You studied computer science but big tech no longer wants you. Now what?

My youngest got a Comp Science degree, works in a warehouse. Not a single job offer for all his resumes.

I have a Comp Sci degree and I can say it has definitely been one of several factors in getting a Big Tech company to "want" me. The thing is about Comp Sci is, it's only one check mark. Companies (including the big tech ones) want to see more than just a degree. Anyone can go to school, take a bunch of tests and regurgitate information. So, they also want to see experience, certifications (focusing on what you're trying to do), and more continuing education.

Getting in the Air Force, Comp Sci was helpful in becoming a Comm Officer (which I didn't want to be at the time). For me it led to cyber and information operations (which was a new opportunity for me and in general). After I retired, the fact I had a Comp Sci degree led to getting a job as a Cyber Defense Manager in the Air Force Civil Service. Now, I don't agree with the Civil Service's emphasis placed mostly on a comp sci (and a few others) degree over so many others when a candidate has experience and certifications, but they aren't exactly considered big tech. As I entered the private sector, my comp sci played only one of many check marks to make me a well rounded candidate. I also had 27 years experience in cyber ops, communications support, leadership, and consulting (specifically to high level leadership). That another series of check marks, along with my masters in info systems and several industry and DoD certifications.

As a hiring manager I see all kinds of people who have academic credentials, but it's not enough. I was a horrible comp sci student. By that I mean, I hated the degree, I hated programming, but I managed to get decent grades while my goal was really just to earn a commission through AFROTC. I took comp sci thinking it was a good degree to fall back on if the Air Force didn't work out. Turned out where I had a successful Air Force career AND the comp sci degree was a big reason I was able to get my next job. But that was for the DoD. Had I tried to enter into big tech had the AF not worked out, I would have had a REALLY hard time because I had nothing else to go along with that degree. Cyber was still becoming a thing and I had not been exposed to it yet, I hated programming, and I knew very little then about building IT infrastructures. So, I look to that example (myself) when looking at candidates. What else have they done? Internship for experience? Good grades? reputable program? Certifications?

Cybersecurity is in high demand right now and comp sci naturally provides an avenue for that discipline. But there are other opportunities I see every day, looking for developers. They don't start out with the high salary rates they used to, but they can lead to them in a short amount of time. For me, that degree I got as a "smart choice" turned out to be exactly that. My Air Force career ended a little sooner than I hoped, but I now work for one of the top big tech companies in the world doing things I very much enjoy doing. As a cybersecurity expert, I also still get to serve the global community, helping many organizations (including the national and international critical infrastructures), to contain, remove, and recover from threat actor attacks.

Finally, I'll also say this. While those layoff the article spoke of, I'll bet most if not all those folks let go from Alphabet and others were likely picked up by another company. Maybe not as big tech as they were in, but good paying jobs none the less.

I've had this discussion with a lot of young people over the years and in fact, a lot of IT/programmers here are competing with IT/programmers in other countries. Additionally, a lot of the computer world is proprietary, so you come out of school knowing jack shit about it.
Of course, then there is the realization that programming and configuration is generally boring and repetitive. I work with CAD based estimating systems and hate doing configuration. I pretty sure God invented Autocad to punish me for some past sins.