‘Only company that called me for interview in Chipotle’: Indian-origin techie’s Silicon Valley story goes viral - Times of India | Goose Pod

Authors: TOI World Desk

Publisher:

The Times of India

Published: 8/11/2025

Language:English

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Tom Banks

Good morning 跑了松鼠好嘛, I'm Tom Banks, and this is Goose Pod for you. Today is Saturday, August 16th.

Mask

I'm Mask. We're here to discuss the viral story of a techie whose job search in Silicon Valley hit an unexpected wall.

Tom Banks

Let's get started. This is the story of Manasi Mishra, a recent computer science graduate from Purdue. She was told her whole life that a tech degree was a golden ticket to a six-figure salary, a common promise in Silicon Valley.

Mask

A promise that met reality. In a viral TikTok video, she revealed the only company that called her for an interview was Chipotle. It’s a stark reminder that markets, not promises, dictate value. She did everything she was told, but the market has shifted.

Tom Banks

It's a tough pill to swallow for so many in Gen Z. You follow the path society lays out, you get the grades, the degree from a top school, and then, you're asking if someone wants guacamole with their burrito. It feels like a betrayal of that hard work.

Mask

It's not a betrayal; it's a data point. The game has changed. What worked five years ago is irrelevant. The debate this sparked online, however, points to a much larger, more complex issue than just one graduate's job search, and that's the role of foreign talent.

Tom Banks

Exactly. The online discussion quickly pivoted to the H-1B visa program. For context, this was created in 1990 to allow U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialized fields, the idea being to fill skill gaps that we couldn't fill domestically.

Mask

It’s a critical tool for maintaining a competitive edge. You need the best talent, regardless of origin. In 2024, nearly 400,000 H-1B applications were approved. The vast majority, about 65%, were renewals. We’re not just hiring talent; we’re retaining it. It's efficient.

Tom Banks

But the scale is staggering. The annual cap is just 65,000, plus another 20,000 for graduates with advanced U.S. degrees. The demand is so high that it’s a lottery system. And the data shows that in 2023, 73% of these visas went to workers from India.

Mask

Which proves the system is working. The talent is where the talent is. The top employers using the program are companies like Amazon, Google, and Infosys. They aren't looking for cheap labor; they're looking for world-class engineers to build world-class products. This fuels innovation.

Tom Banks

I see that, but it also creates this intense pressure cooker of a job market. When you have that level of global competition flowing in, it naturally changes the landscape for domestic graduates like Manasi, who are just trying to get their first start on the ladder.

Tom Banks

And that’s where the conflict really lies. There's a perception, backed by some lawsuits, that the system is exploited. A recent case against the IT firm Cognizant found they discriminated against non-Indian employees, favoring H-1B visa holders from India instead. It's a troubling pattern.

Mask

Outliers don't define the system. Companies optimize for talent, cost, and flexibility. A leaked text from a Cognizant executive called hiring H-1B workers an 'open secret' because they were 'cheaper labor that would relocate anywhere.' That's not a conspiracy; that's just business competition.

Tom Banks

But at what cost? You end up with a generation of domestic graduates feeling squeezed out. On top of that, you throw in the rise of AI, which is projected to automate up to 30% of hours worked by 2030. It’s a perfect storm for entry-level professionals.

Mask

Progress is disruptive. AI will handle the mundane coding, freeing up human intellect for complex problem-solving and true innovation. Gen Z needs to stop seeing this as a threat and start seeing it as a tool. You don't complain about the storm; you learn to navigate it.

Tom Banks

The immediate impact, though, has been jarring. In 2023 alone, the tech industry laid off over 226,000 workers. That creates a ripple effect of fear and instability, especially for young people. It’s hard to be optimistic when you see numbers like that in the news every day.

Mask

That was a necessary market correction. The pandemic years created a hiring frenzy and a tech bubble. Companies are now 'right-sizing' their workforce, cutting the fat, and refocusing on sustainable growth. This pain is temporary and leads to a healthier, more efficient industry overall.

Tom Banks

But it does lead to what some are calling an 'oversupply' of junior talent, all competing for fewer spots. For every success story, there are countless others like Manasi, wondering if they made the right choice, which is a tough spot for anyone to be in.

Mask

The future is for those who adapt. Software engineering roles will evolve. It won't be about just writing code; it will be about designing systems and collaborating with AI. Engineers who use AI as a force-multiplier, automating routine tasks, will become exponentially more valuable.

Tom Banks

So the new 'golden ticket' isn't just a computer science degree, it's the ability to blend that technical skill with strategic thinking and a deep understanding of how to work alongside these powerful new AI tools. That seems to be the key takeaway for the future.

Tom Banks

That's the end of today's discussion. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod. See you tomorrow.

