A young software developer, a 2023 computer science graduate from a top-tier Delhi institute, took to Reddit’s 'Developers India' community to share an inspiring story of perseverance. After months of being ignored, rejected, and left in limbo by recruiters, he finally secured a life-changing job offer worth ₹50 lakh per annum. His post became a beacon of hope for countless job seekers grappling with frustration and burnout in the competitive tech industry.
His journey began when he joined his first company through a pre-placement offer after his internship. Although it initially seemed promising, he soon realized he was underpaid, lacked project ownership, and was often assigned random tasks simply because he “could handle them.” Feeling stagnant, he decided to switch jobs in December, confident that his Tier-1 background would open doors. Instead, he encountered the harsh reality of a saturated market — endless applications leading to ghosting, automated rejections, or no response at all.
Rewriting the Resume, Rewriting the Future
Determined not to give up, the techie began experimenting with different resume formats. None worked until he started customizing his resume for each job posting. He studied every job description, matched relevant keywords, and aligned his skill stack accordingly. Switching to a clear two-page format with readable fonts and a concise summary at the end made his resume stand out. Surprisingly, even ChatGPT played a role in refining his descriptions, helping him frame achievements more effectively. Soon after these tweaks, interview calls began to flow in.
Preparation: Consistency Over Intensity
Admitting he wasn’t a competitive programming expert, the developer focused on mastering the fundamentals of Data Structures and Algorithms. He diligently practiced Leetcode’s top 75 and Neetcode’s 150 problems, maintaining notes on tricky patterns. His openness to multiple tech roles—ranging from React and React Native to Node.js, Express, and even ML or AI—proved invaluable. Flexibility, he said, is crucial in today’s uncertain market.
Rejections, Regrets, and Resilience
The next few months were filled with highs and lows. He faced multiple interview rounds with leading firms. Each brought either rejection or silence. The emotional toll was immense. Nine months into the grind, he felt exhausted, withdrawn, and demotivated. Seeking balance, he paused his job hunt, hit the gym, cleared his education loan, and treated his parents to a Kerala vacation.
A Diwali Miracle: The Dream Offer
Just before that trip, he received a call from a US-based unicorn startup. He cleared two interview rounds before his flight, one right after returning, and finally, a few days before Diwali, he got the dream offer — ₹50 lakh CTC (₹35 lakh base, ₹3.5 lakh bonus, and the rest in ESOPs). It felt like poetic justice after months of struggle — the perfect Diwali gift.
Lessons for Aspiring Developers
He concluded his viral Reddit post, which garnered over 700 upvotes, with valuable advice: personalize every resume, stay flexible with tech stacks, and focus on mental and physical health. True success, he emphasized, lies in persistence and balance.
When fellow Redditors asked where he applied, he revealed that all applications were made through LinkedIn. To another curious coder asking about his stack, he replied that he explored everything from C++ to web and app development — an attitude that ultimately led to his success.
His journey began when he joined his first company through a pre-placement offer after his internship. Although it initially seemed promising, he soon realized he was underpaid, lacked project ownership, and was often assigned random tasks simply because he “could handle them.” Feeling stagnant, he decided to switch jobs in December, confident that his Tier-1 background would open doors. Instead, he encountered the harsh reality of a saturated market — endless applications leading to ghosting, automated rejections, or no response at all.
Rewriting the Resume, Rewriting the Future
Determined not to give up, the techie began experimenting with different resume formats. None worked until he started customizing his resume for each job posting. He studied every job description, matched relevant keywords, and aligned his skill stack accordingly. Switching to a clear two-page format with readable fonts and a concise summary at the end made his resume stand out. Surprisingly, even ChatGPT played a role in refining his descriptions, helping him frame achievements more effectively. Soon after these tweaks, interview calls began to flow in.
Preparation: Consistency Over Intensity
Admitting he wasn’t a competitive programming expert, the developer focused on mastering the fundamentals of Data Structures and Algorithms. He diligently practiced Leetcode’s top 75 and Neetcode’s 150 problems, maintaining notes on tricky patterns. His openness to multiple tech roles—ranging from React and React Native to Node.js, Express, and even ML or AI—proved invaluable. Flexibility, he said, is crucial in today’s uncertain market.
Rejections, Regrets, and Resilience
The next few months were filled with highs and lows. He faced multiple interview rounds with leading firms. Each brought either rejection or silence. The emotional toll was immense. Nine months into the grind, he felt exhausted, withdrawn, and demotivated. Seeking balance, he paused his job hunt, hit the gym, cleared his education loan, and treated his parents to a Kerala vacation.
A Diwali Miracle: The Dream Offer
Just before that trip, he received a call from a US-based unicorn startup. He cleared two interview rounds before his flight, one right after returning, and finally, a few days before Diwali, he got the dream offer — ₹50 lakh CTC (₹35 lakh base, ₹3.5 lakh bonus, and the rest in ESOPs). It felt like poetic justice after months of struggle — the perfect Diwali gift.
Lessons for Aspiring Developers
He concluded his viral Reddit post, which garnered over 700 upvotes, with valuable advice: personalize every resume, stay flexible with tech stacks, and focus on mental and physical health. True success, he emphasized, lies in persistence and balance.
When fellow Redditors asked where he applied, he revealed that all applications were made through LinkedIn. To another curious coder asking about his stack, he replied that he explored everything from C++ to web and app development — an attitude that ultimately led to his success.
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