Goodbye, $165,000 Tech Jobs: Student Coders Now Seeking Work at Chipotle
By Natasha Singer | Published August 10, 2025 | Updated August 14, 2025
For years, aspiring technology professionals were encouraged to master computer programming, with promises of lucrative careers and six-figure starting salaries. But for recent graduates like Manasi Mishra, these tech job prospects have dramatically changed, leaving many to reconsider their options—sometimes outside the traditional tech sector.
The Tech Dream That Inspired a Generation
Growing up near Silicon Valley, in San Ramon, California, 21-year-old Manasi Mishra was deeply influenced by the booming tech culture surrounding her. From an early age, she absorbed messages from tech executives, billionaires, and even U.S. presidents, who championed learning to code as a golden ticket to economic success.
“The rhetoric was, if you just learned to code, worked hard, and earned a computer science degree, you could start with a six-figure salary,” Mishra recalled. Motivated by these promises, she began coding websites in elementary school, took advanced computing classes in high school, and ultimately majored in computer science at Purdue University.
The Reality After Graduation: A Tough Job Market
Despite these efforts, the reality has proven far tougher. Mishra graduated in May 2025, and after an exhaustive year-long search, she had not secured any job offers from tech firms. Instead, the only interview opportunity she received came from Chipotle, the fast-casual restaurant chain—not exactly the tech job she envisioned.
Mishra shared her experience in a TikTok video titled “Get Ready With Me,” which quickly went viral, attracting over 147,000 views. The stark contrast between expectations and reality reflects a broader trend impacting new computer science graduates.
The Shift Driven by AI and Corporate Layoffs
The tech industry itself is undergoing a seismic shift. Major companies like Amazon and Microsoft are laying off workers in large numbers, citing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) coding tools that can automate many programming tasks. This transition reduces the number of entry-level tech roles available, creating intense competition for fewer positions.
Additionally, companies are re-evaluating their workforce needs as AI tools advance rapidly, changing the skill sets required within the industry. While coding remains a valuable skill, the promise of easy access to high-paying tech jobs upon graduation now appears overly optimistic for many students.
The Impact on Students and the Future Workforce
This shift marks a significant change for aspiring tech workers who had counted on stable, well-compensated careers. The landscape is forcing recent grads and current students to explore alternative employment paths, even outside technology.
Mishra’s pivot towards opportunities like Chipotle exemplifies this new reality. While not a tech job, such roles provide immediate income and work experience as graduates continue to navigate a challenging employment environment.
Conclusion: Rethinking Tech Education and Career Paths
The narrative urging young people to “just learn to code” as a pathway to secure, high-paying employment is facing a critical test. The combination of AI-driven automation, corporate layoffs, and evolving industry demands suggests that students may need to diversify their skills or recalibrate their career expectations.
For now, graduates like Manasi Mishra are emblematic of a generation caught between a once-bright tech promise and a rapidly transforming labor market—a reminder that even in the tech era, no career is guaranteed.
Natasha Singer reports on technology companies and their social impacts for The New York Times.
Related Topics
- Impact of AI on the Tech Job Market
- Rising Layoffs in Major Tech Companies
- The Future of Coding Education in an AI Economy
- Alternatives to Traditional Tech Careers for Computer Science Graduates
