I'm in in final year at uni doing CS degree, gonna graduate around middle of next year.

But because if mild procrastination (i mean, who doesn't procrastinate u kno), and just general fear of failing, I got B and C for most subjects. My gpa is around 2.8 but I need to check again sometime.

I want to find a job in IT after I graduate, more specifically networking. Well actually I wanna do pentesting as my full-time job, but I will talk about that later.

But the thing is that since I got mostly average marks so far, and since I haven't really read back the content that much (holiday between semesters only about a month max, needed that time to relax, and then new semester have to focus on new subjects). So the thing is that I don't know if I will be qualified for even the entry-level jobs. I try to look up the skills needed for the type of jobs that I might start with, but it's all very "messy" lah, I should say. If I start learning something by myself idk if it's the right thing and I might be wasting my time or whatever.

Most of the resources I see are usually for westerners (USA, UK) people, so I'm wondering if this cert or that topic is applicable for Malaysia jobs.

Regarding the pentesting thing, that's what I wanted to do as my full-time job. But then I hear a lot of people say "nono you need to do helpdesk first, then you need to do networking job for dunno how many years, then you need this cert, that cert, and then you can think about pentesting/cybersecurity". and the advice people give i think is very vague. and then again, idk if it applies for the malaysian job market.

Not to mention also that my parents can't afford to put more big amounts of money to my education. I have no choice but to find a job pretty quickly after I get my degree. So i have to figure my shit out quickly.

Anyone can advise me on this? thank you

I know this is not helpful but just want to give you some encouragements. Based on anecdotal experience, so many of my IT friends get jobs much quicker compared to my friends from other majors. A lot of them were also sub 3.0 CGPA.
I think IT is one of the fields that gives the least shit about gpa and prestige. In Software Eng, you can also build portfolios demonstrating your capability so potential employers can look past your cgpa, you can't do that with say a major like chemical engineering.

This post has been edited by dudewhatisthis: Nov 15 2022, 01:54 PM

Yea, maybe. It might be that I have too high expectations for what employers will want, but at the end of the day I'm not qualified to know if im employable lol

I think finding a job shouldn't really be too difficult unless you are super picky. What you might want to get is also more real world experience, understand exactly areas of networking you want to specialise in as well and then being an expert at it. The more technical experience you gain, the less and less reference will be on your grade.

Its good that you already start worrying

Then maybe it the best if you build portfolio based on job description.

Step 1 : find a job that you think you are interested. read the job description

Step 2 : identify tools needed to execute the job.

Step 3 : open youtube/udemy to attend some hands on regarding the tools that you already choose

Step 4 : apply the skill by commit sample project to public repo github/bitbucket

Getting good roles and good companies at entry level would be more difficult due to your results.

Nevertheless, this does not deprive you the ability to obtain job at lower companies at lower pay.

You can still do catch up later on, based on obtaining better experience. It is not end of the world. At least you have a job and fighting chance.

having said that, those with better results have a better headstart.

However, if you see FTC, the friedman guy is a son of professor and graduate of MIT, yet he still go bankrupt due to his lack of integrity.

At times, you need mixture of intellect, EQ, leadership, hardwork/work smart and integrity and some luck or prayer to do well in career.

Having a degree is not the end ; no matter how good or bad. Looking to improve is what matters. Your job experience and progression will superseed any degree / cert you got. Industry knowledge grows, what is learned in education 10 years ago, may not be relevant anymore. Do micro courses, be open to learning will bring you a long way.

i get 3.24 CGPA and is the worst among my friends, totally bad programming foundation, have to retake a subject. I also doubt I can get a good job when graduate, but still manage to find myself getting an average pay job at small company, 3k. Jump almost a year later due to toxic culture and my salary jump to 3650. Now at 26, I am earning 4744 monthly with pretty good benefits and guaranteed 2.5 to 3 months bonus

Not bad, not great, still quite junior or normal dev position, with a long career path in a niche industry, but still beyond what I expected when I graduate, don't despair. If you got CS degree, get your basics down before interview, know something about the industry and not scared to jump if needed. My friend jump almost every yr and now he is 7k+ in KL at 26, he work a year less than me and his last job was 3.5k only

This post has been edited by MKCL: Nov 24 2022, 12:20 PM