Software engineer Tejasw Agrawal experienced a dramatic reversal of his employment prospects with Oracle, the multinational tech company founded by Larry Ellison. According to his LinkedIn post, Agrawal's pre-placement offer (PPO) was revoked in May 2026, then reinstated in July 2026 with a joining date set for August 18, 2026. As reported by Agrawal, he had completed all formalities and documentation, with his bags packed and flight tickets booked for relocation when the offer was cancelled again on August 13, just five days before his scheduled start date. Agrawal, who holds a BTech in Electrical Engineering from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology and completed a three-month internship at Oracle between May and July, is now seeking roles in software development, software engineering and AI engineering through his LinkedIn network. The incident gained significant attention when it was reposted by X user @_kumbhkaran, who captioned it: 'Oracle reinstated cancelled job offers, only to revoke them again 😭😭' and has since received more than 4,000 likes with people sharing and responding to his appeal for help.
This development occurs amid reports of Oracle planning another round of layoffs to offset significant costs associated with its artificial intelligence push. According to a recent report by Business Insider, Oracle has instructed its managers to draw up lists of affected employees, aiming to implement payroll reductions before its second fiscal quarter begins on September 1. The cuts could reach double-digit percentages on certain teams, as the company racks up tens of billions of dollars in debt to build data centres, acquire high-demand chips, and support major AI clients like OpenAI. The reported restructuring follows a substantial change in Oracle's workforce during its financial year ended May 31, 2026, when the company's global headcount fell by about 21,000, or roughly 13 per cent, through a combination of layoffs, attrition and restructuring. Oracle ended the period with around 1,41,000 full-time employees worldwide. The possible job cuts show the pressure Oracle is under as it spends heavily on AI while trying to control costs, with the company spending heavily on data centres and chips to meet demand for AI computing.
Agrawal's experience highlights the broader uncertainty facing tech professionals amid industry-wide restructuring. As reported by NDTV Profit, the engineer noted that he had missed out on other job offers due to Oracle's alleged assurance that the position would be his. He expressed the difficulty of experiencing such uncertainty twice as a fresher beginning his career, stating it was heartbreaking to know that decisions made in absolute good faith and trust had affected his career plans. The situation became even more difficult because he says he had other opportunities during this period but decided not to pursue them after being assured that the Oracle offer was final. 'As a fresher beginning my career, experiencing this level of uncertainty twice has been incredibly difficult,' he said. The incident reflects the challenging employment landscape in the tech sector as companies prioritize AI investments over traditional hiring commitments. Agrawal's LinkedIn post closes with a simple message: 'Starting again, but not giving up.' The situation drew mixed reactions online, with some users questioning the developer's decision to rely on the offer after it had previously been revoked, while others expressed sympathy and urged Oracle to investigate the matter. Agrawal has now updated his resume and is actively seeking opportunities in software development, software engineering and AI engineering, requesting referrals and guidance on where his profile could be a good fit.
According to Business Insider reports, Oracle spent $55.7 billion on infrastructure in fiscal 2026, exceeding cash generated by $23.7 billion. To fund this expansion, Oracle raised $48 billion via debt and stock in fiscal 2026 and plans to raise another $40 billion this fiscal year. While strong demand drove a 17% overall revenue increase and 77% growth in cloud infrastructure, heavy spending has pressured costs, driving Oracle stock down nearly 26% this year. Although Oracle has not provided a public explanation for withdrawing Agrawal's offer, it remains uncertain if the decision was tied to these cost-reduction measures. The company's substantial infrastructure investments and debt financing reflect its commitment to AI expansion, even as it faces pressure to control costs and maintain profitability.
