I am currently a Computer Science student in university who really loves Linux and FOSS software, hates it when governments and corporations spy on people, and would probably rather have a job that brings meaning and benefits society than one that has a high paycheck (although I do recognize that I also need to have enough money for food, housing, .etc). I also watch Scammer Payback and Jim Browning and I love what they’re doing, but I don’t know if I could turn that into a real job.
I’ve thought of doing pen testing (later on in my career), but I’ve come to realize that it is better if users just started using privacy-respecting FOSS software like Signal, because if you give a hacker enough time, patience, and the right resources, they could hack into anything. Although for something like banks, I’d maybe be ok working there, as everybody still needs them and they’re not going away any time soon.
I also need something that I could get into fresh out of university or even as an internship or co-op.
Am I being too pessimistic? What would you suggest me to do? Feel free to challenge my views on life.
My cousin got a job working on FOSS for 5 years out of college. His secret? Work 40+ hours a week literally for free, crash on people’s couches, and get his girlfriend to feed him. He eventually got a real job because that’s obviously totally unsustainable.
Unless you have a sugar daddy/momma or a trust fund, you need an actual job. Some companies make good use of FOSS and give back to the community. But I’d suggest settling for any job to get an income and experience while you figure out what companies you actually want to work for.