacing jobs. In tech, especially, new grads now find themselves competing not just with each other but also with recently laid-off employees from big tech and alumni from top-tier universities. The pressure is real.

If we compare today’s AI boom with the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, the pattern is strikingly similar. Machines are once again taking over tasks once done by humans, and we’re living through a new kind of revolution.

So, what does history teach us?

Those who resisted change were left behind.
Those who adapted — who learned to work with the new tools — found opportunity.

Back then, traditional roles like tailors and weavers didn’t disappear overnight, but they evolved. The people who embraced sewing machines and learned to work with looms didn’t lose their value — they shifted their skills into a new form.

🧭 Start With Purpose: What Is Ikigai?

So, what is Ikigai?

Because when everything around you feels shaky — trends, headlines, maybe even your confidence — you need something solid to guide you.

That something is Ikigai (生き甲斐) — a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.”
It lives at the intersection of:

❤️ What you love
✅ What you're good at
🌍 What the world needs
💵 What you can be paid for

If you’re feeling lost on your CS journey, this is a great place to start.

Ikigai isn’t just about finding a job — it’s about building a meaningful life.

Ask yourself:

Question	Your Thoughts
Do I enjoy building things, solving problems, and making ideas real?	...
Can I get better at it, even if it’s hard now?	...
Can this skill help real people or solve real problems?	...
Are there paths where I can earn from this eventually?	...

If your gut says yes, then don’t quit. Let AI be your co-pilot. Let rejections build resilience. Let the community, like us, lift you.

But if your gut says no, that’s okay too. You’re not a failure. You’re just refining your direction. Not everyone needs to be a coder.

But everyone needs a calling.

💡 So... Should You Still Learn to Code?

Let’s be real:

Right now, AI is evolving so quickly that we can't predict exactly what tomorrow will bring. One thing is certain, though: we have to adapt to the changes shaping the tech industry. But beyond technical skills, there’s something else we need to build — and that’s trust.

In a world where tools like InterviewCoder — built by Roy Lee, a former Columbia student — can help people cheat in their technical interviews, or where AI can assist someone in earning a degree without truly understanding a single line of code, trust becomes more valuable than ever.

So if you're genuinely passionate about programming or if coding aligns with your Ikigai, keep learning. Keep building. Show your projects on GitHub. There's still space for you in tech. But if you're here just for the money? Then it's time for a reality check — because this journey isn’t as glamorous as some YouTubers make it seem.

Because the truth is:

The future belongs to those who collaborate with AI, not fear it.
The job market will reward those with grit and curiosity, not just certificates.
The world still needs builders, dreamers, and problem solvers.