# Who Said the Job Market is Cooked?

I’ve been hearing this for the longest time:
“The job market is cooked.”

And honestly? Anyone who says that has already given up.

The job market is not cooked.
AI is not replacing you—at least not in the next few years.
And even if that fear exists, the solution is simple: learn to adapt.

As a software engineer, you don’t need to know everything.
You just need to be a good learner.

Trust me when I say this—I have two OAs tomorrow. Yes, two on the same day.

And no, I’m not a 9-pointer.
In fact, most of you would be shocked if I told you my CGPA.

Yet, here I am.

## My Reality Check

When I entered college, I was extremely passionate. Over time, people kept talking—about grades, jobs, market crashes, AI, layoffs—and slowly, I started losing that passion.

And for me, that’s my most important skill.

I’ve met so many seniors who once said the job market was cooked. Now, they tell me:

// quote
“It wasn’t the job market. It was our approach.”

That realization hit me early—and honestly, that’s a privilege.

I got a head start over people who are still stuck in fear mode, doing random, half-hearted things because they believe nothing will work anyway.

And I don’t want you to be one of them.

## Two OAs. Two Languages. One Mindset.

Tomorrow:

One OA in Python or C++ (because I’m comfortable there)
The second OA?
I’m writing it in Swift.

Yes, Swift.

Do I know Swift well?
No.
Can I confidently write sorting algorithms in Swift right now?
Also no.

(Okay, maybe I can solve a basic greedy or recursive problem—but you get the point.)

Am I taking these OAs seriously?
Absolutely.

But I’m also doing this for another reason:

// quote
To prove to myself that if I put my mind to something, I can pull it off.

## The Fear That Changed Everything

Let me tell you a short story.

I was in Bangalore, and my cousin—someone I deeply respect—decided to conduct a mock interview to give me a reality check.

He asked me the most basic question.

And I fumbled.

Trust me, these are the same questions I sometimes ask my friends just to scare them before exams (yeah, I do that sometimes 😅).

But in that moment, I realized something important:

// quote
You should be ready at any moment.
You never know when the opportunity will show up.

That fear?
It didn’t break me.
It woke me up.

## What I’ve Truly Learned

### 1. The Job Market Isn’t Cooked — Your Mindset Might Be

Blaming the market is easy. Fixing your approach is hard—but that’s what actually works.

### 2. You Don’t Need to Be Perfect to Start

You don’t need a 9 CGPA.
You don’t need to know every language.
You just need to start and keep learning.

### 3. Passion Is a Skill — Protect It

Skills can be learned. Tools can be mastered.
But losing your passion? That’s the real loss.

### 4. Opportunities Don’t Announce Themselves

They show up randomly. You either are ready—or you’re not.

## Final Thoughts

If you think the job market is cooked, you’ve already lost.

Not because jobs don’t exist—but because you’ve stopped believing in your ability to grow.

You don’t need to be the smartest. You don’t need the best college. You don’t need perfect grades.

You just need:

Curiosity
Consistency
Courage to try when you’re not ready

And trust me—
If I can walk into two OAs tomorrow with this mindset, so can you.

If this resonated with you or you want to talk about career growth, learning, or tech—feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or email me at mohanasusm1@gmail.com.