For most engineering students in India, the dream of securing a lucrative job offer depends heavily on gaining admission to a top-tier institution. Those from lesser-known colleges often face a bitter reality: poor placement opportunities, limited industry exposure, and minimal corporate attention. This was precisely the scenario for one student from a non-reputed engineering college, whose career prospects seemed bleak from the outset. At his institution, only a handful of companies showed up for campus recruitment, and barely nine students from the entire batch landed offers. With odds stacked against him, the student realized early on that he would have to carve his own path.
The First Break and an Unexpected Setback
During his third year, he managed to secure a remote internship with a U.S.-based startup. The selection process involved take-home assignments instead of the traditional live algorithmic tests, which suited his strengths. The stipend, at Rs 40,000 a month, felt generous given how difficult it was to find meaningful work off-campus. Though the tasks were repetitive and focused mainly on test case writing, the flexibility and lack of micromanagement made the experience tolerable. Just when he was settling into the role, however, a major blow struck. Without any prior warning, the company terminated all intern contracts. This decision came despite him receiving positive feedback, leaving him disappointed and directionless.
Recovery Through Grit and Mistakes Made
Shaken but not broken, he decided to refocus his efforts on skill-building and job hunting. He dived into cold emailing companies and applying for freelance roles. Eventually, he secured a freelance project that occupied him for a few months. However, in hindsight, he realized that this detour cost him valuable preparation time. Instead of sharpening his coding interview skills, he was focused on short-term tasks, a decision that would haunt him during placement season.
When the recruitment drives began, the harsh reality of his college’s status hit hard again. Despite maintaining a respectable academic record, he barely received any interview calls due to restrictive filters such as "CS/IT branches only." He got shortlisted by just one company and stumbled during the coding round, unable to solve a standard data structures question.
The Abyss of Off-Campus Struggles
With no job offers in hand, his desperation grew. He decided to aim for a six-month internship at the very least, just to avoid a career gap. His daily routine became a monotonous cycle: wake up, send out job applications, cold email recruiters, ask for referrals, repeat. The flood of rejection emails he received was emotionally exhausting.
A glimmer of hope emerged when a mid-sized fintech firm offered an interview. But again, nerves got the better of him. He couldn’t solve a basic DSA question, and silence followed. Resume reviews from seniors indicated no major flaws—he had internships and freelance projects listed. Yet the lack of competitive programming credentials likely led to automated rejections by applicant tracking systems. Realizing this, he committed the next three months to grinding through the DSA (Data Structures & Algorithms) sheet, determined to strengthen his weak areas.
The Game-Changer: A Startup Steps In
In December, just when his morale was at its lowest, an unexpected opportunity knocked. A recruiter from a a startup came across his LinkedIn profile and reached out for a potential internship. This was a first for him—being approached directly by a recruiter.
He was invited to go through four interview rounds. Thanks to his relentless DSA practice and real-world dev experience, he cleared all rounds smoothly. However, just as things seemed promising, the company put the position on hold. They promised to reconnect in January if the opportunity reopened.
Undeterred, he continued applying for other roles. Most available internships offered meager compensation or were unpaid altogether, especially for on-site roles in metro cities. He continued with his freelance gig, making the most of his time.
At the end of December, he followed up with the startup. After persistent back-and-forth communication, they finally offered him the internship. Though the stipend wasn’t extravagant, it was fair, and he was in no position to turn it down.
Relentless Effort Pays Off
Once the internship began, he gave it everything he had. Among 15 interns, he was the only one selected from an off-campus route. He worked with unwavering commitment over the five-month period, consistently pushing beyond expectations. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed. He received a mid-internship stipend raise and was honored with the 'Star Performer of the Month' award.
The culmination of all his perseverance came when he received the call from HR. He had been offered a full-time Software Development Engineer (SDE-1) position at the same startup, with a highly competitive compensation package of Rs 16 lakh per annum.
