Getting a job after engineering is often seen as the first step towards financial independence. But for a 23-year-old software engineer, the reality is much more difficult. Despite passing multiple rounds of interviews with leading companies and working in the tech industry, he said his biggest struggle was still asking his father for money at the end of the month.His emotional posts on social media resonated with thousands of students and young professionals, many of whom said they saw their own journeys in his words. His story highlights the pressures many recent graduates silently endure at a time when India’s tech job market is slowing and competition is intensifying.
Young software engineer’s struggle with job rejection and financial pressure resonates with graduates
From JEE disappointment to startup uncertainty
The young engineer said his journey didn’t start the way he had hoped. After failing to crack JEE, he joined a tertiary engineering college where he gradually developed a keen interest in programming.However, campus internships offer very limited opportunities. Only a few companies visited the institute and very few students were selected.Determined to build his career, he landed a six-month internship at a startup. He describes this as one of the happiest phases of his career, with a small team giving him the freedom to learn and contribute.But the excitement was short-lived. Funding issues forced the startup to lay off employees, and interns were among the first to leave.After nearly two months of searching, he found another position at a startup building a SaaS product. Although he likes the product, he admits that the working environment is challenging and his monthly salary of Rs 24,000 barely meets his expenses.
Interviewed many times, but no breakthrough
What’s particularly remarkable about his story is that he came very close to landing a job with some of India’s most sought-after employers.The post said he had interviews with Amazon, Meesho, McKinsey and Accenture. In some cases, he went through four or five rounds of interviews before being rejected.Rather than questioning his abilities, many professionals who responded to his post pointed out that receiving an interview call from such a company was in itself a sign of strong technical potential. They believe the current hiring slowdown is making the switch more difficult, even for capable candidates.
‘I felt ashamed to ask my father for 5,000 rupees’
The most touching part of this article isn’t about pay or rejection, it’s about family.The engineer wrote that despite the income, he could not complete a month’s work without asking his father for an additional Rs 5,000. While he knew his parents would never say no, he admits to feeling guilty because he had always hoped to become financially independent after graduation.This quote resonated strongly with many readers, who reminded him that needing support early in a career is far more common than most people admit.Several seasoned professionals shared their own stories of restarting their careers, surviving on a meager salary, and receiving multiple rejections before finally finding success.One comment reflected the broader sentiment: “Life is not linear. The person who keeps showing up wins in the end.”For engineering students and recent graduates, this young software engineer’s story is a reminder that early setbacks, a meager salary, or even multiple interview rejections don’t define an entire career. Sometimes persistence is more important than a perfect start.Disclaimer: This article is based on a social media post shared by an anonymous user. This individual’s statement has not been independently verified times of india. This story is intended to highlight the broader discussion surrounding the challenges young professionals face entering today’s job market.