## Summary of News: Indian-Origin Techie's Silicon Valley Job Search Goes Viral, Sparking Debate This news report from **The Times of India**, published on **August 11, 2025**, details the viral story of **Manasi Mishra**, an Indian-origin American techie who graduated with a computer science degree from Purdue University. Her experience highlights the current challenges faced by recent graduates in the Silicon Valley job market. ### Key Findings and Conclusions: * **Limited Interview Opportunities:** Manasi Mishra revealed in a viral TikTok video that **Chipotle was the only company that called her for an interview** after her graduation. This was despite her pursuing a computer science degree from a reputable institution like Purdue University. * **AI and Layoffs Impacting Job Market:** Mishra, in an interview with The New York Times (NYT), attributed the difficulty in securing tech jobs to the **spread of AI programming tools** and **recent layoffs at major tech companies** such as Amazon, Intel, Meta, and Microsoft. * **Job Search Outcome:** The NYT article confirmed that Mishra **did not secure a position at Chipotle**. She eventually found a **sales position job at a tech company**. * **Public Debate and Concerns:** Mishra's story and the subsequent NYT article ignited a significant public debate on the current job situation, layoffs, and the potential contributing factors. Key themes of this debate include: * **Disillusionment of Gen Z:** Many commenters expressed sympathy for young graduates like Mishra, who followed traditional advice to study hard and pursue STEM fields, only to face significant job market hurdles. * **Critique of Immigration Policies:** A prominent viral comment on X suggested that **H-1B visas and offshoring** are "getting out of control and abusive," implying that jobs are being taken by foreign workers, specifically those from India on H-1B visas. * **Blame on Foreign Workers and AI:** The debate also touched upon the extent to which foreign workers and AI should be blamed for the current job market difficulties. ### Context and Interpretation: * **"Six-Figure Starting Salary" Narrative:** Mishra's experience contrasts sharply with the traditional narrative she grew up with near Silicon Valley, where learning to code and studying computer science was expected to lead to a six-figure starting salary. This suggests a significant shift in the job market dynamics. * **AI's Role:** The mention of AI programming tools as a factor implies that **automation and AI advancements may be reducing the demand for entry-level programming roles** or changing the skill requirements for these positions. * **Layoffs as a Symptom:** The layoffs at major tech companies indicate a broader economic or industry-specific downturn, which can exacerbate competition for available jobs. * **H-1B Visa Debate:** The strong sentiment regarding H-1B visas highlights ongoing concerns about **immigration policies and their impact on domestic job opportunities**, particularly for recent graduates. The accusation that jobs "must have went to people from India who are on H-1B" reflects a common sentiment in such debates. ### News Identifiers: * **Title:** ‘Only company that called me for interview in Chipotle’: Indian-origin techie’s Silicon Valley story goes viral * **Publisher:** The Times of India * **Author:** TOI World Desk * **Published At:** August 11, 2025, 13:56:00 * **Source URL:** https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/only-company-that-called-me-for-interview-in-chipotle-indian-origin-techies-silicon-valley-story-goes-viral/articleshow/123238863.cms

‘Only company that called me for interview in Chipotle’: Indian-origin techie’s Silicon Valley story goes viral - Times of India

Read original at The Times of India →

An Indian-origin American techie's Silicon Valley story goes viral. An Indian-origin techie, Manasi Mishra, who graduated with a computer science degree from Purdue University, revealed in a TikTok video as she was getting ready that the only company that called her for an interview was Chipotle. Titled 'Chipotle Interview GRWM', the TikTok video went viral as she appealed 'somebody pls hire me'.

In an interview with New York Times, after the video went viral, Mishra revealed that growing up near Silicon Valley, she was used to the narrative that if she learned to code, worked hard and studied computer science, she could get a six-figure starting salary. But recent graduates are finding it hard because of the spread of AI programming tools and also the recent layoffs at companies like Amazon, Intel, Meta and Microsoft.

The NYT story confirmed that Mishra did not get the burrito-making gig at Chipotle, and she finally found a sales position job at a tech company.Mishra's story and the NYT article triggered a major debate on the present job situation, layoff and how much of it should be blamed on foreign workers, AI etc.

"This is why I really do feel for Gen Z. This young woman was told her whole life by every authority figure that she should study hard, do well in school, and pursue a career in tech. She went to Purdue, one of the best engineering schools in the country. She studied computer science, not gender ideology or basket weaving," one viral comment read on X.

"And still she could not even get a job at Chipotle let alone in her field. She did literally everything “right” but, to what end? This situation is not sustainable. H1B and other work visas, as well as offshoring, are getting out of control and abusive. Policymakers should care about the young generation," the person wrote.

Many people commented that the jobs that the Indian-origin person missed must have went to people from India who are on H-1B.