When recruiters ask for my working experience, what do I say?
5 years studying mechanical engineer 9 months internship in mechanical engineering 4 years PhD student in mechanical engineering 4 years software developer
Damn you went for the career change. Tbh I’m aerospace engineering (studied for 6 years with 3 internships and 2.5 years of aero work exp), it can only help. If anything it makes you more appealing that you can change careers. Just get the hot languages that you want if you’re going to a startup or LeetCode if you want to FAANG
You are now a developer?
A developer of life yah.
When you apply for what job? :) You mean relevant working experience, right?
Exactly. Do i have to say 4 years?
If you need/want to oversimplify it, then yes. If you don't, just explain what you wrote in the original post. Also neither studies nor PhD really count as working experience even if they would be CS related.
Just keep saying, "I'm kinda the boss" until they move on.
3 out of 4 of those are study. Your work experience is 4 years software developer.
4 YOE. If you had a CS PhD you could say 4 YOE + PhD but either way it is still 4 YOE.
Say that