For anyone looking for hope — it's still there. You just have to not give up. "As long as I'm still alive, I have infinite chances!" - Luffy. I used Claude to improve the post I had typed out about my journey. LinkedIn and Naukri helped me the most! I was also applying through Hirest, Indeed, and Instahire for a couple of months, but I saved time by only applying through LinkedIn and Naukri. I used to exhaust my daily apply limit on both platforms. Naukri's one-click apply and LinkedIn's Easy Apply are limited, but I used to apply from there, which wasn't limited. Yes, I'm mentally sane :).
2021 — The beginning: After completing my Bachelor's in Computer Applications, I got an internship at a product-based startup as a software developer intern at ₹10k/month, with a full-time conversion based on performance. I didn't perform as expected. During my Bachelor's, I worked part-time to fund my education and was exhausted by the end of every day. I didn't have a laptop or PC to practice on — I had to make do with computer labs. Then COVID hit, and my second half of college moved entirely online for 1.5 years. I was offered a 3-month extension to prove myself, but I turned it down and chose to pursue MCA instead. I then wasted 8 months job hunting with no success. I thought the money was too little and I should find something better elsewhere. That was a mistake I'd regret for a long time.
2023 — The grind: I joined sales full-time while simultaneously enrolling in MCA online. I bought a decent second-hand laptop to attend sessions and practice coding. I skipped about 50% of the MCA syllabus deliberately — focused on LeetCode and learned a backend framework to build real side projects. After 2.2 years in sales, I knew it wasn't for me. Making the switch was scary and risky, but I had to do it.
2024 — First real shot: I got placed at a product-based startup at ₹15k/month. Laid off after 3 months due to budget cuts. After the layoff, I started building a serious project using a backend framework. My best friend paid for a cloud computing course for me — told me to pay him back once I landed a job. I built the project, added it to my resume. I also made a small but real open-source contribution to a well-known project by Meta — a simple fix, but it solved a real-world problem. That went on the resume too.
What I learned: Having basic Operating Systems, Computer Networks, Basic Socket Programming, and System Programming may also help you clear the interview. It did for me! * Do not look for shortcuts, like faking experience or not upskilling after getting in. I have seen my friends struggle to do the project by lacking knowledge — no AI can help you if you don't have knowledge. If you get caught, your profile will be blacklisted and your mind will always tell you to look for an easy way, which won't work! Doing the work is important; your self is watching, nobody else. Put in all the efforts it takes, even if you fail; you have the right mindset to start over! * Even if you're a fresher or have only internship experience, you still need to apply for jobs that ask for 1+ year of experience. Even if the requirements say they want Masters and you only have Bachelors, you still got to apply for the role — do not self-reject! * Having real projects with consistent GitHub commits is non-negotiable — it's your proof of work. * LeetCode basics (arrays, strings) are a minimum — don't skip them. * Apply broadly: FullStack, Frontend, Backend, Data Analyst — don't limit yourself. * Have a fallback plan (mine was cloud computing, then tech support). * Market awareness matters — know which skills and industries are in demand and pick deliberately. * Luck shows up when preparation meets opportunity.
Kudos broo
The turn: I kept applying. Got shortlisted as a backend intern at one company and a frontend intern at another — both simultaneously. Was waiting to hear back from both HRs. Then one random Friday morning, I got a call asking if I was still looking for a job. It was the same SDE-1 role I hadn't made it through earlier — they were hiring again. I said yes. I got the offer email. We didn't even have a package discussion. I was okay with whatever they offered. I accepted. I'm turning 27 this June. My mother and aunt work blue-collar jobs. I help take care of my grandmother. There were moments I genuinely doubted whether this path was for me. A lot of rejection emails. A lot of failed interviews. A lot of self-doubt. But here we are.
As a BCA + MCA grad myself, I can feel your journey bro. I am working at a startup and grinding, hope I will also have some stories to post in the future.
Great achievement OP... It is not easy to achieve this with all the struggle you faced. Keep going, God bless you...!!!
2025 — The chaos: I got placed at a startup fresh out of incubation as an apprentice at ₹15k/month — full-time conversion based on performance. Had to relocate to another state. The company had good funding but the process was terrible. We had no direct contact with the engineering team. I had no idea if they'd convert us or just call it an internship at the end. The uncertainty pushed me to start applying elsewhere. I gave interviews with multiple companies. Failed most of them. I'd solved those LeetCode problems before — but nerves got the better of me during the actual interviews. I'd blank out on questions I could easily answer on my own outside that room. Then — the US and Israel bombed Iran. The project we were working on was US-funded. It went on hold. HR told us to look for other opportunities and that they'd update us within a month. I was devastated. The SDE-1 role I had cleared the first round for — they'd moved on with another candidate by the time I followed up.
Congratulations, appreciate this type of post then the negativity of AI taking jobs.