I see too many CS students in Pakistan stressing about their 3.8 GPA while their GitHub is a graveyard of "To-Do List" apps.
The 2026 Hiring Filter:
The "Can you Ship?" Test: Do you have a live URL?
The "AI Leverage" Test: Can you use LLMs to code 5x faster than a junior from 2024?
The "Domain" Test: Do you understand the business (FinTech, E-com, SaaS), or just the code?
The "safe" path is gone. The only security you have is your ability to solve a \(1,000 problem with \)10 worth of API tokens and some clean logic.
Build one real SaaS project this month. That’s your real degree.
Portfolio: ahmershah.dev
GitHub: ahmershahdev
Archit Mittal
I Automate Chaos — AI workflows, n8n, Claude, and open-source automation for businesses. Turning repetitive work into one-click systems.
"Skills over degrees" is true in principle but what actually gets you through the door in India is a shippable portfolio + one person willing to vouch for you. Three deployed projects with real usage beats a CS degree from a tier-2 college in 9/10 hiring conversations I've been part of. Caveat: for FAANG and research labs the degree still moves the needle — depends entirely on which ladder you're climbing.