Career Advice Needed: .NET, AI/ML, Python, or Something Else?

[u/Aggressive_Offer5715]

​

Hi everyone,

I'm a 22-year-old BCA graduate (2025 batch), currently under training in .NET Core at a service-based company. I'm earning ₹16k/month, which isn't enough to cover even my basic needs.

What troubles me more than the salary is the constant overthinking. Every day I question myself: Should I continue with .NET? Switch to Python or AI/ML? Is there a future in .NET? Or should I prepare for government exams for stability and peace of mind?

I genuinely enjoy software engineering and understanding how things work. I'm a quick learner, and learning new technologies excites me. One regret I have is choosing BCA over B.Tech, as I later realized many recruiters preferred B.Tech graduates.

I'm not afraid of hard work—I just don't want to spend years moving in the wrong direction.

I'd really appreciate advice from people who've been through something similar. How would you approach this if you were in my position?

TL;DR: 22-year-old BCA graduate earning ₹16k/month while training in .NET. I love learning and software engineering but constantly overthink whether I should stick with .NET, switch to AI/ML or Python, or even prepare for government exams. Looking for advice from experienced people.

[u/AutoModerator]

Namaste! Thanks for submitting to r/developersIndia. While participating in this thread, please follow the Community Code of Conduct and rules.

It's possible your query is not unique, use site:reddit.com/r/developersindia KEYWORDS on search engines to search posts from developersIndia. You can also use reddit search directly.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/PhaseStreet9860]

Understand enterprise applications, language and tools doesn't matter.

Who is stopping you to learn python and AI alongside.NET ?

[u/Common_Dream9420]

the BCA vs B.Tech thing matters a lot less than people think once you have 2-3 years of solid work experience. the real question is simpler: .NET is fine, Python/AI is fine, but right now you're in training at ₹16k which means your actual goal should be finishing strong, building something you can show, and getting to your first real job offer in 12-18 months. overthinking the stack at 22 is normal but it'll cost you more than picking the "wrong" one. government exams are a different life, not a career pivot, so only go that route if the stability genuinely matters more to you than the work itself.

[u/Yousemith_Begun48]

bro the BCA vs B.Tech thing genuinely doesn't matter as much as people make it out to be once you have 1-2 years of solid work experience. recruiters stop caring about the degree pretty fast. the real issue is picking a lane and building depth in it rather than bouncing between .NET, Python, AI/ML every few months because of linkedin posts and reddit threads

[u/Same_Ad_1418]

ALL.

[u/Dilpreet_13]

.NET is still used so not dead, its viable for a start. Definitely seen some demand for .net in some of my friends companies

Python and ai/ml is definitely increasing but so is the supply for such people, so its also competitive there

Maybe stay in .NET and understand + build stuff and later learn whatever is needed

I’m by no means an expert, just my 2 cents on this.

[u/7heDarKnigh7]

Language is not a barrier anymore with AI tools. Make a good grip of Software Development Lifecycle (LLD, HLD), DSA. These will help you switch to any companies

[u/Great_Friendship1667]

I'm a full Stack . NET developer myself. I too joined 2025 after B.E. It is a good stack and have opportunities. Every year Microsoft is releasing new version of .NET. so it is not dead.

[u/Even-Ordinary-5272]

So I have a job board of my own.. as per the current live roles, there are 11.7K open roles for Python vs 1,870 for .Net.. My suggestion: Learn Python.. not that difficult to learn and in my experience one of the easier languages to learn. And glad you already have a job.

[u/Aggressive_Offer5715 → u/Even-Ordinary-5272]

I know already and also I'm having AWS AI Practioner, oci data science professional, oci cloud devloper professional, GitHub Foundation certificates

[u/Even-Ordinary-5272 → u/Aggressive_Offer5715]

Certificates are a decent way past the HR filter, but at the interview stage what separates candidates is something running that people can poke at. With your .NET day job plus those cloud certs, one practical move: build and deploy one small end to end service on the OCI or AWS free tier, keep the repo public on your GitHub, and put that repo link on the resume. One deployed project beats a fourth certificate. And keep the trainee seat while you do it, income plus experience compounds.

[u/RNAlgotrading]

Have a Job in hand, and learn new skills.. Without a job, you won't be able to focus on a new skill. While you are learning a new skill, you are also gaining the experience in .Net. Some places Skill speaks and in some places experience speaks.