I’m about to graduate this May with my degree in Computer Science, and I’m honestly pretty worried. I know the job market is really tough at the moment, I’ve seen it first hand sending loads of job applications with few responses. My main focus is in Embedded Systems Software and it’s something I’m really passionate about. However, I unfortunately didn’t do an internship which is definitely damaging all of my applications and interviews.
I live in a state where there are very very few jobs in software engineering, so I would almost certainly have to relocate to another state.
However, I have always had a deep entrepreneurial spirit since I was very young. My long time dream has been to start a coffee company, but start it small and scale up. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about opening a mobile specialty coffee trailer and taking it to events, but also heavily focusing on catering. My goal would be to eventually scale up and open a physical location and a coffee roaster location. Then from there, possibly look into the coffee equipment industry which I’ve always been very interested in (mainly since embedded software is heavily used here in “smart” coffee makers).
I’m fortunate enough to be graduating with a good savings, enough to cover the startup costs for this business. I also am very thankful to have no student debt.
My dilemma is that I don’t want to throw away my passion for embedded software engineering, but I also know that now is the best time in life to take big risks and chase my ambitions.
What do you all think? Am I foolish for considering this and should I just focus on getting a job, or should I take the leap and see what happens? I’m not oblivious to the fact that this business would be way more hours of work for much lesser pay, but I’m willing to put my nose to the grindstone and see what I can build.
Thank you all.
Option 2: Use your cs degree to start some tech thing. If it succeeds you can fund your coffee project; if it fails, your resume should be good enough to get a different cs job. In your hobby time play around with embedded software.
Option 3: Do your coffee thing, you will probably go broke and your resume will not have any programming experience on it. But if you really love it and you do 10x effort you might make it. It really depends on your risk tolerance and your safety net and support structure.
Have you ever worked for a coffee company? Have you ever worked a full time job at all? Have you worked at a startup? If the answer is mostly no, I think some real world experience is going to be invaluable to eventually starting a coffee company.
I'd suggest a couple possible paths:
1. Apply to jobs, hopefully get a lucrative tech job. Maybe you like it and coffee becomes a hobby. Maybe you hate it, but you know you can save up even more for an eventual business. Remember, money now is worth more than money later . If you can stash away 100k beyond your current savings by working a boring tech job for a few years, that can drastically change the trajectory of your life. Makes buying a house easier, retire easier, more capital for a business, etc.
2. Apply to jobs, you don't get a lucrative tech job, but you get an easier job (maybe government, maybe a boring company). So then either start a business on the side to flex those entrepreneurial muscles (resell coffee, roast coffee and sell online or etsy or something). Alternatively, work at a coffee shop or roaster part time to gain some experience.
Not entirely what you’re asking but if you decide to go the job route try applying at all of the major defense contractors (Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, Raytheon, etc). I work for one and the embedded software skillset is highly desired and hard to hire for. You will likely have to be okay with relocation and working onsite in a classified environment at least part of the time but the job prospects should be much better than tech companies and the work very applicable to your focus
Either answer is fine, but you should be looking more at where you will land in the long term, not the short term.
Trouble’s story is especially compelling and inspiring. As I recall,the owner Guilietta started out as a barista then eventually decided to open her own space. She went around the neighborhood getting people to donate and was sleeping in the shop until it was solvent enough that she could get an apartment. She is definitely a character to say the least and very determined despite all the challenges she’s had. I loved just going down there to hang out because of the regulars there.
That said, Food service has famously thin margins. I don't know a lot about coffee, but I'm willing to bet that it is not the exception to that rule. You really have to have a deep passion for doing this, because the money will probably not be enough.
If you're super ambitious - why not both? Start a coffee company and start prototyping a coffee machine that does things the way you like. The Coffee machine market is massive, and ranges from ten bucks to thousands of dollars.
Congratulations on your degree, and on graduating without debt. Good luck. If you feel like sharing in the future, I think we'd love to know what you chose.
1. What work you do.
2. Where you live.
3. Your technical interests.
Coffee can be your job and programming your hobby.
Programming can be your job and coffee your hobby.
You can live anywhere you want. Realize that for you relocation might be much larger unknown than running a coffee shop. Or a bigger risk. Or just not what you want to do. Some people are from somewhere and relocating is harder than for people who are not from anywhere in particular.
Grad school is probably another option. Kick the can down the road. Do some internships, extend your professional network, make yourself more attractive to employers, etc.
Good luck.