Indian Techie's Microsoft Journey: Referrals Changed Everything After 200 Rejections

• Rishab Jolly, an Indian engineer-turned-product manager, secured a role at Microsoft after 200 unsuccessful job applications.
• He initially faced rejections and visa pressure after his MBA in the US, nearly forcing him to return to India.
• Jolly's breakthrough came from a referral from a Microsoft product manager he had worked with during his MBA.
• He emphasized the importance of tailored résumés and strategic networking in addition to referrals.
• Jolly joined Microsoft in July 2017 and was promoted to senior product manager in 2021.

Why It Matters: Referrals, tailored résumés, and networking are crucial for breaking into competitive tech roles.