Most US-bound CS students lose offers on logistics, not LeetCode.

CPT/OPT windows, “are you authorized to work” as the first screen, and a resume that reads like a university project dump. Hiring managers in the US are not trying to be cruel. They are trying to not waste a loop on a candidate they cannot start in 90 days.

What actually moves a junior application in 2026:

• A US-format resume. One page. Impact in the first two lines. No CGPA unless it is exceptional.

• A GitHub that shows one shipped thing, not 40 unfinished clones.

• A clear work-auth line: CPT now, OPT in May, needs sponsorship later — written so a recruiter can parse it in four seconds.

• Interviews practiced out loud. System design for juniors is not FAANG trivia. It is “how would you design the feature you already built.”

Fix My Stack exists because we already teach the stack. Placement is the last mile: vetted roles, a direct intro, and a room of people running the same loop.

If you are hiring juniors who can actually ship, say so. If you are a student targeting the US this cycle, apply through the board — do not email a PDF into the void.