Rajesh Sawhney, a Gurgaon-based entrepreneur and graduate of Harvard Business School, has issued a serious warning to Indian students, particularly IIT engineers, about the declining job prospects for international graduates in the US, UK, and Canada.

In a post that quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), Sawhney wrote, “There are no jobs in the USA, Canada, and UK for International students. Honeymoon is over, parents should think twice before spending crores on expensive education.” For many years, Indian students believed that getting a degree abroad, especially in the US or the UK, would lead to a well-paid job. But according to Sawhney, that is no longer true.

He added, “Engg students, especially IITians, had an easy hack: do master's in the US and get a $200K starting tech job. This hack works no more.”

Rajesh Sawhney is a respected figure in India’s startup world. He is the founder and CEO of GSF Accelerator, which supports young tech startups with advice, funding, and global connections. He also studied at Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and is a fellow at the London School of Economics. Sawhney has been building businesses for more than 20 years.

Sawhney’s message struck a chord with many on social media. One user said, “Back in 2017, people were getting $150k offers just months into their course. Now, even those at top firms like Google are scared of layoffs.”

Another user pointed out, “I know folks making $200k from here in India with online certifications. No need to go abroad.”

A third user commented, “Sure, the low-hanging fruit is gone. But the opportunity? Still very real. Just not for the average, unprepared candidate banking on a degree alone. The game has shifted from degree = job to skills + grit + networking = shot at ROI. It’s not broken. It’s just no longer easy.”

The visa rules have become tougher these days. The UK recently cut the time international graduates can work after studies from 2 years to 18 months. The US and Canada have also reduced job openings for international job seekers and made visa approvals harder.

Many Indian students and professionals living overseas have shared similar stories online. A London-based Indian said that while an IIT degree is respected in India, it doesn’t hold the same power internationally. He stressed the importance of showing your skills and work experience instead of just academic degrees.

Janhavi Jain, who did her master’s in the UK, also shared a warning. She said 90% of her batchmates had to come back to India because there were no jobs available. She advised others to think carefully before spending a lot on foreign education without a clear plan.

The focus now needs to be on developing skills, being flexible, and planning for the long term.

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