DIGITAL LIFE

When the dream of the perfect career turns into frustration

For years, a career was seen as synonymous with a secure future, stability, and high salaries. But the rise of new technology is transforming this title into nothing more than a piece of paper. The case of a young professional illustrates the frustration of thousands of graduates who now face an unexpected scenario.

In recent years, the advancement of artificial intelligence has drastically reshaped the job market. What seemed like the most promising career choice of the 21st century now faces an uncertain future, marked by massive layoffs and the replacement of human roles by algorithms. This is the story of a generation that believed in promises of stability and now needs to reinvent itself.

For a long time, studying computer science was considered a surefire bet. Companies competed for recent graduates, salaries were high, and employability was almost guaranteed. However, this reality has changed.

A symbolic example is that of Manasi Mishra, a graduate of Purdue University in the United States. In an interview with The New York Times, she revealed that, after graduating with a degree in computer science, the only company that contacted her for an interview was the restaurant chain Chipotle. Her story went viral on social media and became a reflection of the decline of an industry that, until recently, seemed insatiable in its search for talent.

With no room for opportunities in software development, Mishra eventually discovered an affinity for technology marketing and, through TikTok, found an alternative path that led her to a position in sales. Her experience reflects the forced adaptation many young people face.

The current scenario is the result of the convergence of two factors. On the one hand, technology giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, and Meta carried out large-scale layoffs last year, drastically reducing opportunities for beginners.

On the other, artificial intelligence has revolutionized internal processes. Tools capable of generating thousands of lines of code in seconds have reduced the demand for junior programmers, once essential to development teams. This dual pressure has transformed the market into a restricted field, where computer science no longer guarantees immediate entry. 

The numbers that reveal the gravity of the situation...According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate among recent computer science graduates reached 6.1%, double that of fields like biology. A degree that once represented privileged status now exposes vulnerability in the face of technological transition.

Although sectors linked to artificial intelligence and data analysis present new opportunities, they still lack the capacity to absorb an entire generation of professionals who chose computing as the right path for the future.

Manasi Mishra's trajectory is more than a personal story: it symbolizes the brokenness of a collective promise. Computer science, once an icon of digital progress, now faces its own dilemma. Artificial intelligence, largely created within this same field, threatens to displace the very people who believed they were protagonists in shaping the future.

Now, thousands of young people must find where—and how—they can fit back into this new landscape.

mundophone