‘Like drowning in the middle of the sea’: NIT student on Oracle revoking campus offers after months of waiting

A recent turn of events for students at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) has left many grappling with uncertainty after Oracle revoked job offers that were anticipated to secure their futures. For one student, who chose to remain anonymous, the excitement of receiving an offer from Oracle after several failed attempts was a moment of triumph, celebrated by family and friends alike. However, that joy rapidly transformed into despair following a phone call that disrupted his career plans. This student is not alone; several graduates from prestigious institutions such as IITs and NITs have faced similar fates as Oracle has rescinded offers amidst a turbulent technology job market characterized by layoffs and restructuring driven by artificial intelligence. "I was not expecting to crack Oracle, but when I did, my family was very happy," he expressed. The student recounted that he had successfully navigated three rounds of interviews before receiving his offer in October, alongside peers from his batch. Another NIT student, Smit Jogani, shared a parallel experience, having interned with Oracle's Corporate Architecture division and waited nearly a year for a pre-placement offer. During this time, he was shifted to Oracle Health and AI after the division he interned with was dissolved. While other interns began receiving offers, Jogani found himself only receiving an email to initiate the application process after a long wait. On May 12-13, a wave of disappointment swept through the students when they learned their offers had been revoked. "It felt like drowning in the middle of the sea without any help," the anonymous NIT student recounted, highlighting the panic that ensued due to their lack of options. Jogani described the moment as shocking, even though he had sensed it might happen. "When it occurred, I was blank. I can't do anything. I was helpless," he admitted. Out of 25 interns selected from his institute, two faced revoked offers, with his being the only one impacted due to the winding down of the OHAI unit. As global tech companies, including Meta and Amazon, continue to realign their workforce amid economic uncertainties, students face an uphill battle. Many had committed to Oracle under a "One Student, One Job" policy, which restricts them from pursuing other opportunities once an offer is accepted. This has left them in a precarious position, particularly in a weak hiring environment. Jogani raised a poignant question: "If they didn't want to give us an offer, then why did they offer it in the first place?" He believes a more straightforward rejection would have allowed students to explore other job prospects. Once dreaming of lucrative salary packages of Rs 30–36 lakh per annum, these students are now forced to reset their expectations significantly. "I don't have any option," the anonymous student lamented, indicating the pressure he feels to contribute to his family’s finances amidst their struggle with a home loan. Currently, he is targeting jobs with much lower salary ranges, acknowledging the limited bargaining power fresh graduates possess in this challenging market. The broader hiring landscape remains grim, hampered by geopolitical tensions and economic instability, which has led to fewer openings and heightened selectiveness among recruiters. The current scenario contrasts sharply with the booming tech hiring climate that many students anticipated when they began their engineering studies.