B.Sc CS Graduate Struggling to Break Into Software Development – Need Honest Advice

Aishwarya R — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:51:37 +0000

Hi buddies,
I'm a B.Sc. Computer Science graduate from Chennai, and I'm looking for honest guidance from people working in product-based companies and startups.
I want to share my journey because I'm feeling a bit lost and would really appreciate some advice.
Year 1: I was part of my college Student Council while maintaining a CGPA of 8.2. It helped me build communication skills, confidence, and leadership experience.
Year 2: I decided to get exposure to the real world and worked part-time in a coffee shop. I interacted with customers daily, handled difficult situations, and learned how to communicate with all kinds of people.
Year 3: I built projects like MetaHuman AI and GreenConnect. Around the same time, I started learning DSA because every YouTube video, LinkedIn post, and tech influencer seemed to be yelling, "Do DSA!" 😅
After graduation, I moved from Chennai to Bangalore and worked in an international voice process for about 4 months. I learned a lot there, but eventually realized it wasn't the career path I wanted.
I've always wanted to become a software developer.
The problem is that after attending what feels like 100+ interviews, I'm starting to question myself.
Here's the brutally honest version of my situation:
I've solved only 5 DSA problems in the past year.
Sometimes a single problem took me weeks because I struggled to understand it.
My MERN stack project was built with help from YouTube tutorials and ChatGPT.
I can deploy projects, connect APIs, integrate AI tools, and get things working.
But if you ask me to explain every line of code, I probably can't.
I know enough to build things, but not enough to confidently call myself a developer.
Some things I think I'm good at:
Communication skills
Working with customers and people
Learning new things
Persistence (otherwise I would've given up already 😅)
Building professional connections
I've connected with startup founders, CEOs, recruiters, and employees on LinkedIn, but I'm still struggling to get that first opportunity.
I'm from a middle-class family, and becoming financially independent is very important to me.
So I need honest answers:
Can a B.Sc. CS graduate realistically crack a developer role in today's market?
If you were in my position, what would you focus on for the next 3–6 months?
Should I stop building projects and focus completely on DSA?
Should I build one project entirely on my own, even if it's small?
If software development isn't the right fit for me, what other tech roles should I explore?
How do I become employable enough for a developer role?
And one more thing...
Like every fresher, I dream about those ₹10–15 LPA packages 😅. But honestly, at this point, even a solid ₹6 LPA opportunity where I can learn, grow, and build a career would make me happy.
Please don't sugarcoat your answers. I'd rather hear uncomfortable truths than fake motivation.
If you were me today, what would your next move be?
Thanks for reading. ❤️

DEV Community: Aishwarya R

B.Sc CS Graduate Struggling to Break Into Software Development – Need Honest Advice