Rishab Jolly, a 37-year-old senior product manager based in Redmond, Washington, shares his personal journey of transitioning from a career start in India to securing a role at Microsoft in the United States. His story, verified through documentation by Business Insider, highlights the multifaceted challenges and strategic approaches involved in entering and succeeding within the competitive Big Tech landscape.
Before moving to the US in 2015, Jolly’s foundation was rooted in engineering and computer science, fields he studied and worked in while in India. His professional experience spanned software quality testing and engineering roles. However, attracted by the intersection of technology and business, he chose to pursue an MBA at the University of Arizona to complement his technical expertise with business acumen. This decision was driven by a desire to engage with the dynamic environment of technological innovation that he observed was thriving in the United States.
One key aspect of Jolly’s MBA program was its strong collaboration with leading technology companies. Through curated projects integrated into the curriculum, representatives from Microsoft, Amazon, and Google presented real-world challenges to students. Teams collaborated on solutions and presented deliverables that these companies evaluated. In 2016, Jolly led a team working on a Microsoft project where their performance earned him direct engagement with a Microsoft product manager. This interaction proved instrumental in establishing a professional connection that would later influence his career trajectory.
Upon graduating, Jolly confronted the stark realities faced by many international graduates in the US job market. He undertook approximately 200 job applications with a generic résumé and no referrals but received only three interview invitations. Despite progressing through interviews on two occasions, both offers were ultimately withdrawn—the first due to visa-related concerns, as the company deemed his lack of a STEM extension a risk, and the second because of budgetary constraints within the hiring organization. The time-sensitive requirement to secure employment within 60 to 90 days post-graduation to maintain visa status created immense pressure. Financial exhaustion led him to rely on a friend’s hospitality, compounding the stress with anxiety.
Maintaining contact with his Microsoft acquaintance, Jolly seized an opportunity when a job opening emerged. Through this connection, he secured a referral which enabled his application to receive heightened attention. Critically, he customized his résumé to align specifically with the demands and expectations of the role he was pursuing. This tailored approach combined with the referral resulted in an interview and ultimately an offer. Jolly credits this strategy as a decisive factor in breaking into Microsoft.
He joined Microsoft as a product manager in July 2017 and was promoted to senior product manager by 2021. Reflecting on the hiring process within Big Tech, Jolly emphasizes a two-step pathway: gaining an interview opportunity, followed by successfully navigating the interview itself. Obtaining an interview is highly contingent on referrals, given the vast volume of résumés these companies receive monthly, with referrals acting as a catalyst to prioritize applications.
Interview preparation for Jolly involved extensive use of mock interviews, seeking assistance from peers who had undergone similar experiences. This practice enabled him to refine his narrative, hone responses to metrics-oriented questions, and identify weaknesses. During the actual Microsoft interviews, his authenticity and storytelling based on genuine professional experiences resonated strongly with interviewers, surpassing rehearsed scripted answers commonly derived from generic preparation resources.
Beyond the interview phase, Jolly underscores the significance of cultivating a professional public presence. Demonstrating initiative and passion through platforms such as LinkedIn, GitHub, or personal projects helps candidates stand out. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began regularly posting content on LinkedIn focused on career insights, product management themes, and industry reflections, deliberately avoiding a follower-centric approach and concentrating instead on topics personally meaningful. This authentic engagement gradually attracted a community, facilitating organic professional recognition.
Recruiters actively observe candidates who proactively learn emerging tools or contribute to open-source initiatives. In an industry characterized by rapid evolution, particularly with advances in artificial intelligence and other technologies, the ability to adapt and self-educate has become as critical as traditional résumé content.
Initially, Jolly held the misconception that an MBA was essential to enter Big Tech. While certain roles may prefer MBA qualifications, he notes colleagues from diverse educational backgrounds including accounting and English literature thriving at Microsoft. The company values heterogeneous perspectives for fostering innovation. Jolly personally values his MBA experience not only for academic enrichment but also for practical exposure, career transition support into product management, and mentorship opportunities that have substantially influenced his professional growth.
He acknowledges that an MBA is not a universal prerequisite; its relevance depends on individual objectives such as career shifts, networking goals, or structured educational desires. Jolly’s immigrant journey involved numerous obstacles, including visa limitations, financial uncertainty, cultural adaptation, and mental strain. Despite episodes of discouragement, perseverance and strategic effort culminated in career success.
After over eight years with Microsoft, Jolly is contemplating pathways that align with his evolving career aspirations while prioritizing ongoing professional development and contribution to technology innovation. He advises individuals pursuing similar goals to focus on strategic networking, thorough preparation, authenticity, and continual skill enhancement. Despite uncertainties that may arise, sustained commitment and building meaningful relationships can unlock opportunities previously unseen.