Tech Explained: IIT graduate in MNC questions the new reality of tech jobs due to AI usage. ‘Watch reels in office and then go home’ in Simple Terms

The idea of a high-paying tech job has long been tied to growth, learning and fast-paced work. But a recent post by a young engineer from a tier-1 IIT has sparked a conversation online, raising a different picture, one where good salary doesn’t always mean meaningful work, and where AI is quietly changing what entry-level roles look like.

In a post shared on Reddit, the fresher, a 2025 graduate working as an SDE at a large MNC, described how expectations didn’t match reality. Despite landing a job many aspire to, the day-to-day experience has been underwhelming.

“I’m a 2025 grad ( tier 1 IIT ), currently working as an SDE at a massive MNC with a paycheck that looks great on paper. I came in really excited to dive into tech, but my expectations were brutally stabbed pretty much immediately,” the user wrote.
He explained that his initial assignment, a GenAI project, was eventually scrapped. A move to another team didn’t help either, as the work turned out to be largely maintenance-based with little actual development.

Watch reels, attend office, go home

What stood out in the post was how little work the engineer claims to be doing on a daily basis. Instead of coding or building, most of the time goes into passing hours.“My typical day: Reach the office, sit at my desk, check messages and emails, then just kill time watching reels or YouTube lectures until it’s time to head home. I am bored out of my mind,” the post read.
He also pointed to a disengaged team culture, saying senior colleagues tend to stick to their own work and do the bare minimum, something he feels is slowly affecting his own habits.

AI and the changing role of freshers

Beyond personal frustration, the post raises a larger concern about how AI is reshaping early-career roles in tech. The engineer questioned whether traditional learning opportunities for freshers are disappearing.

“I’ve also started feeling like the role of a junior dev has fundamentally shifted because of AI. The small tasks that used to be “learning opportunities” for freshers are now being handled by AI in seconds. Is this the new reality?” he asked.

This concern resonated with several users, many of whom said they are seeing similar patterns.

Internet divided: ‘Dream job’ vs ‘career risk’

The comment section reflected two very different sides of the industry.

Some users said such roles sound ideal, especially compared to high-pressure startup environments. One user wrote, “After 15 years of experience in software. This will sound like THE dream job,” while another added, “That sounds like a dream job. You can use the time to work on your side project.”

At the same time, others warned that a lack of real work could hurt long-term growth. A commenter pointed out, “4 years later you will realise that you have no skills and it will get near impossible to switch companies. Switch now asap.”

There were also contrasts from engineers in lower-paying roles who described being overloaded with responsibilities across frontend, backend, testing and even DevOps, often for salaries as low as 3 to 5 LPA.

The original poster admitted he has considered switching to a startup to gain better exposure, but said the current job market makes that difficult.

“I’ve been thinking about upskilling and jumping to a startup, but the market feels incredibly tight right now,” he wrote, referring to layoffs and increased competition.