To Stay Or Come Back? Indians Studying Abroad In Dilemma As They Struggle To Find Jobs Post Covid

After witnessing a year in which the number of Indian students opting for foreign education shot up to record levels, those who are already there are finding it difficult to land a job. This has put them in a dilemma - whether to stay on or come back.

According to the latest data from the education ministry, a record number of nearly 770,000 Indian students opted to study abroad in 2022.

Struggle For Indians Studying Abroad

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The main reason behind the struggle to find jobs abroad, according to several students and a few education sector consultants, is the global economic slowdown that has severely reduced entry-level employment opportunities for international students.

Even STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree holders--much sought-after in the post-Covid era--are finding it tough to secure a job as technology and new-age companies grapple with mass layoffs and hiring freezes.

Other economic factors such as high inflation, the escalating cost of living and local unemployment are making it extremely difficult for Indian students to get hired.

Many students, even the ones who have studied at top-tier colleges, in the US, Singapore, the UK, Ireland, France and other parts of Europe, are either sticking it out in desperation or have started looking out for opportunities in other destinations such as the Gulf countries or even back home, as per ET.

Most Favoured Countries For Studying Abroad

Indians currently study in more than 240 countries globally, the Ministry of External Affairs informed Rajya Sabha had said earlier this year. The UK, US, Australia and Canada still remain the preferred choices, but students are also considering countries like Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Russia, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

As per an ET report, the data mentioned that the numbers have risen after the pandemic. Compared to about 7.7 lakh in 2022, 4.5 lakh students went abroad in 2017 and 2.6 lakh in 2020. India surpassed China in terms of the most international students in the US in 2022.

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Students Share Their Ordeal

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Jaskirat Panjrath, a fresh graduate of the Parsons School of Design in New York, is yet to land a job that fits his profile. Panjrath has shot off nearly 150 applications over the past six months with only a few circling back with interview opportunities. "It's a struggle, every day," says Panjrath, 22, currently staying with a relative as he is unable to bear the steep boarding expenses of New York City. "There is a strong preference for local residents to fill up entry-level positions."

In the US, even internships for the next summer are hard to come by, say students who are already studying there. Shreya Tuli, a first-year student of economics, management and information science at Cornell University, says "There are fewer vacancies for the May-August 2024 summer internships." "It's difficult for international students as companies give preference to Americans or residents," says the 19-year-old from Delhi, the report mentioned.

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Ananya Gupta, who has a Masters in Management from INSEAD, started looking for opportunities in Europe and in Singapore in December, and also faced the tough job market and the increasing reluctance of global companies to hire an international student where they have to go through the extra hassle of visa processing.

"It is extremely difficult to land a job either in Europe or in Singapore. In Singapore, for example, most companies are looking to hire Singaporeans," says Gupta. "Europe is also a tough market for freshers. Another additional challenge in Europe is if you do not know the local language, you are left only with the option of the UK." Gupta last week found a job with a consulting firm in Dubai after nearly six months of search, as per the report.

Rahul Seth, a computer engineering graduate from Trinity College Dublin, was one of the lucky ones to get an offer from a leading energy technology company in Ireland. However, "many of my batch mates are not able to find jobs and are returning". "It takes at least 6-8 months on average to find a new job and even then there is a huge preference for local people," says Seth, who is looking to return to India.

Mohona Datta, pursuing her Masters in Biological Science at the University of California San Diego, says "Many of my friends are trying to get a job but it is very difficult with much fewer opportunities.

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