Story perspectives

Dreams vs. Reality: Grad Struggles in Tech Job Market

2/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Manasi Mishra, a 21-year-old from San Ramon, California, faced pressure to learn coding because tech executives and politicians promised lucrative technology careers.
Mishra earned a computer science degree from Purdue University but struggled to find work, receiving only one interview offer from Chipotle.
Her experience highlights the gap between promises of high salaries and the reality for new graduates, prompting questions about coding education's effectiveness.

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Story summary

Manasi Mishra, a 21-year-old from San Ramon, California, faced pressure to learn coding because tech executives and politicians promised lucrative technology careers.
Mishra earned a computer science degree from Purdue University but struggled to find work, receiving only one interview offer from Chipotle.
Her experience highlights the gap between promises of high salaries and the reality for new graduates, prompting questions about coding education's effectiveness.