A reddit user recently revealed that he had not been able to get a job in India despite having a master’s degree from the U.S., and three years of experience in a FAANG company.
“I moved back to India after completing my master’s in the US and spending three years at a FAANG company. After being laid off, I returned expecting the transition to be fairly smooth, as I do not require sponsorship and have strong, hands-on experience working on a range of impactful projects,” the Reddit user posted
“I previously worked in program management, and have been targeting big companies like FAANG and other MNCs in India. But so far, nothing has worked out. I have not received a single interview callback,” he wrote.
FAANG refers to the five leading Silicon Valley tech giants — Facebook (Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (Alphabet).
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The user continued, “There is a two year gap on my resume due to the layoff and relocation, and I am starting to wonder if that is what is hurting me the most. I expected my US and FAANG experience to carry weight, but that does not seem to be the case.”
The person noted that the entire journey has been extremely stressful and has led them to question what they are doing wrong. “If anyone here has gone through something similar, especially moving back to India after working abroad, I would really appreciate any advice or perspective,” the Reddit user wrote.
Many responses expressed empathy for the original poster, with some users sharing similar experiences. “Had a similar experience, was working in the UK, was made redundant, looked out for jobs there, had VISA issues, moved back to India, found a job after 7-8 interviews. Market situation is not that bad tbh, but the competition is more and will have to settle for less salary as of now,” one response said.
“India is altogether a different beast when it comes to competition. Keep at it, don’t get demotivated. Keep polishing your skills and upskill. All you need is one relevant role. Three years of experience is a sweet spot to be in, not entry level and also not very high expectations. Good luck!” another said.
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Some users noted that they were in a “skill-based economy,” and recommended “pivoting to hardcore skills.” Another user noted the importance of networking in the Indian job market, and recommended the use of LinkedIn to “build a network.”
The individual’s Reddit post could not be independently verified. However, accounts like this underscore the challenges facing today’s job market in India and elsewhere.
A recent report by The Economic Times said that the past year saw an increasing number of Indian professionals in the U.S. returning to their home country amid President Donald Trump’s tightening stance on immigration.
While the report mentioned that opportunities are “expanding” in India, the Indian job market is not without its challenges. New research from LinkedIn shows that 84 per cent of professionals in India feel unprepared to find a job in 2026, even as 72 per cent plan to explore new opportunities. Around 76 per cent of Indian professionals say the job search has become tougher, while many describe the process as impersonal and opaque.