An Indian software engineer, once employed at a prominent IT firm, made a bold decision in 2023 to pause his thriving career. With three years of industry experience under his belt, he chose to pursue a Master’s degree in the United States, hoping it would unlock better job prospects upon his return to India. He completed the 18-month program with optimism, but after returning home, reality struck harder than expected.
Job Hunt Stalled by a Tough Market
Since arriving back in India, the techie has been actively searching for employment for over six months. Despite his enhanced academic credentials and prior professional experience, he hasn’t been able to secure a role. The unforgiving job market, made more competitive by layoffs and hiring freezes, has left him disheartened and uncertain about his future. His well-intentioned sabbatical for growth has become a source of mounting stress.
Company Rejoining Plans Marred by Policy Changes
With no offers in hand, he is now contemplating rejoining his former company. However, a recently introduced internal rule has complicated matters: any employee placed on the 'bench'—a temporary, project-less status—for more than 35 days may be let go. Given the current surplus of benched employees and the scarcity of new projects, he fears he may not be assigned to a team in time. This looming uncertainty has made him anxious, worried that not only has he returned from the US without achieving his dream, but he may also lose his place at the organization he once left confidently.
Stuck Between Ambitions and Reality
This double-edged sword—the failure to secure a job with his US qualification and the potential loss of his prior position—has left him mentally exhausted and searching for clarity. The fear of losing both what he hoped to gain and what he once had has created a distressing internal conflict.
Advice from the Developer Community
In response to his post on the Developers India subreddit, members from the tech community offered practical advice. One Redditor, a fellow US graduate, shared that they too were unemployed, emphasizing that the degree alone doesn’t guarantee employment. Others advised the techie to seize any opportunity, regardless of whether it aligns with his expectations, and to avoid underestimating jobs that may not seem prestigious on paper.
Many urged him to sharpen his skills—particularly in areas like full-stack development and emerging technologies such as large language models (LLMs) and frameworks like Lang Chain. The consensus was clear: building and demonstrating strong, practical abilities could pave the way for well-paying opportunities in India, even if his US plan didn’t materialize as hoped.
Job Hunt Stalled by a Tough Market
Since arriving back in India, the techie has been actively searching for employment for over six months. Despite his enhanced academic credentials and prior professional experience, he hasn’t been able to secure a role. The unforgiving job market, made more competitive by layoffs and hiring freezes, has left him disheartened and uncertain about his future. His well-intentioned sabbatical for growth has become a source of mounting stress.
Company Rejoining Plans Marred by Policy Changes
With no offers in hand, he is now contemplating rejoining his former company. However, a recently introduced internal rule has complicated matters: any employee placed on the 'bench'—a temporary, project-less status—for more than 35 days may be let go. Given the current surplus of benched employees and the scarcity of new projects, he fears he may not be assigned to a team in time. This looming uncertainty has made him anxious, worried that not only has he returned from the US without achieving his dream, but he may also lose his place at the organization he once left confidently.
Stuck Between Ambitions and Reality
This double-edged sword—the failure to secure a job with his US qualification and the potential loss of his prior position—has left him mentally exhausted and searching for clarity. The fear of losing both what he hoped to gain and what he once had has created a distressing internal conflict.
Advice from the Developer Community
In response to his post on the Developers India subreddit, members from the tech community offered practical advice. One Redditor, a fellow US graduate, shared that they too were unemployed, emphasizing that the degree alone doesn’t guarantee employment. Others advised the techie to seize any opportunity, regardless of whether it aligns with his expectations, and to avoid underestimating jobs that may not seem prestigious on paper.
Many urged him to sharpen his skills—particularly in areas like full-stack development and emerging technologies such as large language models (LLMs) and frameworks like Lang Chain. The consensus was clear: building and demonstrating strong, practical abilities could pave the way for well-paying opportunities in India, even if his US plan didn’t materialize as hoped.
You may also like
Eastleigh bus crash LIVE: 17 injured as double decker full of children crashes into river
Zayed Khan shares how he was offered his debut film
Martin Lewis urges everyone with a phone to text 5-digit code to slash bills
IMD Issues Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall from June 26 to July 2 Across Multiple Indian States
Top Powerful Motorcycles Under ₹3 Lakh: A Comprehensive Guide
