[iratewizard]

A lot of first year cs students have under a year of experience and can only list python, Java and possibly C++ under proficiencies. What's more sad is when you try hiring at a job fair and 300 4th year / master's students also only have python/Java/C++ with no side projects.

[nkozyra]

Personally speaking, vast proficiency in any given language or languages doesn't mean that much to me. You'll pick up es6 or go or whatever else. I care about the thought processes behind development choices, their implications on computational efficiency. They teach this in school, at least in the schools I attended.

In fact, many professors were adamant they didn't care about languages at all other than someone grading it can read it. Some classes never wanted to see your source code. Most classes didn't have code at all!

[filoleg]

Yep, that’s one of the biggest takeaways I got from observing my friends who got their education from known good CS programs vs. weak CS programs.

Those in good programs had classes that were focused on the actual subject matter (algorithms, OS, compilers, ML, etc.) with the language just being a tool, and in upper level classes, professors absolutely didn’t even care what language you used, as long as it got the job done (within reasonable limits, of course; no one likes grading BrainFuck code, even though some people attempted writing assignments in those as a joke).

Those in weaker programs, instead, had a “Java class”, “C class”, “javascript class”, etc.

[cosmodisk]

We recently hired exactly the person you describe.He was hired for non tech position with potential transition if performs well.

[walshemj]

Would not be definition a 1st year CAstudent have no professional experience unless they are a late entry.

CS isn't a vocational course.

[wbl]

Plus several years more of coursework.