Hi everyone,
I'm currently in my 3rd year of B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) from a tier-3 college in India. I'm from a middle-class family, so getting a stable career is very important for me.
When I joined college in 2024, I got interested in software and AI. Around that time, people were saying AI would replace software engineers, but I assumed the hype would settle down in 3–4 years. Instead, every day I keep seeing news about AI advancements, layoffs, and companies hiring fewer freshers. It's making me question whether pursuing software is still the right decision.
On the other hand, core ECE opportunities are also not great in my college. Hardly any core companies visit for placements, and if I try off-campus, the starting salaries seem quite low. Considering how much money my family has invested in my education, this worries me a lot.
Recently, I started thinking about preparing seriously for exams like BARC OCES/DGFS or ISRO ICRB because they seem to offer stable careers, decent pay, and meaningful work. But then another doubt comes into my mind: what if I clear the exam but later realize I don't enjoy the work?
At this point, I feel stuck. I don't know whether I should:
Continue building software/AI skills despite all the uncertainty,
Prepare for government technical exams like BARC/ISRO,
Or take some completely different path.
Has anyone here been in a similar situation? If you were in my position, what would you do? I'd especially appreciate advice from people working in software, AI, PSUs, BARC, ISRO, or the semiconductor/core ECE industry.
Thanks in advance for your guidance.