IITian feels his life is ‘over’: ‘Unemployed, watching my savings disappear…’

Life is not always picture perfect after an IIT degree. Taking to the subreddit Developers India, one IIT graduate revealed he was unemployed at age 26, watching his savings dwindle day by day and feeling helpless and lost.

The tech professional admitted he had envisaged a promising career for himself in AI and Machine Learning after completing MTech in AI from IIT Patna in 2025. However, his career did not workout in the way he wanted it to be.

After graduation, he found himself working in jobs such as patent analyst and assistant professor. Both jobs he took because he felt it was a better alternative to being unemployed. However, he experienced a disconnection while working in both jobs and did not feel it aligned with his goals and desires.


Realizing that these roles were not the right fit, he ultimately chose to step away from both positions in search of a path that better matched his passion for artificial intelligence and machine learning.

He admitted that he was back home, unemployed and watching his savings disappear and feeling like a total failure. He revealed he observed his classmates succeeding in their careers while he felt like a complete failure.

“The hardest part is that I don't even know if I made the wrong decisions or if I simply had no real choice at the time. I took the opportunities that were available, but now I feel further away from the career I actually wanted. Some days I feel like my life is already over before it has really begun. I see former classmates moving forward while I feel completely lost and left behind…” he said.

Redditors React

One Reddit user advised him to work on his skills and have patience. “Even Albert Einstein worked as a patent clerk and private tutor to a kid and some odd guys and struggled to find a job despite having a Ph. D. before he made his big breakthroughs in Physics. He too was 26 at that time. Just keep working on your skills and keep moving towards the goal which you want to achieve. You will surely achieve success one day….” the comment read.

Another remarked: “If I were in your position, I would get into a PhD program, or, if not, take a job and prepare for the GATE in parallel to secure a govt job, or, if not, get into coding and try to get into FANGG or whatever product companies are there.”

Another comment read: "Will take this opportunity to talk about how rubbish our academia is, where someone with a master's degree gets an Associate Prof. post. (Nothing against you OP, you did well. ) It is shameful and reflects how miserable our education system is. Just look at what struggles, sacrifices, and maturity are required to get to that stage in the US/Europe. Again, not OP's mistake, but I felt outraged, sorry."

Another assured him that teaching jobs are "chill" and he can always prepare for his dream job or career while working.

People often resign from jobs that do not align with their goals because a career is not merely a source of income; it is also a pathway to personal and professional growth. When employees realize that their current role is not helping them develop the skills, experience, or opportunities needed to achieve their long-term ambitions, they may begin to feel dissatisfied and unmotivated.

A lack of growth opportunities is one of the most common reasons for leaving. If a job offers limited chances for learning, promotion, or meaningful challenges, employees may look elsewhere to advance their careers. Similarly, when an organization's values, culture, or vision conflict with an individual's personal beliefs and aspirations, it can create a sense of disconnect.

Many people also leave because they want work that is more meaningful and fulfilling. They seek roles that match their interests, passions, and strengths rather than remaining in positions that feel stagnant or unproductive. Better compensation, improved work-life balance, and opportunities in a preferred industry can further motivate a career change.