What happens when even IIT and Stanford placements stop feeling secure?
AI-driven layoffs and hiring slowdowns are reshaping the job market, leaving even graduates from elite institutions like Stanford and the IITs facing uncertainty. From rejected applications to delayed job offers, prestigious degrees no longer guarantee employment or career security in today's rapidly changing workforce.
Layoffs and job insecurity have become defining trends in today's job market. For students preparing to enter the workforce, the fear of being laid off has become a growing concern. But what about graduates from prestigious institutions such as Stanford University or the IITs? Do they also face the same uncertainty?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes.
According to a detailed report by the French newspaper Le Monde, even graduates from some of the world's most prestigious universities, including Stanford and Harvard, are struggling to secure jobs. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape Silicon Valley, even degrees worth millions of rupees are no longer a guarantee of employment.
The uncertainty has become so intense that many high-achieving graduates are reportedly seeking "career therapy" to cope with rejection and anxiety about their future.
GRADUATES STRUGGLE DESPITE STRONG CREDENTIALS
As reported by Le Monde, students with exceptional academic and professional backgrounds are finding it increasingly difficult to land suitable jobs.
One such example is 23-year-old Alan Yang, an American graduate who studied English and Linguistics at Stanford University. While pursuing his degree, Yang built an impressive resume by working in marketing roles at several technology companies.
Confident that a Stanford degree would open doors to the corporate world, he entered the job market with high expectations.
However, reality proved very different.
According to the report, Yang applied to hundreds of companies but did not receive a single interview call. Instead, he was met with what he described as "AI-generated rejection letters", automated responses generated by software rather than reviewed by human recruiters.
As reported by Le Monde, the inability to secure employment despite graduating from one of the world's most prestigious and expensive universities is taking a serious toll on students' mental health.
WHY IS THERE UNCERTAINTY?
But this raises a bigger question: Why is Silicon Valley in such a state of uncertainty?
AI-driven job cuts: Companies are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence to automate tasks that were traditionally performed by employees. Roles in coding, marketing, customer support, and several entry-level positions are increasingly being handled by AI, reducing the demand for human workers.
Hiring slowdown across tech companies: Many major technology companies in Silicon Valley and San Francisco have either frozen hiring or carried out large-scale layoffs. As a result, even graduates from elite institutions such as Stanford and Harvard are no longer guaranteed employment in the tech sector.
THE IIT STORY
For every IIT student, placement season is more than just a recruitment drive; it's the payoff for years of relentless preparation, sleepless nights, and the sacrifices made by their families. A job offer has traditionally symbolised not only career success but also financial security and the beginning of a stable future.
This year, however, that certainty has been shaken.
Nearly 100 IIT students have reportedly been left in limbo after several companies either withdrew job offers or indefinitely delayed joining dates. In response, the All IITs Placement Committee (AIPC) has issued notices to more than 10 companies, including Oracle, Interview Kickstart, and SuperAGI, directing them to honour their commitments or compensate affected students with three months' salary.
The committee has also warned that companies failing to comply by August 15 could be barred from participating in future IIT placement drives.
For the students affected, the consequences extend far beyond a missed job opportunity. Many now face difficult conversations with their families, postponed financial independence, and the regret of turning down other offers in the hope of joining the company that selected them.
For countless families, an IIT placement offer represents the culmination of years of hard work, aspirations, and sacrifice. That is why the IITs' latest action is about more than a disrupted recruitment cycle, it is about protecting the trust and credibility that have long been the foundation of campus placements at India's premier engineering institutes.
Layoffs and job insecurity have become defining trends in today's job market. For students preparing to enter the workforce, the fear of being laid off has become a growing concern. But what about graduates from prestigious institutions such as Stanford University or the IITs? Do they also face the same uncertainty?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes.
According to a detailed report by the French newspaper Le Monde, even graduates from some of the world's most prestigious universities, including Stanford and Harvard, are struggling to secure jobs. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape Silicon Valley, even degrees worth millions of rupees are no longer a guarantee of employment.
The uncertainty has become so intense that many high-achieving graduates are reportedly seeking "career therapy" to cope with rejection and anxiety about their future.
GRADUATES STRUGGLE DESPITE STRONG CREDENTIALS
As reported by Le Monde, students with exceptional academic and professional backgrounds are finding it increasingly difficult to land suitable jobs.
One such example is 23-year-old Alan Yang, an American graduate who studied English and Linguistics at Stanford University. While pursuing his degree, Yang built an impressive resume by working in marketing roles at several technology companies.
Confident that a Stanford degree would open doors to the corporate world, he entered the job market with high expectations.
However, reality proved very different.
According to the report, Yang applied to hundreds of companies but did not receive a single interview call. Instead, he was met with what he described as "AI-generated rejection letters", automated responses generated by software rather than reviewed by human recruiters.
As reported by Le Monde, the inability to secure employment despite graduating from one of the world's most prestigious and expensive universities is taking a serious toll on students' mental health.
WHY IS THERE UNCERTAINTY?
But this raises a bigger question: Why is Silicon Valley in such a state of uncertainty?
AI-driven job cuts: Companies are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence to automate tasks that were traditionally performed by employees. Roles in coding, marketing, customer support, and several entry-level positions are increasingly being handled by AI, reducing the demand for human workers.
Hiring slowdown across tech companies: Many major technology companies in Silicon Valley and San Francisco have either frozen hiring or carried out large-scale layoffs. As a result, even graduates from elite institutions such as Stanford and Harvard are no longer guaranteed employment in the tech sector.
THE IIT STORY
For every IIT student, placement season is more than just a recruitment drive; it's the payoff for years of relentless preparation, sleepless nights, and the sacrifices made by their families. A job offer has traditionally symbolised not only career success but also financial security and the beginning of a stable future.
This year, however, that certainty has been shaken.
Nearly 100 IIT students have reportedly been left in limbo after several companies either withdrew job offers or indefinitely delayed joining dates. In response, the All IITs Placement Committee (AIPC) has issued notices to more than 10 companies, including Oracle, Interview Kickstart, and SuperAGI, directing them to honour their commitments or compensate affected students with three months' salary.
The committee has also warned that companies failing to comply by August 15 could be barred from participating in future IIT placement drives.
For the students affected, the consequences extend far beyond a missed job opportunity. Many now face difficult conversations with their families, postponed financial independence, and the regret of turning down other offers in the hope of joining the company that selected them.
For countless families, an IIT placement offer represents the culmination of years of hard work, aspirations, and sacrifice. That is why the IITs' latest action is about more than a disrupted recruitment cycle, it is about protecting the trust and credibility that have long been the foundation of campus placements at India's premier engineering institutes.
