Landing a job after engineering is often seen as the first step towards financial independence. But for one 23-year-old software engineer, reality has been far more difficult. Despite clearing multiple interview rounds at leading companies and working in the tech industry, he says his biggest struggle is still having to ask his father for money at the end of the month.His emotional social media post has resonated with thousands of students and young professionals, many of whom said they saw their own journey reflected in his words. At a time when India’s technology job market has slowed and competition has intensified, his story highlights the pressures many fresh graduates silently carry.
Young software engineer’s struggle with job rejections and financial pressure resonates with graduates
From JEE disappointment to startup uncertainty
The young engineer shared that his journey did not begin the way he had hoped. After failing to crack JEE, he enrolled in a Tier-3 engineering college, where he gradually developed a strong interest in programming.Campus placements, however, offered very limited opportunities. Only a handful of companies visited the college, and very few students were selected.Determined to build a career, he secured a six-month internship at a startup. He described it as one of the happiest phases of his professional life, where a small team gave him the freedom to learn and contribute.But the excitement was short-lived. Funding issues forced the startup to lay off employees, and the interns were among the first to leave.After nearly two months of searching, he found another role at a startup building SaaS products. Although he enjoys the product, he admits that the work environment has been challenging and his salary of Rs 24,000 a month barely meets his expenses.
Several interview calls, but no breakthrough
What makes his story particularly striking is that he came remarkably close to securing jobs at some of India’s most sought-after employers.According to the post, he received interview opportunities from Amazon, Meesho, McKinsey and Accenture. In several cases, he progressed through four or five interview rounds before eventually being rejected.Instead of questioning his abilities, many professionals who responded to his post pointed out that getting interview calls from such companies itself reflects strong technical potential. They argued that the current hiring slowdown has made conversions far more difficult, even for capable candidates.
‘I feel ashamed asking my father for Rs 5,000’
The most emotional part of the post was not about salary or rejections—it was about family.The engineer wrote that despite earning, he still cannot complete a month without asking his father for an additional Rs 5,000. While he knows his parents would never refuse, he admitted feeling guilty because he had always hoped to become financially independent after graduation.That single statement resonated deeply with many readers, who reminded him that needing support during the early years of a career is far more common than most people admit.Several experienced professionals shared their own stories of restarting careers, surviving on modest salaries and facing repeated rejections before eventually finding success.One comment captured the broader sentiment: “Life is not linear. The people who keep showing up eventually win.”For engineering students and fresh graduates, the young software engineer’s story serves as a reminder that an early setback, a modest salary or even multiple interview rejections do not define an entire career. Sometimes, persistence matters far more than a perfect beginning.Disclaimer: This article is based on a social media post shared by an anonymous user. The individual’s claims have not been independently verified by The Times of India. The story is presented to highlight the wider discussion around the challenges faced by young professionals entering today’s job market.