From Obscurity to Opportunity
This student's story underscores that a prestigious college name is not the only path to success. Determination, smart preparation, and consistent effort can bridge even the widest gaps. His journey from rejections and broken internships to securing a top-tier tech job is a powerful reminder that resilience and grit can truly change one’s destiny—even when the odds are overwhelming.
The First Break and an Unexpected Setback
During his third year, he managed to secure a remote internship with a U.S.-based startup. The selection process involved take-home assignments instead of the traditional live algorithmic tests, which suited his strengths. The stipend, at Rs 40,000 a month, felt generous given how difficult it was to find meaningful work off-campus. Though the tasks were repetitive and focused mainly on test case writing, the flexibility and lack of micromanagement made the experience tolerable. Just when he was settling into the role, however, a major blow struck. Without any prior warning, the company terminated all intern contracts. This decision came despite him receiving positive feedback, leaving him disappointed and directionless.
Recovery Through Grit and Mistakes Made
Shaken but not broken, he decided to refocus his efforts on skill-building and job hunting. He dived into cold emailing companies and applying for freelance roles. Eventually, he secured a freelance project that occupied him for a few months. However, in hindsight, he realized that this detour cost him valuable preparation time. Instead of sharpening his coding interview skills, he was focused on short-term tasks, a decision that would haunt him during placement season.
When the recruitment drives began, the harsh reality of his college’s status hit hard again. Despite maintaining a respectable academic record, he barely received any interview calls due to restrictive filters such as "CS/IT branches only." He got shortlisted by just one company and stumbled during the coding round, unable to solve a standard data structures question.
The Abyss of Off-Campus Struggles
With no job offers in hand, his desperation grew. He decided to aim for a six-month internship at the very least, just to avoid a career gap. His daily routine became a monotonous cycle: wake up, send out job applications, cold email recruiters, ask for referrals, repeat. The flood of rejection emails he received was emotionally exhausting.
A glimmer of hope emerged when a mid-sized fintech firm offered an interview. But again, nerves got the better of him. He couldn’t solve a basic DSA question, and silence followed. Resume reviews from seniors indicated no major flaws—he had internships and freelance projects listed. Yet the lack of competitive programming credentials likely led to automated rejections by applicant tracking systems. Realizing this, he committed the next three months to grinding through the DSA (Data Structures & Algorithms) sheet, determined to strengthen his weak areas.
The Game-Changer: A Startup Steps In
In December, just when his morale was at its lowest, an unexpected opportunity knocked. A recruiter from a a startup came across his LinkedIn profile and reached out for a potential internship. This was a first for him—being approached directly by a recruiter.
He was invited to go through four interview rounds. Thanks to his relentless DSA practice and real-world dev experience, he cleared all rounds smoothly. However, just as things seemed promising, the company put the position on hold. They promised to reconnect in January if the opportunity reopened.
Undeterred, he continued applying for other roles. Most available internships offered meager compensation or were unpaid altogether, especially for on-site roles in metro cities. He continued with his freelance gig, making the most of his time.
At the end of December, he followed up with the startup. After persistent back-and-forth communication, they finally offered him the internship. Though the stipend wasn’t extravagant, it was fair, and he was in no position to turn it down.
Relentless Effort Pays Off
Once the internship began, he gave it everything he had. Among 15 interns, he was the only one selected from an off-campus route. He worked with unwavering commitment over the five-month period, consistently pushing beyond expectations. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed. He received a mid-internship stipend raise and was honored with the 'Star Performer of the Month' award.
The culmination of all his perseverance came when he received the call from HR. He had been offered a full-time Software Development Engineer (SDE-1) position at the same startup, with a highly competitive compensation package of Rs 16 lakh per annum.
From Obscurity to Opportunity
This student's story underscores that a prestigious college name is not the only path to success. Determination, smart preparation, and consistent effort can bridge even the widest gaps. His journey from rejections and broken internships to securing a top-tier tech job is a powerful reminder that resilience and grit can truly change one’s destiny—even when the odds are overwhelming.
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