I moved to the US from India. Here's how I landed a job at Microsoft after first misunderstanding the Big Tech hiring process.

Rishab Jolly.

Courtesy of Rishab Jolly

• Rishab Jolly shares his journey from an engineer in India to a senior product manager at Microsoft.
• Referrals, tailored résumés, and networking were crucial for his break into Big Tech after his MBA.
• He suggests tech hopefuls build a public presence and continually develop skills to stand out.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rishab Jolly, a 37-year-old senior product manager at Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington.