What once felt like a disappointing rejection has become one of the defining moments of a software engineer’s career, proving that an unexpected setback can sometimes lead to a bigger opportunity.
Prachiti, now a software engineer at Microsoft in the United States, recently reflected on her journey in a post on X, revealing that she had once applied for a role at Microsoft India before leaving for higher studies abroad.
She said she had every intention of staying back in India if she had landed the job and would have even withdrawn her admission to a university in the US.
“It’s crazy to think that I wouldn’t be here if Microsoft India had not rejected me just before I came to US. (Long story short – my plan was to ditch my admit if I had gotten an offer in India),” she wrote.
Instead of securing the position, she received a rejection, a twist that led her to pursue her studies in the US. The decision eventually paved the way for her to join Microsoft there.
The experience came full circle recently when she took her parents to the Microsoft campus in Washington for the first time. She said they were amazed by the size of the campus, its facilities and the employee perks.
“Last week, I took my parents to my workplace here in Washington and they were just in awe of how huge it is, the perks we have, of everything,” she wrote.
Prachiti added that she often asks her parents whether they are proud of her. This visit, however, was different.
“So I usually ask them, ‘Are y’all proud?!’ And this time, I didn’t have to, their smiles told me everything. Really grateful… What a journey it has been to think about,” she wrote.
Her post resonated with many social media users, who described it as an inspiring reminder that rejection can sometimes redirect people toward better opportunities.
One user commented, “In India Microsoft mostly hires from Tier 1 colleges and you still cracked it after moving to the US and completing your master’s. That’s genuinely impressive. Kudos to you.”
Another wrote, “You have come a long way, indeed!!”
A different user said, “Microsoft India has a higher bar than Microsoft Seattle. Several India rejects are able to get job in Seattle. True.”
Others simply described the story as “so wholesome.”