Growing up just outside Silicon Valley, Manasi Mishra often saw polished tech executives on social media encouraging students to dive into coding.

The message was simple: Learn to program, work hard, get a computer science degree — and you could start your career earning six figures. For a young student in San Ramon, California, it was a compelling promise.

Motivated by this vision, Mishra built her first website before she finished elementary school, took advanced computing courses in high school, and enrolled in a computer science major in college. But when she graduated from Purdue University in May, reality was far from the dream. After a year of searching for internships and full-time roles in tech, she had no offers on the table.

“I just graduated with a computer science degree, and the only interview I’ve been called for was at Chipotle,” she said in a TikTok video that has now been viewed over 147,000 times.

The Rise of the “Learn to Code” Era

Since the early 2010s, a chorus of tech leaders, billionaires, and even U.S. presidents have urged young people to learn computer programming. They framed coding as a golden ticket — a skill that would not only secure high-paying jobs but also fuel the nation’s economic growth.

Back in 2012, Microsoft’s Brad Smith famously stated that computer science graduates often began their careers earning over $100,000, alongside hiring bonuses and stock grants worth tens of thousands more. These incentives, plus the excitement of working on apps and technologies used worldwide, triggered a nationwide surge in computer science enrollment.

According to the Computing Research Association, the number of undergraduates majoring in the field in the U.S. soared past 170,000 in 2023 — more than double the number in 2014.

A Changing Landscape: AI and Industry Downsizing

However, the tech world in 2025 is not the one that inspired those students a decade ago. The rise of AI-powered coding tools — capable of generating, debugging, and optimizing thousands of lines of code in seconds — is reshaping demand for human programmers.

Combined with large-scale layoffs at companies like Amazon, Intel, Meta, and Microsoft, the once-booming job market for new computer science graduates has cooled sharply.

Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that unemployment among recent computer science graduates aged 22 to 27 is now at 6.1%, while computer engineering graduates face 7.5% unemployment. These rates are more than double those of recent biology or art history graduates.

Jeff Forbes, a former program director at the National Science Foundation, notes the shift: “A few years ago, graduates in computer science were turning down multiple offers from top firms. Today, many of those same candidates can’t get a single interview.”

Job Hunting in the New Tech Economy

The New York Times surveyed more than 150 current students and recent graduates from both public and private universities, including Maryland, Texas, Washington, Cornell, and Stanford. Many reported applying to hundreds — and in some cases thousands — of positions across tech companies, nonprofits, and government agencies.

The process is grueling. Candidates often face online coding tests, followed by live technical interviews if they pass. Yet even with these efforts, many graduates say their applications are met with silence or automated rejection emails.

Some describe the experience as “bleak,” “disheartening,” or “soul-crushing.”

Zach Taylor, a 25-year-old graduate from Oregon State University, enrolled in computer science in 2019 because he loved programming video games. Back then, industry jobs seemed plentiful. Since graduating in 2023, however, he has applied to 5,762 tech jobs, securing only 13 interviews — and no offers.

“This has been the most demoralizing experience of my life,” Taylor admits. Even his former internship site could not hire him. Desperate for income, he applied to McDonald’s but was rejected for “lack of experience.” Today, he lives with his parents in Sherwood, Oregon, relying on unemployment benefits while building personal software projects to keep his skills sharp.

The AI “Doom Loop”

For many graduates, the challenge is compounded by a feedback loop between AI-driven hiring tools and AI-assisted job applications.

Some job seekers use AI software like Simplify to tailor résumés and autofill applications, allowing them to apply for dozens of roles quickly. Employers, meanwhile, are turning to AI systems to scan and filter résumés, often removing candidates before a human ever sees their profile.

This has led to surreal moments — like when Audrey Roller, a 22-year-old data science graduate from Clark University, received a rejection email just three minutes after applying for a position. She now emphasizes human traits like creativity in her applications, writing them without chatbot assistance, but still struggles to get responses.

“It’s discouraging to know an algorithm might decide if you get to pay your bills,” Roller says.

Government Jobs Aren’t a Safe Haven Anymore

Even traditionally stable government roles are proving hard to secure.

Jamie Spoeri, a Georgetown University graduate, majored in computing for its logical problem-solving appeal but also developed an interest in AI policy and environmental impacts. After interning at the National Science Foundation, she applied to over 200 roles in government, industry, and nonprofits.

Government hiring freezes and AI-driven efficiencies have made entry-level opportunities scarce. “It’s disheartening to miss out on roles because of AI,” she says. “But if we can adapt, I believe new opportunities will emerge.”

The Pivot Toward AI Skills

With the old promise of “learn to code” fading, leaders are rebranding their message around artificial intelligence. The federal government is directing more funding toward AI-related education, while tech giants are investing heavily in AI skill development.

Microsoft recently pledged $4 billion to support AI training programs for students and workers. The company is also studying how AI is transforming computer science education.

Adapting to a New Tech Reality

For Mishra, the Purdue graduate, the realization that her passion lay more in tech marketing than in software engineering led her to switch strategies. Using her TikTok platform — where she works as a beauty influencer — she showcased her communication skills and applied cold for a sales role at a tech company.

In July, she received an offer and will start her new position this month.

Her journey reflects a broader shift in the tech workforce: while pure coding roles may be shrinking, hybrid positions that combine technical literacy with skills in communication, marketing, policy, or design are still in demand.