Hello Codeforcers,

I find myself facing a challenging situation in my career and I would like to share my story. I graduated from uni about two years ago with a major in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. However, during my time in university, I realized that my true passion lies in algorithms and computing. So, I decided to take a risk and pursue a career as a programmer/software engineer while simultaneously completing my major coursework. I worked hard and managed to secure internships immediately after college. I was fortunate enough to be hired by big tech company X. After working there for a year, I sought new challenges and applied to Amazon, where I was hired as a entry-level(L4) software development engineer.

Initially, everything seemed to be going well and I was grateful for my hard work and self-motivation that led me to where I am today. However, things took a turn for the worse. After a few months at Amazon, I was assigned to a project that proved to be extremely challenging. Even senior members of my team were unsure how to tackle it, and even I nailed it at the very end. But it felt like a politically driven decision by my manager to manage me out of the company. Consequently, I was let go after working there for only six months. Additionally, I realized that I hadn't fully integrated with the team due to the nature of the project. Now, I find myself unemployed. At times, I feel that my situation is unfair, but I have come to accept it as part of life's challenges.

To regain my passion for coding, I registered an account on Codeforces. I enjoy the platform and the problem-solving it offers. However, I am currently facing some difficulties. I have applied for several jobs, but haven't heard back from any of them. As an international worker on a visa in the UK, finding a job that sponsors me is particularly challenging, especially considering my limited work experience. I can't help but feel inadequate compared to my former Amazon teammates, which makes me question whether I meet the required standards. I would appreciate your suggestions on the matter. Should I pursue a master's degree? Since I have self-taught myself all the software engineering concepts and coding practices, obtaining a master's degree might improve my chances of securing better job offers after graduation. I am confident in my abilities, but the downside is that I would have to wait a whole year to begin my master's studies (which I think I could do more stuff like sharpening my skills on here, learning more stuff, or just career break for one year), as it is already June. Alternatively, I could continue searching for a job, but that presents significant challenges, as only a few companies are willing to sponsor foreign workers like me. I am not ready to return to my home country just yet, and I am feeling lost at the moment.

I would greatly appreciate your advice on this matter. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story.