The account of a software engineer of a friend who turned down a ₹9 lakh per annum (LPA) campus placement to pursue a Masters in the US has sparked debate on social media, with many users debating whether the promise of foreign education outweighs the certainty of a job offer.Shared on X by a user named Vikas, the post follows the journey of a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in Computer Science who chose higher studies abroad for a position at Tech Mahindra.According to Vikas, his friend graduated in 2023 and secured a campus placement at Tech Mahindra with an LPA package of ₹9.“I have a B.Tech friend who graduated in Computer Science in 2023. During campus placements, he got placed in Tech Mahindra with a 9 LPA package, but he didn’t take the offer because everyone moved to the US for Masters, so he went too,” he wrote.The friend moved to the United States in August 2023 and finished his Masters in December 2024. However, the transition from university to employment was more difficult than he expected.“Since then, he has not been able to get a job. Every time he applies, some problem comes up, whether it is visa sponsorship, preference for local candidates, or something else,” said the post.
Debt, uncertainty and pressure to succeed
The situation, according to Vikas, became more complicated after the friend’s father, who had repaid an education loan of ₹40 lakh, lost his job.“Now, he earns through part-time work every day, he does not have the proper opportunity to upskill, and recently he told me that he is thinking of returning to India. But then he begins to reconsider because he fears that his family and society will see him as a failure, with the burden of the loan,” he wrote.Vikas concluded by saying: “Sometimes the dream of the United States is not the life or the colorful picture that social media shows. There are many people who suffer in silence and go through depression.”
Internet reflects on changing reality
The post prompted several users to discuss the current employment landscape for international graduates.One user wrote: “Brutal story, but common now. The Master of the United States plus heavy debt vs. Indian offers. The reality of the visa is hitting hard. Weigh the risks first.”Another suggested the decision was influenced by the fear of missing out, writing: “He turned down a 9 LPA offer due to FOMO and today survives on part-time work. Social media only showed the success stories.”Several others argued that the post reflects a broader dilemma facing many students, where aspirations for international education are increasingly intertwined with visa restrictions, education debt and an uncertain global job market.
