Switching careers into tech and finding a job in North America can be pretty challenging and a bit complicated. For many international students, changing their major to CS or a related field is often about getting a more stable work visa through a tech role. But when you actually start applying, you realize the competition is way tougher than you thought.
One big issue is that what you learn in school isn’t always what interviews test. Especially when it comes to algorithms, system design, and hands-on projects, you usually need to put in extra time on your own to catch up.
The hardest part at first is usually the resume. Since many career switchers don’t have a lot of projects yet, their resumes can feel empty. My advice: do some side projects or contribute to open-source, or at least polish your school projects to make them stronger. Also, try to see your resume from the interviewer’s point of view—focus on how you solve problems, your teamwork, and technical skills, rather than just listing every tool you know.
Next up is coding practice. LeetCode is basically a must-have in your prep. If you don’t have a CS background, it might feel tough at the start. So start slow—focus on common and basic problems, and get comfortable before trying to speed up. Doing mock interviews with friends or reading others’ experiences can also help. Many companies use online coding tests to filter candidates, and sloppy code or missed edge cases can get you rejected quickly.
Apart from skills, your mindset matters a lot. Many switchers feel they must get into big tech companies, but there are plenty of smaller or mid-sized firms in North America that sponsor visas and sometimes have faster, more flexible hiring. So apply broadly—campus recruiting, referrals, startups, contract jobs—don’t just focus on one type of company.
Lastly, start early. The sooner you prepare, the better. For fall recruiting, ideally have everything ready by August. In a competitive market, those who are ready get the opportunities. Switching to tech isn’t a shortcut, but if you know what you want and prepare well, getting an offer is totally doable.
Release time:2025-05-26
