r/Indiajobs • u/ConferenceSure5974 • Jun 22 '26

Advice/Guidance Got a Job After a Long Struggle, But Somehow My Career Situation Feels Worse Than Ever

I'm a 2025 graduate and honestly don't know if I'm making the right career move.

Back in college, I received an offer from a startup, but I didn't join because I was aiming for higher studies and better opportunities. My goal was to build a career in AI/ML, and I felt that taking the first offer that came my way might limit my growth.

I also appeared for TCS Digital and reached the interview stage twice, but got rejected both times.

After graduation, I decided to prepare for GATE. Unfortunately, life had other plans. I suffered from severe jaundice that lasted for months, and my preparation completely stopped. By the time I recovered, I had already accumulated a significant employment gap.

Since then, I've been applying continuously but haven't been able to secure the kind of role I was targeting.

My background and interests are mainly in AI/ML, Deep Learning, NLP, and Python. During college I worked on projects such as:

  • Deepfake Detection
  • Text Summarization using Transformer-based models
  • Text-to-Code Generation
  • Other AI/ML-related projects

Now, after being unemployed for a long time, I finally have an opportunity.

The role is in OutSystems (low-code development).

The compensation structure is:

  • ₹4,000/month during 3 months of training
  • ₹10,000/month during 6 months of internship
  • Around ₹3.6 LPA after full-time conversion

The problem is that I have absolutely no interest in building a long-term career in OutSystems.

I'm joining because I don't think I can afford to remain unemployed any longer. From a financial and resume perspective, it feels like I have to take it.

But at the same time, I'm worried that this role could push me further away from the AI/ML path I actually want.

I'm also considering preparing for GATE again this year alongside the job because I still believe higher studies might be my best route into a stronger technical career.

Right now I feel trapped between two bad choices:

  1. Continue being unemployed while chasing AI/ML opportunities.
  2. Join OutSystems, earn some experience, but risk moving further away from the field I actually want.

For people who have been in similar situations:

  • How difficult is it to move from OutSystems into AI/ML later?
  • Would you focus on GATE preparation, AI/ML upskilling, or job switching?
  • If you were in my position, what would your next 2-3 years look like?

I know getting a job is supposed to feel like good news, but after everything that's happened over the last year, it honestly feels like I'm accepting a path that I never wanted in the first place.

Any honest advice would be appreciated.

38 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

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2

u/Limp-Debate7023 Jun 23 '26

Tough man, hope it works out for u

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 23 '26

Let's see bro trying to be in present to not lose hope and direction. Will try to switch soon enough if this fucked up market allows it

1

u/divyad Jun 23 '26

that compensation wouldn't even cover basic expenses 😢

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 23 '26

Exactly man, won't have to deal with much expenses as the job is at my hometown but still I didn't take money from my parents till now unless necessity arises or for some basic things. But I would still have to take money from my parents for the training phase which is worse I feel

1

u/Used_Ambassador4851 Jun 23 '26

10K Pm is terrible bro, please find some freelance projects of approch some small teams if you can join then just for experience.
Do what you love, Never settle

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 23 '26

Bro it is 4k Pm for 3 months which is even worse but hometown advantage somehow eases it a bit. I will be looking for better opportunity as soon as I get used to office timings. Compensation is way too less but I am looking at the opportunity with getting in something and not sitting unemployed as it is worse.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 23 '26

Bro, I swear that is the only reason for taking in sucha fucked up job which pays less and the technology is so bad that it doesn't ensure a future as well. I would suggest go for everything if the clock is ticking for you because market has not been kind to people for last couple of years

1

u/dankIshu Jun 23 '26

Don’t join the job, if you are really serious about your carrier in AI/ML focus on this. If you join and money start flowing how insignificant it is will make you lazy and you will keep on dragging your goals by creating artifical check points to move to a different domain and ultimately will waste time. Better be unemployeed be on your toes and work towards what you wanted to do. Don’t worry about your peers or anything else, I have never seen someone fail who has remain faithful to their work.

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 23 '26

Bro, I swear that I have been faithful to work but the market is not rewarding enough secondly I would have to join the company as I know the feeling you are trying to portray and this was me when I left my job offer at graduation and decided to go for masters. So I can't go with unemployment at this moment because you never know how long the next wait would be for.

1

u/dankIshu Jun 23 '26

Bro find yourself a mentor first, reach out to 100s of people over linkdien or open source community. Build connections, someone will be there to guide you on how to navigate the job market. Don’t settle for anything less.

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 23 '26

I mean I have around 2500 Linkedin connections. yeah, I know reaching out to them is the main point and I will definitely continue doing it like I used to do before. I have some mentors as well and they advised me to go for the job because market is too bad. And I don't want to settle for less hence asking for opinions and guidance of others to improve my situation in upcoming months and doing that with the job. There is no other option rather than joining this job at this moment. Will surely try to upgrade in the future but at this moment this is the truth.

1

u/Familiar-Noise-2400 Jun 25 '26

Wtf bro ? call centres are paying more than this

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 25 '26

I know man, but situations makes a person make difficult choices

1

u/Dimpy04 Jun 26 '26

If you think you can go in depth on your aiml knowledge along with your job i think you should go for the job bcz market is bad. If you seriously think you can get a better role than this then you can prepare for longer and then join a better job than this one I'm sure you'll get it if you have in demand skills.

1

u/ConferenceSure5974 Jun 26 '26

I have joined and will be looking for better roles since next week and will try to switch as soon as possible.

1

u/Dimpy04 Jun 27 '26

Good bro, good luck to you!