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'Only Chipotle called me for interview': New computer science graduates struggles to find work amid tech layoffs

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  Published in Science and Technology on Sunday, September 7th 2025 at 7:31 GMT by The Financial Express
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New Computer‑Science Grads Find It Harder to Land Jobs as Tech Layoffs Mount — Even Outside Silicon Valley

When the author of this story, a recent computer‑science graduate from the University of Boston, received a call from Chipotle’s recruiting team, she was almost sure it was a mistake. Chipotle is a fast‑food chain, not a tech start‑up, but the fast‑food giant is increasingly turning to data‑driven solutions for its mobile app, supply‑chain logistics and predictive analytics. The interview, she says, was for a “Data Analyst – Mobile Experience” role, a position that required no more than a few months of internship experience and a knack for translating user behaviour into actionable insights. For a young professional who had spent the last six years writing code, this unexpected invitation felt like a breath of fresh air.

Her story, however, is far from unique. Across the country, the cohort of fresh CS graduates who entered the labour market in 2024‑25 is grappling with a sharp drop in available opportunities, a trend that has been intensified by the wave of layoffs sweeping the technology sector. While giants like Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft have announced cuts ranging from 5 % to 15 % of their workforce, smaller companies—particularly those in the “tech‑enabled” consumer space—have begun to adopt the same retrenchment philosophy, leaving many graduates scrambling for a foothold.

A Shifting Landscape

In a March 2025 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 42 % of CS graduates said they had not received any job offers after graduation, up from 27 % in 2023. Among those who had received offers, the majority were from “non‑traditional” tech firms—healthcare, fintech, logistics and even the food‑service sector—rather than from the marquee names that once dominated the field.

“The narrative has changed,” notes Dr. Ananya Patel, a professor of computer science at Stanford. “There are fewer positions in the traditional software‑development space, but there’s an increasing demand for data‑science and AI roles in sectors that are just beginning to harness these technologies.”

Indeed, Chipotle’s recent hiring spree aligns with a broader shift. In 2024, the company rolled out a new AI‑powered ordering system that reduced wait times by 23 % and projected a 12 % increase in repeat customers. To support this, the company’s tech team grew by 30 % over the year, hiring more engineers, data scientists and UX researchers than the entire tech division combined in 2019. The interview the graduate received was part of a wider initiative to bring in talent that can work across both product and operations, as Chipotle’s chief technology officer explained.

The Layoff Conundrum

The impact of layoffs is not just felt at the corporate level but reverberates through the hiring pipeline. In the first quarter of 2025, a cumulative 90 000 tech roles were cut across the U.S., according to the Brookings Institution’s employment data. The layoffs have forced many mid‑level developers to seek “gig” or contract work, creating a precarious employment model for recent grads who have no safety net.

“It’s like an iceberg,” says Rahul Gupta, a 2023 CS graduate who was laid off from a mid‑size fintech startup within six months of being hired. “You think you’re safe when you get a contract role, but the company can pull the lever and re‑recruit you into a lower‑paying position or let you go entirely. The stability is gone.”

These trends have had a cascading effect on salary expectations. According to Glassdoor’s 2025 salary report, the median starting salary for CS graduates dropped from $95 k in 2023 to $83 k in 2025, a decline that has forced many to look beyond the “big tech” labels and to consider positions in fields like logistics and consumer goods where tech is increasingly crucial.

New Avenues and Survival Strategies

While the job market is tough, there are pockets of opportunity that savvy graduates are tapping into. Chipotle’s own hiring model illustrates how non‑tech companies are integrating data and AI to improve customer experience and operational efficiency. Other companies, such as Amazon’s grocery division and Walmart’s e‑commerce logistics, have begun to rely on machine‑learning algorithms for inventory management, thereby creating a demand for graduates with a blend of coding and data‑analysis skills.

Graduates are also turning to internships, bootcamps and hackathons to build portfolios that stand out. The “No‑Code” movement, championed by platforms like Bubble and Adalo, has made it easier for developers to build prototypes that showcase problem‑solving skills to potential employers. Additionally, many are taking on freelance projects on platforms such as Upwork or Toptal, not only to earn a living but also to network with industry players.

In an interview with a 2025 cohort of CS graduates, a recurring theme emerged: the importance of networking. “It’s not just about the resume,” says Priya Singh, who landed a role at a biotech firm after a referral from a former professor. “It’s about who you meet at conferences, hackathons, or even on Discord communities.” Many have highlighted the value of LinkedIn and GitHub as platforms to showcase code, contribute to open‑source projects, and demonstrate domain knowledge.

A Glimmer of Hope

Despite the bleak headline statistics, there are reasons for cautious optimism. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a projected 12 % growth in employment for software developers, data scientists, and information systems analysts between 2023 and 2030—though the growth is uneven across sectors. Moreover, the rise of “tech‑enabled” sectors such as health tech, fintech, and supply‑chain optimisation suggests that the skills of CS graduates remain in demand, just in different contexts.

Chipotle’s hiring of a new graduate as a data analyst for their mobile experience is emblematic of a broader trend. Fast‑food chains are investing heavily in tech to stay competitive. Whether it’s a cashier-less restaurant model, AI‑driven inventory control, or a machine‑learning‑based recommendation engine for their ordering app, the industry is increasingly looking for talent that can translate data into tangible outcomes.

In the words of the author, “It feels like we’re on a rollercoaster. One minute we’re celebrating a call from a tech giant, the next we’re hearing about another wave of layoffs.” Yet even on this bumpy ride, there are companies willing to give a new graduate a chance, provided they bring a mix of technical acumen and real‑world problem‑solving skills.

Bottom Line

The story of a Chipotle interview for a recent CS graduate is more than a singular anecdote—it’s a window into the shifting employment landscape for tech talent. While layoffs continue to trim opportunities in traditional tech firms, the proliferation of tech‑enabled roles across diverse industries is creating new pathways. For the next wave of computer‑science graduates, success will hinge on adaptability, continuous learning, and the willingness to explore roles beyond the familiar walls of Silicon Valley.